Short Film Review: “Tricksters”
Dir: Ashwin Mohan
UK • Drama • 25 Mins
On a hot summer’s day, 13-year-old Chinna begrudgingly accompanies his shaman father to work as they travel from village to village using black magic to help the local residents with their various ailments and issues. However, when his father is tasked with curing the infant child of an anxious mother, tensions between Chinna and his father grow strained as it’s clear that the very ill child requires much more serious attention.
From the off, director Ashwin Mohan transports us directly to the outskirts of a vibrant and beautiful rural Indian village where we meet Chinna, whose eyes we view the whole film through. When we meet Chinna he’s acting out a chase scene on a stationary tractor before being chased away and eventually heading off to work with his father. These two contrasts in Chinna’s life quickly sum up his dilemma. He’s a young boy who’s full of youthful energy and imaginative fun who just wants to play, and even go to school to learn, but is being pulled by his father into a morally ambiguous line of work that tests not only his own morals and ethics but also his loyalty to and love for his father.
The performances are superb from all concerned. Nag Vishal is perfectly cast as young Chinna who gives a very mature and convincing portrayal of a boy stuck between childhood and navigating the moral ambiguity of his father’s work. Vishal brilliantly bounces between all levels of his performance, effortlessly transitioning from humour to heartbreak as he clings to his childhood while having to confront his father. Theni Murugan as the father also delivers a fantastic performance as a man who wears many masks and struggles to figure out which one suits him best.
The script, telling the story of this father and son relationship, from director Ashwin Mohan and co-writer Benjamin Paynter is very well observed, painfully funny and at times heart-wrenching, yet nothing jars as they’ve managed to not only perfectly balance these elements within the structure and storytelling of the script but also with the characters they’ve devisedtoo, making them flawed, relatable and very three-dimensional.
Tricksters is an entirely grounded story depicting a world that’s raw, unpredictable and morally grey. Many common themes and aspects run through the story which we can all relate to, from disagreements with our elders to experiencing the disappointment of not receiving the outcome we’d hoped for something you’ve worked hard for, to feeling like you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place.
The music from Rithwik S Chand is a wonderful addition, highlighting and assisting the cultural elements while also emphasising and bolstering the tone of any given scene. D.O.P. Shyam Manjuvil has created some beautiful visuals, bringing to life the colour and vibrancy of the land and culture, that’s so warm and inviting that it practically radiates off the screen. The editing too is outstanding, and with all the production values in all areas to such a high standard, it’s very hard, if not impossible, to believe that this is a student film. Director Ashwin Mohan has not only expertly directed his actors, but also pulled together a very competent and talented team to bring this endearing story to life.
Ultimately this is a film about the relationship people have with their parents and how, despite how much they may respect and love them, it’s important to learn and grow beyond their influences.
Tricksters is a funny and endearing film that’s as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking and brought to life with some exceptional performances and fantastic production values from a team of gifted filmmakers.
9/10
Tricksters won Best Student Film and was nominated for Best Actor (for Theni Murugan), Best Young Performer (for Nag Vishal) and Best Cinematography at our 2022 film festival.
Reviewed by Philip Pugh
