About the Film
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 Rishi Chandna 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.
Synopsis
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.