Cinestaan Curates: Malota vividly evokes a child’s innocence and concerns

Krishan Hooda’s short film Malota takes us into the world of a child and his concerns as he navigates difficult situations around him. The title refers to the practice of children going door to door in rural Haryana to collect food and milk for newborn puppies and their mother.

Like other boys his age, Gulab (Vansh Mallik) is both innocent and mischievous. In school, the mathematics teacher (Hooda) asks them to memorize a table and thrashes those who are unable to recite it. Gulab is distracted by the birth of puppies in his friend’s house and together the boys go out to collect 'Malota'.

However, while on his way to school the next day, he realizes that he has not completed his homework. Filled with trepidation at having to face the wrath of the maths teacher, he decides to bunk school. But what he learns that day is not so futile after all.

Hooda vividly portrays everyday life in a sleepy village along with the innocent world of Gulab, portraying his fears and simple concerns. Through that one day when Gulab skips school, the film makes us aware of the difference between classroom learning and practical knowledge. While playing with mud in the fields, the boy learns some skills and mobilizes his imagination far quicker than he would in a dry classroom space mugging up tables.

Vansh Mallik fittingly depicts the enthusiasm, mischief and keenness of a child, holding us captive to the film. Malota was nominated for the Filmfare Short Film Awards 2019 and is available on the YouTube channel of Humara Movie.