As India’s animation scene comes into its own, a new generation is pushing the boundaries of storytelling. This past week, the Indian Institute of Art and Design (IIAD) became among the voices shaping that future at Animela, India’s first international festival dedicated to Animation, VFX, Gaming, Comics and XR. Hosted at IDC, IIT Bombay (March 7–9), the festival brought together a global network of artists, animators and industry veterans to explore the shifting possibilities of animation as a medium.
For IIAD, the festival is an opportunity to showcase the evolving vocabulary of its students, whose films have been officially selected for screening. These films, developed under the mentorship of Shaaz Ahmed (Associate Professor, IIAD), were among the works selected for the festival.
The Day My Dad Arrives – Sreeram Jayaram
Rooted in Sreeram’s personal experiences, this award-winning film unfolds an emotional journey, chronicling the longing of a young boy eagerly awaiting his Gulf migrant worker father’s return. The film was initially a major design project (MDP) titled “Personal Narratives”which gradually evolved from audio stories into a visually compelling 2D animated magnum opus. In the past it has been awarded the Animation Xpress ANN Award 2023 for Best Student Film category.
Patangarh Ka Hero | Animation Film on Gond Art | Documentary Film | IIAD
Nanki Ghuman’s film is a cinematic mixed-media experiment that reimagines Gond art for contemporary viewers. Using Adobe After Effects to animate hand-drawn illustrations alongside real-world footage and pixelation effects, the film reinvigorates the art form. The interplay of painted animations, pixelated characters and 2D transitions creates a dynamic visual language that respects Gond art’s heritage while pushing its aesthetic forward. The film won special mention at Chitrashaala: A Short Film Festival on Rural India and was recognised as Best Student Short Film and Best Director at Mokkho International Film 2024.
Aami Tumi Rum – Anindita Banerjee
Anindita Banerjee’s film critiques societal hypocrisy, highlighting the gap between professed and actual support for women. Following Rumi’s journey of self-discovery, it weaves Bengali cultural richness—music, dance, and traditions—into its narrative. Inspired by personal experiences and traditional art forms like Kalighat paintings, Jamini Roy’s works and Patachitra, Anindita’s illustrations feature large Bengali eyes, symbolising deep emotion. Structured in three parts, the film uses colour to reflect shifting settings and moods.
A True Story – Anish Sekhri
Officially selected for the 11th Goa Short Film Festival, Sekhri’s film reimagines Indian folktales for children (7–10). Initially drawn to mainstream animation, he shifted focus to the Panchatantra, exploring ambition and self-acceptance. Using simple characters like the sun and clouds, the film imparts life lessons through a mixed-media approach, bridging generations and keeping these timeless stories relevant.
I Hope This Conversation Doesn’t Take Place in 2045 – Srishti Arora
Arora’s film empowers women by amplifying silenced experiences and sparking dialogue on unspoken truths. Rooted in everyday stories, it serves as both a platform for expression and a design intervention—encouraging self-discovery and problem-solving. The title playfully critiques harsh realities while celebrating resilience and collective strength.
Anyday, Everyday, One Fine Day! – Raashi Borade
Raashi Borade’s film is about a little girl struggling to conveniently get through her everyday life and the episodes that she faces being socially anxious which are based on sets of metaphors. It is about growing up and the joys of friendships and how people around you can strengthen and help us with our personal development. Each episode resonates with commonly faced problems by a child and his or her response to socially anxious feelings. The film was officially screened at IAWRT’s annual 17th Asian Women’s Film Festival 2021.
Shaaz Ahmed (Associate Professor, IIAD) whose practice Mud n Water Studio produces animation, ad films, short films, urban art and documentaries, also contributed to the festival’s intellectual discourse. He led a session titled Animation Pe Charcha, exploring animation as a mode of inquiry, cultural documentation and political discourse. Additionally, he joins the panel Mapping Your Creative Path, alongside industry experts Nina Sabnani and Rajesh Tarukhia, in a discussion moderated by Lotte Marie Allen.