International Journal of Advanced Research and Development

Authors
Jeeja Ganga, Dr. Anila Joseph

Abstract
The short film is a genre that is gaining vogue in current times. It could be compared with the short story with which it shares some features. The short film, like the short story, is a genre that requires astute handling by the director, given the minimalist space and duration in which it occurs. The film maker has to make use of the resources available within the limited frame of the short film to drive home important messages. The paper analyses how Mira Nair, the transnational film maker of Indian origin uses the genre of short film to render visible important socio-political issues of the time. When the features of mainstream and parallel cinema are considered and compared, we find that Mira Nair can be located in the midway between the two varieties of cinema. However a deep sense of social commitment informs even her commercial ventures imparting them with a more serious sense of purpose. The two short movies discussed in the paper deal with issues such as Islamo-phobia, feminism, marriage, motherhood and personal choice and are a continuation of Mira Nair’s zeal for social reform and revolution.