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Short Film Review: Tungrus (2018) by Rishi Chandna

“Now he's a full-blown terror in the house …”

If we think of the idea of having an animal as a pet, we normally have images of cats and dogs in our mind. Surely, there might be the occasional snake, turtle or rat in the mix, but overall, the concept of pets is relatively universal as it is usually an animal kept for a “person's company, protection, entertainment, or as an act of compassion”. Considering the roots of these pets, especially when it comes to dogs and cats, we are talking about domesticated, sometimes overbred animals which have been adapted to our needs and our culture.

Especially within an urban environment, the concept of a pet plays a significant role. Apart from having a companion, keeping certain animals also has a distinct prestige, for example, if we think of some celebrities carrying their small dogs around in their handbags. When Indian director heard of a family in Mumbai who had a rooster as their pet, the idea struck him as “wild” and “bizarre” as he mentions in his press statement. The idea of a normal, urban family having accepted a rooster in their home struck him as interesting, especially given the fact most people normally consume these animals without thinking about their nature twice.

Tungrus is screening at Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles

In his first independent short, film Chandna has come across a very odd story, but one which ultimately touches upon issues about why we need to domesticate animals and what our relationship to them is. The opening shots establish the setting, the city of Mumbai, showing a vast array of wires, cables and the concrete of apartment buildings which have become the obligatory face of the urban sphere. As if to make sure his viewer does not forget about the contrast of an animal typically associated with rural areas and the city, the camera often switches to these wide and medium shots of the family's apartment.

Considering the use of contrasts is one of the essential themes in his film, a viewer cannot help but contemplate on some of the essential questions about domestication. When the family members admit the rooster has become a “terror in the house”, they also cannot deny a certain connection to the animal which has come to rule their everyday life now. Marking his territory several times per hour, disturbing every moment of peace and giving off his familiar cry now and then, the rooster has nevertheless become a part of their family. And as with every animal, having an emotional connection makes you not only rethink the way you see these creatures, but also why so many are fine with consuming them.

In the end, “” is an interesting, thought-provoking short film. Chandna has a good eye for the ironic, the touching and the sad moments of everyday life, making his film a unique experience for every viewer.

Sources:

https://www.tungrus.com/about/, last accessed on: 03/21/2019

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pet, last accessed on: 03/21/2019

About the author

Rouven Linnarz

Ever since I watched Takeshi Kitano's "Hana-Bi" for the first time (and many times after that) I have been a cinephile. While much can be said about the technical aspects of film, coming from a small town in Germany, I cherish the notion of art showing its audience something which one does normally avoid, neglect or is unable to see for many different reasons. Often the stories told in films have helped me understand, discover and connect to something new which is a concept I would like to convey in the way I talk and write about films. Thus, I try to include some info on the background of each film as well as a short analysis (without spoilers, of course), an approach which should reflect the context of a work of art no matter what genre, director or cast. In the end, I hope to pass on my joy of watching film and talking about it.

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