The Dark Knights

The mood was jubilant as the 11-member team hopped off the Shatabdi Express,that brought them home from the Capital where the “Delhi 48- Hour Film Project,2011” was held. After winning five awards the team from Chandigarh was all charged up as they hugged their trophy,even after logging in 48 hours with almost no sleep. “It’s a moment of pride and glory for us. We made a point to all those who still look at unconventional career options with suspicion and think movie making is not an option,” says Nischal Masand,a member of the winning group. Team Chandigarh won Best Film (Runner Up) Award and the Audience Choice Award. They also bagged awards for Cinematography and Direction. Ayushi Negi,who starred in the film,won the Best Actor (Female) Award.

All in the age group of 20 to 25,they can’t wait to enjoy the spoils of the triumph of their darkly themed film Birth of Death. The eight-minute hair-raising movie,has mystery,thrill and black magic. Given that they had to work to a predetermined brief,in 48-hours,it was not a small feat. The genre had to be horror,the lead character—a security guard named Vikram Singh,the prop— a diary and the line of dialogue — “I Love Delhi”.

“We had to find a suitable plot and determine the direction right from conceptualisation to production,” says Masand. The story revolves around a man bewildered by the sudden paralysis of his wife. He frantically searches for answers in her little red diary. In the end he has to pay with his life for the quest and for his wife’s desire to have a child at all costs. “It’s a movie about the power of desire and what it can make one do,” says Ankur Kapoor,a pass- out from Kurukshetra University,who shot,edited and directed the movie. Chintan Sareen supported,Negi’s wining act while Abhinav Bansal’s music set the mood.

It was not easy for 11 people to make a film. There were discussions,arguments and fights. “But once that was done,we all unanimously agreed to shoot at the Lodi Garden and borrow props rather than buy them,” says scriptwriter Sapna Kakkar. She is still gushing over jury member Nagesh Kukunoor’s ‘special comments’ about the film.