Burning OTT Release: Indian cinema has always had a knack for tackling complex emotional narratives, and Burning (2018) stands as a poignant reminder of that.
This powerful short film is all set to release on the ShortsTV Amazon Channel from the 30th of April, 2025. It tells a heart-wrenching story of grief, loss, and the quiet moments that change lives.
Plot
The setting of Varanasi, known for its sacred ghats and religious significance, serves as a powerful metaphor for the cycles of life and death that pervade the narrative. The funeral ghat—where the deceased are cremated—symbolizes not just the physical process of letting go but also the emotional and spiritual release that the characters undergo as they navigate their grief.
The central plot revolves around two mothers. Despite their vastly different lives, find themselves facing the universal reality of sorrow.
One of them is a young mother who has just lost her child. The other is a woman who, though still physically present, carries the emotional burden of losing her child in a more subtle way. Their encounter in such a place, where death and the pain of loss intimately shape the atmosphere, sets the stage for an emotionally charged and nuanced dialogue.
As these two women converse, the film delves into their inner turmoil, social pressures, and personal anguish. In a society where tradition, family, and sacrifice often weigh heavily on women, Burning illuminates the hidden struggles these mothers face. As they grapple with their realities.
The conversation between them unravels the complexity of their experiences, revealing the ways in which social expectations, economic hardships, and emotional pain collide, forcing them into a harsh reality that neither of them anticipated.
While their stories are uniquely theirs, the film shows how the shared experience of motherhood. Despite its contrasting paths, motherhood can create bonds that transcend societal divides.
The two women find solace in each other’s understanding. even as the relentless and unforgiving pace of life and death at the ghat surrounds them.
In its essence, Burning speaks to the depth of human emotion. It offers a poignant exploration of how personal loss intertwines with social and cultural contexts.