Kashish Film Festival 2025: Indian Masala Mix 2 defined what short stories with big impact feel like!

A combination of three short films, each with a simple moral at the end, reminds you that, at the end of the day, it’s just about the little things!

Places I’ve Called My Own review: After spending some time in the US amid her IVF journey, Tara returns to India for her father’s funeral. At home, she confronts her mother who's in denial about Tara's queerness, an ex-girlfriend who has rebuilt her life with a man, and the lingering presence of a patriarch whose influence still looms large. Tara wants to embrace both, her masculine and feminine side. She could be wearing a shirt and have short hair like men and, at the same time, she really wants to carry a child. But unfortunately, the world does not work the same way. They see things as black or white and Tara isn’t someone to stay in those lanes. 

Played by Aditi Vasudev, Tara is the highlight of the movie. She brings a certain vulnerability to the character that you feel through the screen. The director, Sushma Khadepaun, tells her story through silence more than dialogues. There’s so much to read between the lines here and also see the characters find solace, frustration and grief in the silence around them. Tara, her ex-girlfriend and her mother might be leading completely different lives but it’s certain that they love each other deeply from afar.

Also Read: Screened at Kashish Film Festival 2025, God’s Other Plan and Is Gay Marriage Next explore LGBTQIA+ history in America, unconventional families, and more!

F for Freedom review: Directed by Ria Dinesh and Arjun Krish, F for Freedom is that wholesome slice of life story that leaves a lingering impact on you even after the credits roll. When a mother finds out about her son’s secret relationship, she proposes an impromptu family vacation for some much needed time together. Packaged as a family entertainer, F for Freedom has a little something for everyone. It portrays how a lot of Indian families do not have freedom within the confines of their own home even though it is supposed to be your safe space.

Hence, Shyama wants to make sure that her son feels safe enough to come out to her and she wants to make him feel like she is ready to embrace him the way he is. The movie also feels relatable to non-queer folks like me as it portrays family dynamics that hit too close to home. Instead of going for a more serious approach, the makers use songs in the movie to give it a feature film like essence which helps you connect to the story better as an audience.

The Story of Yuvraj and Shahjahan review: Yuvraj, a young village boy, feels an unspoken pull toward Shahjahan, a traveling bangle seller. In a quiet, hidden corner of their conservative world, they form a relationship with one another. Just like Places I’ve Called My Own, The Story of Yuvraj and Shahjahan builds on silence. But the difference here is that because of certain parts being cut out due to the current socio-political climate, the film is left open-ended. While director, Santosh Ram's heart is in the right place, the film doesn't transition seamlessly on-screen. This film is built on a lot of potential that simply could not be explored but what it does show us is how different the life of a queer individual can look in a rural village as compared to a big city where things are comparatively a little more liberal.

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