Sukhpreet Kahlon
New Delhi, 11 Jun 2021 12:27 IST
Updated: 13 Jun 2021 1:12 IST
The Kannada-language short film is centred on a young man’s quest to find and follow his passion.
One often hears that happiness lies in the little things. But it’s easier said than done. Bhuvan Sathya’s Kannada-language short film examines this thought as a man tries to understand and then recapture the happiness and contentment that he felt as a boy.
Prajwal aka Pinni is a boy who leads a happy-go-lucky life. Brought up by his grandfather, he is instructed to do things the proper way, which will pave the way for success later in life. He ambles on from one undertaking to another, mindlessly fulfilling that which is asked of him. He becomes a mechanical engineer and lands a job in a tech company.
The rat race makes him question what he has, as he sees that his friends have all secured jobs in better companies than him. For the first time in his life, this makes him think about what he really wants to do and he embarks on a soul-searching exercise. Though he tries his hand at several things, the answer remains elusive.
Sathya’s film makes us wonder what hope is there for the scores of children who are simply average in this dog-eat-dog world. Pinni questions the way in which success is marked by certain indicators in society, whereas any job that gives you happiness and a sense of self should be precious.
The idea is a powerful one and the short film has several introspective moments. The production design of the film deserves a special mention as it recreates details from the past competently.
However, the film stumbles in its narrative, which becomes a long-winding tale with too many components thrown in, some not developed adequately. A crisper, more defined story would have made this a more powerful film.
Pinni is being screened as part of the 21st New York Indian Film Festival, which is being held virtually from 4–13 June.
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