Private Project

Pencil Box

A Single father Rajesh puts his son in a boarding school and promises to bring him home for the weekend as Father’s Day is around the corner, but when faced with financial difficulties, he is torn between paying the rent and the hostel fees. Despite his efforts, he fails to gather the necessary funds, and his boss sends him to another city for a business meeting. Aman, his son, eagerly awaits his father's arrival and writes a beautiful essay about him, but is left heartbroken when Rajesh breaks his promise and didn’t arrive.

  • Adarsh Aryan
    Director
  • Adarsh Aryan
    Writer
  • Rehan Thakker
    Key Cast
    "Aman"
  • Hardik Bhavsar
    Key Cast
    "Rajesh"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 33 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 16, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    97 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    India
  • Country of Filming:
    India
  • Language:
    Hindi
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    4:3
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad
Director Biography - Adarsh Aryan

Adarsh Aryan is driven by an immense passion for storytelling. As a student of art, design, film, and life, he skillfully weaves stories through the audio-visual medium and reflects on the feeling of belonging. His creative repertoire includes photography, visual design, sound, and illustrations. Currently enrolled as a student at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, he is pursuing a bachelor's degree in film and video communication.

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Director Statement

This theme has a lot of personal significance to me, which is why I felt compelled to make a film about it. Growing up in the same circumstances as the characters in the story, I felt like it was important to share their experiences with a wider audience. When I was allowed to make a film for my college semester project, I knew this was the perfect topic to explore. To gain a better understanding of how children think and behave, I worked with a talented child actor. I was inspired by Bong Joon Ho's words when he received an Academy Award, "the most personal is the more creative," which motivated me to pour my heart and soul into this project.