Pavsacha Nibandh

Pavsacha Nibandh is an Indian Marathi-language short film directed by Nagraj Manjule. It is produced by Balkrishna Manjule, Sheshraj Manjule, and Gargee Kulkarni. The film won the Best Director in Non-Feature Film and Best Audiography in Non-feature Film categories at the 65th National Film Awards in 2018. It depicts the challenges faced by the child's mother as she endeavors to bring her intoxicated husband back home.

The film was premiered at the National Film Archive of India in Pune on 2 September 2018. It was released on 15 July 2020 and available for streaming on ZEE5.

Plot
A small boy is given a school assignment to write an essay on monsoons and all its numerous rewards. On his way back to his thatched-roof house at one end of this small village in the Western Ghats, he runs into his father lying drunk on the road. Here, we see his family struggle to get through this day when the rain won't let it. This boy has to finish his essay in time for school the next day.

Cast

 * Meghraj Shinde as Raja
 * Gargee Kulkarni as Mangal
 * Sheshraj Manjule Raja's father
 * Rahi Manjule as Pari

Development
Pavsacha Nibandh is a Majule's second short film, following Pistulya, commenced production in 2017 and wrapped up post-production in 2018.

Filming
Pavsacha Nibandh was filmed over seven and a half days in Pavana and Mulshi of Pune district in Maharashtra, along with some spots in the Western Ghats. Several scenes were filmed in villages within a 40 km range. While artificial showers are utilized by some, the majority of on-screen rainfall is authentic.

Release
Pavsacha Nibandh was digitally released on ZEE5 on 15 July 2020.

Critical reception
Anupam Kant Verma of Firstpost praised Nagraj Manjule's directing skills, highlighting his ability to bring out compelling performances from the actors and extract drama from everyday moments. Specifically appreciate how Manjule uses sound, such as the sound of leaking water, to enhance the storytelling and create atmosphere. Overall, the reviewer is impressed by Manjule's attention to detail, particularly in sound design, which adds depth and life to the film. Rahul Desai of Film Companion praised the film for its visually stunning portrayal of rural life, akin to the aesthetic of a monsoon chai, while also highlighting its subversion of cultural perceptions. He appreciate how the director uses genre conventions to deliver unexpected narratives, comparing it to the technique employed in the film Sairat. Yash Gawad of The Indian Wire appreciate how the film subtly portrays the harsh reality of how rains, typically seen as a beautiful aspect of nature, can actually disrupt the lives of poor families. He commend the film for not explicitly shouting its social message but rather gently depicting a reality that is often ignored. The reviewer also notes how the film contrasts the joy of other children in the village enjoying the rains with the struggles of the protagonist, who sees it as a curse. Overall, the reviewer seems to be highlighting the film's ability to shed light on important social issues without being overly didactic.