Short takes on human justice

The poster of ABS NT

Donning the moniker of the ‘Naked Indian Fakir', Devashish Makhija is known for the special intensity and darkness, which he brings to his singular brand of short cinema. Although his poetry has received acclaim and his children's books have seen wide appreciation, his unique proletarian cinema is what he is best known for. His short film, ABS NT (written with a deliberate space in between the letters S and N), he says, is about the conflict between collective morality and an individual's idea of justice.

The poster of ABS NT

Makhija feels that making short films is hard, but the precision of storytelling is the format's greatest reward. These compelling stories are now more accessible their audiences due to platforms like YouTube, he believes.

Devashish Makhija

One such story comes alive is ABS NT that explores the complicated idea of justice. "Is it only a collective morality that can decide what constitutes justice and how it must be meted out? Or can an individual's idea of right and wrong, and his/her personal circumstances also play a part in the matter? The short looks at this disruptive question through a painfully intimate portrait of one man caught in fractures. I like exploring the larger questions that trouble me through stories of voiceless, marginalised individuals. The friction between the macro and micro - always throws up something dramatic," he shares.

What he strives for is his artistic voice and spirit achieving expression through his cinema. His previous short, Taandav, featuring Manoj Bajpayee, received widespread commendation not only because of Bajpayee's committed performance but also because he enabled Makhija to make the film he wanted to. Actress Nandita Das will also be present at the event.