Short Circuit (2019 film) explained

Short Circuit
Director:Faisal Hashmi
Producer:Twilight Productions
Music:Mehul Surti
Cinematography:Jeremy Reagan
Studio:Twilight Productions
Runtime:126 minutes
Country:India
Language:Gujarati
Budget:[1]

Short Circuit (Gujarati: શોર્ટ સર્કિટ) is a Gujarati science fiction film based on the concept of time loop. It is directed by Faisal Hashmi and was released in 2019.[2] The film is written by Faisal Hashmi, Bhargav Purohit and Mohsin Chavada, produced by Twilight Productions and features Dhvanit Thaker and Kinjal Rajpriya in the lead roles, while Smit Pandya and Utkarsh Mazumdar in supporting roles. Short Circuit received generally positive review from critics upon its release and praised for its direction, plot, VFX and performances.[3] Short Circuit had a successful run at the box office.[1]

Plot

Samay (Dhvanit Thaker) works for an IT company and has a job repairing computers. His mother always nags him to marry soon. Samay falls in love with Seema (Kinjal Rajpriya), who is a news anchor at Zee 24 Kalak. She interviews a scientist, Dr. Parthsarthi (Utkarsh Mazumdar), who is doing some experiments on creating a portable wormhole inside his lab. During the interview, Parthsarthi gets angry and threatens to kill Seema if she gets in his way. Samay is planning to propose Seema. But, while coming out of the building, a masked man shoots Seema and she dies on the spot. That night, Samay gets drunk with his friend, Bhopa (Smit Pandya) and both of them see Aurora Borealis in the sky. It's a strange event because Aurora never happens in India. Samay goes to bed and sleeps. From the next day, he starts to live the same day again and again. How he saves Seema and how he uncovers the mystery behind the time loop is rest of the film.

Cast

Production

The writing of the film started in August 2017 after director Faisal Hashmi finished his second film Daud Pakad.

Director Faisal Hashmi revealed that the film uses an extensive amount of VFX and it contains around 1,132 VFX shots.

The writers took inspiration from various time loop films.

The script demanded a lab where a secret experiment to create a portable wormhole is taking place. The producers hired NID students to create the lab as per the director's instruction. The set was erected at GMDC ground in Ahmedabad. This was the only set built for the film.[4]

The director hired sound designer Udit Duseja for the sound design. The sound mixing was done at AM Studio, Chennai.[4]

Marketing and release

The teaser was released on 14 December 2018[5] while the trailer was released on 26 December 2018.[6] [7] Both were well received.[8] [9] Later a promotional song "Samay" was released on 4 January 2019.[10]

Soundtrack

Short Circuit
Type:Soundtrack
Artist:Kedar & Bhargav
Genre:Feature film soundtrack
Length:3:32
Label:Twilight Productions

Promotional song was composed by Kedar & Bhargav.[11]

Release

The film was released on 11 January 2019.

Reception

The film received very positive response from audience for its narrative, direction and VFX.[3] Shruti Jambhekar of The Times of India rated the film 3.5 out of 5, praising its direction, VFX, story line, editing and performances. She said; "We have to give it to the production house, director Faisal Hashmi and the entire team for attempting a sci-fi thriller in Gujarati. Considering it’s the first time this genre has been attempted, it’s a pretty decent effort-good VFX, a grand set-up and an interesting (although predictable) story line. Faisal Hashmi deserves a pat on the back for showing considerable improvement as a filmmaker in his second movie." Jayesh Adhyaru rated it 3 out of 5 praising direction, VFX and performances. He noted similarities with 1993 Hollywood film 12:01 and praised for giving credit to it.[12] Divya Bhaskar rated it 3 out of 5 as a decent entertainer praising its direction, storyline, editing and VFX.[13] Badhir Amdavadi rated it 4 out of 5, saying, "It's a complete family entertainer which keeps you hooked till climax."[14]

Accolades

International Gujarati Film Festival - IGFF
width=5%YearCategoryNomineeResultRef
2019Best DirectorFaisal Hashmi[15]
Best Story WriterFaisal Hashmi, Bhargav Purohit, Mohsin Chavada
Best Screenplay WriterFaisal Hashmi, Bhargav Purohit, Mohsin Chavada
Best Dialogue WriterFaisal Hashmi, Bhargav Purohit, Mohsin Chavada
Best ActorDhvanit Thaker
Best ActressKinjal Rajpriya
Best Actor in Comic RoleSmit Pandya
Best Actor in Negative RoleVikee Shah
Best EditorPrabaahar
Best CinematographyJeremy Reagan
Best Background MusicMehul Surti
Gujarati Iconic Film Awards - GIFA 2019
width=5%YearCategoryNomineeResultRef
2019Best DirectorFaisal Hashmi[16]
Best Screenplay WriterFaisal Hashmi, Bhargav Purohit, Mohsin Chavada
Best Dialogues WriterFaisal Hashmi, Bhargav Purohit, Mohsin Chavada
Best FilmShort Circuit
Best EditorPrabaahar
Best CinematographyJeremy Reagan
Best Background MusicMehul Surti
Best Supporting ActorSmit Pandya
Best Actor in Negative RoleVikee Shah
Best Action DirectorHaniif Sheikh

Notes and References

  1. Web site: BOX OFFICE:ચાર વીક બાદ પણ થિયેટર્સમાં અડીખમ છે Short Circuit. 9 February 2019. www.gujaratimidday.com.
  2. Web site: 'Vitamin She' film director Faisal Hashmi is coming up with a Gujarati sci-fi movie. Times of India. 14 August 2018.
  3. Web site: Short Circuit (Gujarati) Movie (2019) | Reviews, Cast & Release Date in. BookMyShow. BookMyShow.
  4. Web site: ગુજરાતની સૌપ્રથમ સાયન્સ-ફિક્શન ફિલ્મ 'શૉર્ટ સર્કિટ' માટે બનાવવામાં આવી હતી ખાસ લેબ. Jan 8, 2019. divyabhaskar.
  5. Web site: Short Circuit | Official Teaser | RJ Dhvanit | Kinjal | Smit | Faisal Hashmi. www.youtube.com.
  6. Web site: Short Circuit (2019) - Official Trailer - RJ Dhvanit - Kinjal Rajpriya - Smit Pandya - Faisal Hashmi. YouTube.
  7. Web site: શોર્ટ સર્કિટનું ટ્રેલર રિલીઝ, ઈટ્સ સ્પાર્કિંગ !. Dec 26, 2018. Gujarati Mid Day.
  8. Web site: Trailer of Gujarat's first ever Sci-fi film 'Short Circuit' launched. Dec 26, 2018. DeshGujarat.
  9. News: From experimental films, VFX to better revenue channels: Dhollywood to get bigger and better in 2019 - Times of India. The Times of India.
  10. Web site: Samay - Official Video Song - Short Circuit (2019) - Kedar - Bhargav - Siddharth Bhavsar. YouTube.
  11. Web site: Samay | Official Video Song | Short Circuit (2019) | Kedar - Bhargav | Siddharth Bhavsar. www.youtube.com.
  12. Web site: શોર્ટ સર્કિટઃ કરંટ તો છે, બોસ!. jayeshadhyaru. Jan 12, 2019.
  13. Web site: કરંટ તો છે, બોસ!. Jan 12, 2019. divyabhaskar.
  14. Web site: શોર્ટ સર્કીટ – ઘટમાળમાં અટવાયેલા સમયને ફરી વહેતો કરતો સમય. બધિર. અમદાવાદી. 12 January 2019.
  15. Web site: 'શું થયું' માટે મલ્હાર ઠાકરને મળ્યો બેસ્ટ એક્ટરનો એવોર્ડ, વાંચો આખું લિસ્ટ. 10 June 2019. www.gujaratimidday.com.
  16. Web site: limited . https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/1687713678112090/2441921376024646 . 2022-04-30. GIFA -Gujarati Iconic Film Award on Facebook . Facebook.