Unpaused Review: 5 Heartwarming Short Films That Give A Unique Perspective On The Lockdown

Each of us had different experiences during the lockdown. While some were happy to spend some ‘me-time’ at home, others eagerly waited to get out. However, a few emotions were brewing up inside which were more or less similar. Much to our delight, 5 acclaimed filmmakers decided to come together and helm an anthology of 5 heartwarming short films inspired by the pandemic for Amazon Prime Video . Titled Unpaused , the film gave audiences a chance to relive the pandemic, but this time to celebrate new beginnings.

1. Glitch (Story of love): Raj & DK

The film begins with Gulshan Devaiah aka Ahan waiting for his date with number 193. The beautiful Saiyami Kher aka Ayesha walks in wearing a gorgeous red dress. They are in the middle of a conversation when Ahan, who’s a hypochondriac, realizes that Ayesha is a frontline warrior. It is then revealed that the first COVID case was reported 12 years ago and Ahan has been living in quarantine since then. He quickly gets out of this virtual date and goes back to talking to Mala, his virtual assistant. It’s a cute little story about loneliness and finding love in the last person that they could have ever expected falling for. It will touch your heart but will also scare you a little bit because we don’t want to wait for 11 more years for the pandemic to come to an end! Gulshan is hilarious and an absolute star, whereas Saiyami shines bright as always.

2. Apartment (Story of hope): Nikkhil Advani

Nikkhil’s story roughly focuses on something almost all of us faced during the lockdown-- depression. Richa Chadha aka Devika wants to end her life because her husband Sumeet Vyas aka Sahil’s sexual indiscretions have left her dealing with self blame. However, each time she attempts to do so, Ishwak Singh aka Chirag rings the doorbell. He’s the ray of hope that we all wish we find in our lives when we need it the most. The story is simple yet powerful. It makes you realize that no matter what the problem is, the choice is yours-- to focus on the problem or the solution. The performances are incredibly powerful and the emotions portrayed by Richa and Ishwak will leave you mesmerized. Apartment definitely gives you a strong sense of hope to hold on to.

3. Rat-A-Tat (Story of happiness): Tannishtha Chatterjee

Two women come together, but it’s not because they want to. While one lives alone by choice, the other is forced to do so due to her circumstances. They are complete opposites and often can’t bear to tolerate the other. However, over time a beautiful, unlikely friendship blossoms between the two. While Rinku Rajguru will win your heart with her mischievous smile and killer expressions, Lillete Dubey will leave you in awe of her extremely versatile performance. Who could have expected her to play the role of a bitter elderly woman! More than the friendship, the story seemed to be about how a woman finally opens her heart for someone. The ending will surely leave you with a smile.

4. Vishaanu (Story of dreams): Avinash Arun

This film is based on a heartbreaking reality, but with a twist. A young migrant couple and their son are thrown out of their house after they are unable to pay the rent during the lockdown. Going back to their village is next to impossible as they can’t afford it. So they decide to sneak into a sample flat of a luxurious apartment building. For a minute they get to taste their dreams. However, they are soon pulled back to reality. While it is a story of dreams, it will make you realize the plight those many migrant workers had to face while they were practically homeless for months, many without jobs and even food to eat. It was one of the major highlights of the pandemic and the lockdown. You will forget that you’re watching Abhishek Bannerjee and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan because they have portrayed their characters so well. Instead, you will see Manish and Seema who make TikTok videos at night after their son has gone to bed.

5. Chand Mubarak (Story of friendship): Nitya Mehra

Maybe it’ll seem unfair for the other stories if we say that the makers saved the best for the last, but we are being very honest when we say that the audience couldn’t have asked for a better ending to this anthology. Featuring the glorious Ratna Pathak Shah and Shardul Bharadwaj, who will leave you pleasantly surprised with his performance, Chand Mubarak is also about an unlikely friendship. However, it speaks to you on an entirely different level. It could be the direction, the chemistry between the co-stars or maybe just the story line-- but it successfully fills your heart with love and genuinely makes you want to celebrate the new beginnings. A class conscious middle-aged woman and a helpful rickshaw driver-- the combination is unexpected and the story is the definition of heartwarming. Hats off to the entire team!

While one story will make you laugh, the other will break your heart. However, in the end each one of these short films will leave you with a feeling of satisfaction. What’s commendable is that the filmmakers didn’t let the length of the film compromise the story or the emotions in any way. Unpaused will not teach you something new, nor will it educate you about the pandemic. But it will fill your heart with love and will make you want to celebrate the new beginnings that come your way, even in such troubled times.