Ke Kokhon Kibhabe

Wanting to relish upon love tales on Valentine's eve, I was keenly looking forward to Shafayet Mansoor Rana's short film series "Ke Kokhon Kibhabe".

I have always found it difficult to explain "love" -- a feeling larger than life. However, the three short tales, for me, encapsulated the feelings perfectly. "Oprokashito", "Hot Patties" and "Black Box", in my opinion, were the cream of the crop in this year's oversaturated 'love' tales.

The concept of self-dependence and the never-ending arguments -- about how 'together forever' seldom works out for headstrong individuals -- was beautifully reinforced in the Tasnia Farin and Irfan Sajjad starrer "Oprokashito".

The grey-gloomy colour grading reinforces the concept of the inertia within the characters, their dilemmas. It contributes to explicitly exploring their anxieties, while being in alignment with the concept of being in a delusional headspace.

However, the ending explicitly justifies the characteristics of the protagonist, played by Irfan – a stark realization that differed from his own philosophy.

I have never really been a fan of the typical 'boy-meets-girl' romance. However, the twist in "Hot Patties" really made the project spicy (pardon the pun).  A rich 'jock' (played by Salman Muqtadir) meets the simple, elegant, down-to-earth and very intelligent Bengali beauty (Sabila Nur). Sabila believes in her roots, but also knows how to enjoy life.

Salman's boorish actions– sudden stop at a pharmacy, a resort booking, and a set of extra clothes— was blown into pieces as the girl shatters his dreams, and his ego. 

The production deliberately touched upon breaking 'first meeting' standards, which is often exaggerated in the media. The two leads showcased the awkwardness perfectly. For me, their chemistry was a humorous delight.

Everyone seems to have their own way of dealing with 'breakups', and that's what was highlighted in "Black Box", a tragedy featuring Yash Rohan and Samira Khan Mahi. The simple and relatable setting helps identify with the social standards set for marriage, and how numerous couples part ways as they fall prey to reality.

What stood out for me was the stellar performance by Yash Rohan, especially when he succumbs to moving on, but his heart tends to feel otherwise.

A fight, tears, and the last hug – the production leaves behind agony, draped in the comforting touch of velvet that even makes heartbreak look romantic.

Overall, the series excelled in terms of editing and cinematography. With this unusual pairing, the chemistry was something I loved exploring.

"Ke Kokhon Kibhabe" is definitely unique, living up to the standards of the classic 'Shafayet Mansoor Rana' elements, finding a new leaf to turn over from the old branches.