Produced
by
Ronnie
Screwvala
&
Vidya
Balan
and
directed
by
Shaan
Vyas,
Natkhat
is
a
33-minute
short
that
underlines
that
home
is
where
we
learn
the
values
which
shape
us
and
make
us
who
we
are.
A
story
framed
within
a
story
where
a
mother
(Vidya
Balan)
notices
her
young,
school-going
son
Sonu
(Sanika
Patel)
gravitating
towards
misogyny
and
disregard
for
the
other
gender
just
like
the
men
in
her
family.
Vidya
Balan,
who
turned
producer
with
this
film,
is
seen
playing
the
role
of
a
homemaker
in
a
patriarchal
setup.
The
film
touches
upon
the
sweet
mother-son
relationship,
which
quivers
with
each
blow,
and
settles
with
a
soothing
touch.
Across
the
turbulent
year
of
2020,
Natkhat
travelled
and
was
screened
at
prestigious
international
(virtual)
film
festivals
across
the
world.
It
world
premiered
at
Tribeca's
We
Are
One:
A
Global
Film
Festival
(2nd
June
2020)
after
which
it
was
screened
and
won
the
German
Star
of
India
Award
at
the
Indian
Film
Festival
Stuttgart
(15th
-
20th
July
2020).
The
short
film
was
also
invited
for
the
London
Indian
Film
Festival
in
London
and
Birmingham
(17th
-
20th
Sept
2020),
the
South
Asian
Film
Festival
-
Orlando/Florida
Film
Festival
(10th
-
11th
Oct
2020)
and
opened
the
Indian
Film
Festival
of
Melbourne
(16th
-
23rd
Oct
2020).
It
was
at
the
Best
of
India
Short
Film
Festival
(7th
Nov
2020)
that
Natkhat
was
announced
the
Winner
and
eligible
for
Oscar®️
2021
qualification.
But
that
wasn't
its
last
festival
of
2020,
the
year
ended
with
Natkhat
being
screened
at
the
Mosaic
International
South
Asian
Film
Festival
(4th
-
12th
Dec
2020)
and
the
International
Kids
Film
Festival
(IKFF)
(20th
Nov
2020).
IKFF,
conceived
by
LXL
Ideas,
is
India's
largest
children's
film
festival
that
aims
to
bring
inspiring,
meaningful
and
globally
diverse
cinema
to
children
in
the
remotest
parts
of
the
world!
It
was
at
this
festival
with
an
Adult
Jury
comprising
of
12
experts
in
the
fields
of
film
and
education,
and
a
Child
Jury
of
45
members
selected
from
schools
in
India,
Italy,
France,
South
Korea,
Taiwan,
Kyrgyzstan
and
the
US
that
Natkhat
was
presented
the
award
for
Best
Live
Action
Short
(13+
Years).
A
child
juror,
Angelica
La
Rocca
from
Giffoni
Film
Festival,
Italy
said,
"This
short
film
is
just
perfect.
Natkhat
reinforces
the
idea
of
a
possible
solution
against
the
social
menace
of
misogyny
and
patriarchy.
It
shows
that
child
rearing
at
home
is
where
you
begin
the
real
education,
and
thanks
to
the
effervescent
performances
(mainly
by
the
child
actors)
the
message
comes
out
pretty
well."
Director,
Shaan
Vyas
said,
"Natkhat
was
made
with
a
very
naïve
yet
powerful
urge
to
change
things.
To
reach
every
corner
of
the
earth
and
tell
the
world
that
change
begins
at
home.
We
are
very
humbled
by
this
selection
for
the
Oscar
race.
I
feel
that
the
world
is
yet
to
discover
the
excellent
quality
of
Indian
films
made
over
the
past
few
years
and
we
hope
to
revive
that
interest
in
our
cinema
if
Natkhat
does
make
it
to
the
shortlist."
Soaring
into
the
Oscars
2021
race,
actor
and
producer
Vidya
Balan
said,
"After
a
year
that
has
been
turbulent,
it
feels
great
to
have
our
film
qualify
for
the
Oscars®️.
This
film
is
incredibly
close
to
me
since
it
gave
me
a
chance
to
play
the
dual
roles
of
actor
and
producer."
ALSO
READ:
Birthday
Girl
Vidya
Balan
Hopes
2021
Is
Kinder
To
Everyone;
Says
'It's
Going
To
Be
Happiness
&
Sunshine
Again'
Producer,
Ronnie
Screwvala
said,
"Even
in
these
times,
creativity
and
content
have
found
ways
to
thrive
and
travel.
Through
innovation
and
technology
international
festivals
and
award
ceremonies
have
continued
to
advance
and
bridge
the
gaps
in
new
and
disruptive
ways.
Our
film,
Natkhat
has
travelled
the
world
last
year,
addressing
important
issues
and
providing
a
powerful
message.
We
are
thrilled
to
be
racing
for
the
Oscars
2021."
The
film
is
written
by
Annukampa
Harsh
and
Shaan
Vyas
with
associate
producer
Sanaya
Irani
Zohrabi.
Natkhat
is
directed
by
Shaan
Vyas
and
produced
by
Vidya
Balan
and
Ronnie
Screwvala.