- Name of the Film : 1924
- Genre : City Noir and Dramatic Thriller
- Duration : Short Film (Duration 5 minutes)
- Cast : Kartikey Tripathi, Deboprasad Haldar, Rohit Basfore, Sudeb Das, Swarnakshi Dey
- Director : Prataya Saha
- Producer : Poorva Bhat
- Executive Producer : Vijaykumar Mirchandani
- Associate Producer : Maneesh Verma
- Associate Producer : Anshulika Kapoor
- Editor : Prasanth Ambili
- Graphic Designer : Neil Chatterjee
- Cinematographer : Joydeep Bhowmick
The crux to understanding the entire film lies in a motif introduced at the beginning: the paperback of the book, “Anandamath,” which centres around the Sanyasi Rebellion. A revolt led by the sanyasis and sadhus in Bengal, India in the 18th century. It was a revolt agains the British East India Company over increase in taxation. Linguistically the term “Sanyasi Rebellion” is an oxymoron. “Sanyas” refers to renouncing material pursuits for a simpler, more selfless life, while rebellion inherently involves asking questions, possibly leading to conflict and violence, which can be seen as self-serving.
This is exemplified when a group of revolutionaries murder a man in front of his child. Although the man is shown to be an agent facilitating the regime, his last words express a desire for his child to study normally, despite the abnormal circumstances posed by war, highlighting a parent’s instinct to protect his child’s future. Children are often symbolic for the future of society, and the father’s actions can be seen as an attempt to shield the next generation from violence.
The film requires viewers to piece together clues, encouraging a deeper analysis reminiscent of couch detectives. Its short length leaves ample time for reflection.
Then there are nuances – the man covers his face, mirroring the character from the beginning, reflecting a sense of agency in both men that justifies their actions for the “greater good.” The anonymity of the nameless characters broadens the film’s applicability to contemporary events, posing the dilemma: “Would you do it if it involved someone you loved, or would you betray the greater cause?”
The film’s cyclical nature is highlighted when the child is tainted by her father’s blood, suggesting that she might repeat the cycle of violence or be a victim or scarred by it. This serves as a poignant reminder to the repetitive nature of war and the continuing struggle between personal ideals and societal pressures. And in between all the bloodshed, is a child helplessly taking in, what he/she never asked for!
