U=Me (2024): A Tale of Bonding in Difficult Times

A young divorced couple is at the centre of Umesh Vinayak Kulkarni's latest short film, U=Me (2024). They have been a happy and contended couple, but their domestic happiness is shadowed by an unfortunate turn of fate. The short film takes a minimal approach in wrestling with the emotional demons borne when the woman decides to reunite with her ex-partner. The narrative focuses on the inner details of the psychological and temperamental variation of the characters without being melodramatic. It makes an honest attempt to dispel the myths and stereotypes surrounding HIV. While there is nothing refreshingly candid and admirably complex about the short film, the strong performances from the actors help us stay invested until the end. 

Nikita (Shweta Basu Prasad) is an independent woman who was married to Neeraj (Arjun Radhakrishnan). But when Neeraj is infected with an HIV-positive virus, she decides to divorce him. Following her separation, she begins to live with her father (Dr. Mohan Agashe) and mother (Shravan Borana). As time passes, she forgets about her traumatic past. She begins a relationship with her colleague Aniket and decides to marry him. Then one day, she learns Neeraj is on medication and as fit as a fiddle. Her love for Neeraj grows again, and they resume their intimacy. But now, Neeraj has decided to move to the US, and Nikita does not support this decision. 

As the characters go through a roller coaster of emotions, it makes us connect with their plight. Nikita, after having physical intimacy with Neeraj, had to consult a counsellor (Devika Daftardar). Neeraj hesitates to visit a physician and seek an opinion about having a normal married life with children. Neeraj is sceptical about remarrying Nikita, even after assurance from the doctor regarding his disease. Though these scenes are empathetic and cathartic, they do not build up to make the film a mature drama. But the film is more interested in depicting the humanitarian contribution of the organization U=U to society. So, it does not come as a surprise that the screenplay by Dr. Vivek Bele is focused on raising awareness of the need for understanding and supporting those suffering from HIV/AIDS. So, as the events unfold, the short film also wants us to feel the same way. The polished dialogue hits the emotional beats and rhythms in the right manner. At the same time, it enhances the feeling of this being an overly scripted, almost didactic film about awareness. 

Shweta Basu Prasad holds the film together with her fine performance. Balancing her suffocation, angst and heartbreak perfectly, she brings an extraordinary tenderness to her character. Nothing will break your heart as much as watching this woman, desperate to keep this man in his life. It provides much-needed heft to the story. Arjun Radhakrishnan too, holds his own in essaying a character that's deeply layered and conflicted. Both are commendable in their respective roles. Dr Mohan Agashe and Devika Daftardar make a sincere effort to match up with the rest of the cast. Cinematographer Prateek Pamecha has shot the film with a loose naturalism. But the framing of the characters does not allow us to experience the emotions and psyches of the characters. Joydip Das, the editor, creates a subtle tone by assembling the shots in a seamless and unhurried manner without resorting to fast-cut techniques. The sound design by Piyush Shah layers the tracking meticulously to amplify the emotions in each of the scenes. This helps to heighten the overall dramatic moment of the film. 

U=Me once again displays Kulkarni's adept command over the medium of storytelling as a director. But viewers who were impressed with his previous short films like Girni (2004), Three of Us (2008), or the Netflix documentary Indian Predator: Murder in a Courtroom (2022 ) would be left wanting more.   

U=Me (2024) is available on YouTube.