Award-winning Kannada short films for cinephiles to watch this weekend

Kannada cinema is being celebrated for its rich storytelling and captivating narratives. While feature-length films have dominated the industry, the world of short films in Kannada is gradually gaining recognition.

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These compact yet powerful creations offer a unique platform for filmmakers to experiment, express themselves, and leave a lasting impact on the audience.

Let’s delve into some of the best short Kannada films that have won several awards.

Madhyantara
Written and directed by Basti Dinesh Shenoy, Madhyantara is set in the 1970s, when two boys from a small village in Karnataka embark on an extraordinary journey from being pedestrian film buffs to filmmakers.

Vaddaraadhaka
Directed by Aneesh S Sharma, this short film highlights the plight of people living in rural areas, where the elderly are left without anyone to care for them. The film shows how they handle this by building their own beautiful world.

Akshara
This short film, directed by Ankush Madugiri, carries an important social message. It centres on the themes of voting, farmer’s suicide, love, and friendship.

Jayanagar 4th Block
Starring Dhananjaya, this short revolves around him, a florist, and a retired school teacher, who, despite being strangers, often meet at the same spot, developing a friendship. Each of them finds happiness in Bengaluru’s popular Jayanagar 4th Block.

Chowkabara
Director Raghu Shivamogga’s short film starring Achyuth Kumar is about the journey of certain people who have become victims of some situations. The life of the protagonist, who is under financial strain, takes a turn after he ignores a call from an unknown number.

Smile Please
This film is about a young photographer, Vihaan, who is passionate about his craft and deeply in love with a girl, Samiksha. All’s well until Vihaan finds himself torn between his true love and his passion.

Kezah
Directed by Ganesh Parashuram, Kezah is about a serial killer who attacks innocent girls late at night. The Crime Branch must catch the killer, but will they be able to crack the case before it’s too late?

Antha
Written, edited, and directed by Arvind Sethuram, this film is about a couple whose lives change after they meet some strangers on a road trip. The short aims to be a mirror of society, where one can’t trust strangers.

The Last Kannadiga
Vasishta N Simha stars in this short film produced by Sruthi Hariharan and directed by Madan Ramvenkatesh. The film is a social commentary on a dying culture. It is a social experiment, an inquiry into the idea that a language cannot survive the death of its speakers.

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