Vidya Balan’s Natkhat: Five Things To Know About the Short Film

Vidya Balan's Natkhat: This 2020 Indian short film that managed to bag a spot in this year’s race for the Academy Awards.

The 33-minute short film produced by Ronnie Screwvala and Vidya Balan, and directed by Shaan Vyas was premiered at Tribeca’s We Are One: A Global Film Festival. It has won the German Star of India Award at the Indian Film Festival Stuttgart. Besides, the film has also been qualified in the Best Short Film (Live Action) category.  

Vidya Balan's Natkhat:

We made #Natkhat “to reach every corner of the earth and tell the world that change begins at home.” Elated to be in the race for the Oscars 2021 short film category!https://t.co/BLnd7DZVPg@RonnieScrewvala @vidya_balan @SanayaIZohrabi @FontOfThinking @mesopystic @NBCNews

— RSVP Movies (@RSVPMovies) January 14, 2021

Here are 5 things to know about Vidya Balan's Natkhat

1. Vidya Balan marked her debut as a producer with her 2020 short film Natkhat.
2. Balan plays the role of a homemaker in the film that revolves around a patriarchal setup and a general disregard for women. The film takes us on a ride of a sweet mother-son relationship, where the mother tries to shy her son away from the patriarchy and misogyny prevalent around them, settling the short film with a soothing touch.
3. In a conflicting year like 2020, Natkhat reached the Best of India Short Film Festival and was announced as a winner and eligible for Oscar 2021 qualification.  Natkhat was also invited to the London Indian Film Festival in London and Birmingham and opened the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne.
4. At the end of 2020, Natkhat was screened at the International Kids Film Festival, which is India’s largest children's film festival that aims to bring inspiring, meaningful, and globally diverse cinema to children in the remotest parts of the world.
5. The film’s director Shaan Vyas said that the film emphasises the value that ‘change begins at home.’ Actor and producer Vidya Balan said that she feels great that Natkhat qualified for the Oscars. “After a disastrous year, it feels great to see our film reach new levels. This short film is close to me as it gave me an opportunity to play dual roles or actor as well as producer,” said Balan.