By Kiran Kumar

Jul 22: Vaidya is definitely not a typical queer film that is laced with the idea of the society being the oppressor and the enemy of same-sex love - the beauty of the film is in its message which is rather simple and plays on the fundamental concept of love, togetherness, and separation.

Harsh Agarwal’s screenplay does not disappoint and he is able to deliver a story that’s offbeat and bold. While most of the dialogues are crisp and hit right where they should, some scenes seem to stretch.

Agarwal has teamed with Sumit Pawar, director of Khwaish for direction and it is a job done well. The on-screen chemistry between the two is appealing. Puneet Kumar Mishra’s (Kabir) theater experience and background evidently come out. His expressions and delivery are profound and intense. On the other hand, Ronit Agrawal’s (Vaidya) acting is playful, his eyes doing most of the job in a few important scenes.

The DOP-duo of Shivam Borkar and Varun Katare has done justice to Goa’s beautiful beaches and scenery with their cinematography. Also, Himanshu Dahiya’s music adds a breath of serenity that works well with the mood of the film. What could have been improved is the ending of the film. It could be clearer. It is a bit confusing and one can easily miss the main twist of the film that sort of answers a lot of open questions.

The short film scene is not as minuscule as it was. It is no more limited to niche segments and film festivals. With the new era of OTT platforms taking over the world, short films are becoming just as valuable. It is important that more queer films are made and added to these platforms. Vaidya is an important film not just because it does that but it is also important because it establishes and encourages that it’s okay to play with genres and go where no one has been.