Today I learnt that humanity is something that has become extinct in today's world. Picture this ; torrential rains, water clogged on streets, people stuck in traffic jam for hours, crawling at snail's pace trying to make way for themselves. Amongst all this a lady is about to slip and fall because of the chaos around her, and tries to grab a nearby vehicle for support to stop her fall. That vehicle owner glares at her angrily and snaps ' You seem to be in a lot of hurry....why don't you fly and go?'That lady left after muttering a sheepish Sorry. I wanted to ask her -For what?. Why are you apologizing to him?
If , a 26-minute short film by acclaimed Bengali filmmaker Tathagata Ghosh, is a sensitive, evocative piece of storytelling that lingers long after the credits roll. Set against the everyday rhythm of life in Kolkata, the film delicately unpacks the story of a lesbian couple torn apart by the weight of societal expectations and dares to imagine a different future, one where a mother's love might just change everything. What struck me first was the film’s raw, grounded realism. The characters feel like people we know, middle-class families navigating a complex world with quiet resilience. The world of If is filled with silences, glances, and stills, rather than heavy dialogue. Ghosh masterfully uses these moments to speak volumes, allowing viewers to sit with discomfort, interpret the unspoken, and feel deeply.