Short Film Review “Ziddh (Persistence)” Pushing the limits of hard work, heart, and never giving up on your dreams scores a stellar win
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First, the Recap:
Pressure. It remains an immutable fact that when we find ourselves truly up against it, we have the tendency to let that burden overwhelm us. All we are “seeing” at that moment are the manners in which the situation just won’t work in our favor, no matter what we do. It’s a place of frustration that isn’t remotely affirming. Yet, we HAVE the DECISION to view it all in the opposite way. See it instead as a chance to overcome it, stand fast, and WIN the day. As always, the question remains….what WILL you choose?
It is the Squash National Championship game, and underdog Laksh (Aryaman Adik) has indeed fought back to bring the match into a realm where victory is absolutely possible. Yet, while in this frame of mind, it becomes that battle of wills against himself, his own innate insecurities he’s confronted for the entire time he’s built what he believes will be a career while the world he knows says otherwise. As it all comes to a head, will this be a journey Laksh can conquer? Or will he succumb to all the outside elements that have worked against everything he has dreamed of?
Next, my Mind:
Stories surrounding miraculous comebacks, vanquishing the odds stacked against a given person or team, and the accompanying life lessons that can be gleaned from them is nothing remotely new in the film realms, indie or otherwise. And let this critic just say…..these efforts should NEVER get old, dismissed, or written off as “just another film about…”. If we’ve EVER needed MORE tales like this, it is most definitely NOW. In a time where the world is seemingly growing greatly polarized and filled with hurt, anger, and darker attitudes, stories of faith, perseverance, commitment to a positive cause for self AND others are simply, distinctly imperative to present something we ALL require….HOPE. This is exactly what gets adeptly accomplished through this 16-minute short film from writer/director/producer Aryaman Adik, writer Rohan Pandya, producer/executive producer Utkarsh Baheti, and associate producer Jitin Hingorani. Always potent when placed in the context of the sports arena, this is a film of passion, devotion, achievement, and of course precisely what its title states…..persistence.
This inspired narrative is centered on a rising squash player who has more than had his fair share of reasons to put self-inflicted weight upon himself, as his goals to pursue the sport professionally have been potentially hindered by those who cannot initially understand, and hence underestimate, his goals and desires, even as he now finds himself in a National Championship match that will define the future one way or the other. Honestly, this alone speaks volumes to the magnitude of persuasive, energizing, motivational direction the film takes, but there is so much MORE to it than only these cornerstone elements. This doesn’t just dive into the sport in question, though it is showcased SO deftly throughout the film thanks to the match our lead characters is engaged in, but takes on the beauty of illustrating one man’s personal journey through all it has taken for him to ARRIVE at this point, once more cementing the film’s title into our minds, hearts, and souls as we witness his insistence on pursuing what so many discouraged him to do.
This sets up the wealth of thematic tangents the film then takes on through both the present and via effective, intelligently written flashbacks that paint the entire portrait of a long yet winning road to travel. The focus soon encompasses the resistance and support of parents, the weighty doubts of a berating coach, the sacrifices it takes to be successful, patience, asking what you’re willing TO put aside in order to gain excellence, the mental aspects in maintaining your focus and staying the course, comprehending what you may or may not accomplish in pushing your limits, especially with no actual guarantees it will lead to anything sustainable, experiencing immersive amounts of stress and STILL choosing to NOT stop, silencing the doubters, the perceived walls we place in front of ourselves due to lingering self confidence issues, ultimately gaining the RELEASE we’ve needed, and receiving the approval of those who first stood apart from our aspirations. It’s all here, it’s all noteworthy, it’s all a requisite part of exhibiting the triumph of the human spirit and will, which the finale we are delivered manifests in unavoidably tear AND joy-inducing power.
Demonstrating the ability to create a character that’s not only believable, but one that you can genuinely relate to in some form, and whom you either root for or against is the mark of a great actor for this critic. I am very pleased to state that Adik successfully and with sheer credibility delivers these elements while providing us a person we can wholeheartedly cheer on and embrace through his turn here as Laksh. A young man who is now in one of the most pivotal events of his life via playing for a national championship in the sport he’s fought to rise and excel in, squash, Laksh now also encounters all the apprehensions and doubts he’s been through in his mind, even as his unabated push to stay focused plus believe in himself and his skills drives him forward in the match. How it all turns out forms the entire core of the moments Laksh is experiencing, and it is a tour-de-force of authentically raw, transparent, emotional, and physical energy, embodying every high and low the character has faced, that Adik brings to the screen with such candid and accessible, intense fervor that WILL impact you as a viewer. A purely genuine performance all the way.
Primary supporting roles begin with Sachin Khedekar playing Laksh’s father who is more than a little resistant to his son’s choosing to pursue “a game” as a career as opposed to something more legitimate business-wise, yet who could become one of the biggest changed mindsets in his son’s story. Sonali Lele Desai is Laksh’s mother, who from the start has been nothing but a stalwart, doting encourager to him even in potential “defiance” of her husband’s viewpoint. Her presence represents a deeply heartening point of support throughout her son’s decisions and even stubbornness to stay on track. Vivek Mushran is Laksh’s very first squash coach who, needless to say, comes in with a harsh and conspicuously unsupportive demeanor towards Laksh, whom he doesn’t see potential in, even to the point of telling him to just quit. Yet, this could become not only another push for Laksh to rise above it, but might even manage to gain a coach’s begrudging respect after all. What I love is all three actors deliver equally unique, candidly acute performances where you’re fully sold on each character’s emotive delivery and purpose within the narrative.
Finally, Veer Chotrani arrives as Laksh’s very committed and intimidating final opponent in the tournament and who’s also a specter from the past as well, the all-star from the beginning that most would desire to be, a coach’s darling, and simply the one to beat. What I love is that all four actors deliver equally unique, candidly acute performances where you’re fully sold on each character’s emotive delivery and purpose within the narrative. Additional appearances are made by Ritwik Bhattacharya, Shalin Sharma, and Arjun Kachroo. So, in total, “Ziddh” is a winning short film effort, rousing, invigorating, affecting, and captivating in its portrait of chasing one’s dreams, weathering scrutiny, hard work and possessing the right attitude, getting up when knocked down, and the truth that next opportunities WILL come if you just BELIEVE. We’ve all been there in some form, and this critic frankly hopes this film will SPEAK to every soul who watches, that we too might discover the same degrees of uplifting fortitude this story so profoundly exudes.
STAR RATING (out of 5):
As always, this is for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
