Sisak: A film about love and longing

Directed by Faraz Arif Ansari, Sisak is a thought-provoking silent short film starring Jitin Gulati and Dhruv Singhal in the lead roles. Having been to over 120 film festivals worldwide and won 59 international awards, Sisak bags the honour of being India’s first silent LGBTQIA+ short film.

Sisak, meaning sobbing in English, is set in a local train and at train stations and may seem monotonous to someone who hasn’t watched the film. However, the actors do a fantastic job at conveying the hesitance that often comes with expressing attraction and love to someone of the same gender in India. The film is a cry for acceptance for all, irrespective of their sexuality.

While travelling by a local train, the life of the character played by Dhruv Singhal takes an unexpected turn when he begins to feel an attraction towards another passenger on the train, Jitin Gulati. Although their story seems simple, the nuanced and multi-layer plot is admirable and gut-wrenching.

Ansari creates a beautiful story surrounding same-sex couples merely with eye contact and marvellous cinematography. It’s interesting to note that the film is devoid of any physical touch but still manages to convey the intimacy and longing between the two men beautifully. It is a love story that goes beyond gender, class or status.

It is also a commentary on homosexual men trapped in heterosexual marriages in India and the internal turmoil that comes with it. The film also urges viewers to recognize the helplessness because of which the protagonists, stuck in a heteronormative world, cannot express their feelings for each other.

Watching Sisak will surely bring you closer to the reality of the world we live in. Without saying a single word, the film raises questions and speaks volumes for the queer community.