Disclaimer: Spoiler’s Alert: A few scenes from the short film ‘The Mirror’ have been detailed out to the best of the writer’s ability and understanding of the subject. This may spoil your film-watching experience if you haven’t watched the short yet. Readers’ discretion is advised.

Do I see myself in ‘The Mirror’?

I look at myself every day in the mirror. It is usually a rushed affair. I layer my eyes with kohl, brush my hair and give those final touches to the face, hair, and attire – and I am ready to step out.

How often do I look into the mirror and pause for some time? Do I take a moment to reflect on how far I have come by - the fears, pains, rebellions, and joys I have been through? Do I recognise my deep, dormant feelings? Do I understand the inhibitions and desires that have settled in, deep within?

Perhaps not.

Perhaps, the emotions are so cold, suppressed, and underdeveloped that they generally don’t show up in day-to-day events. The sentiments start becoming mature only when they are faced with a situation. A situation that challenges the status quo and throws us into a deep pit of wanting.

And, thus, we enter the world behind the face into the mirror.

Something like that happened when I watched ‘The Mirror’.

The Mirror&nbsp;– a short by the brilliant filmmaker Konkona Sen Sharma in the Netflix anthology Lust Stories 2, explores the themes of loneliness, desire, class divide, and voyeurism, through the characters played by the terrific actors - Tillotama Shome and Amruta Subhash.

One of the initial scenes establishes the positions of the two characters – Ishita (played by Tillotama Shome) and Seema (played by Amruta Subhash). Ishita – a single, career-oriented woman, discovers that her house help – Seema is having sex with a man in her bedroom. Ishita immediately runs out to a corner. In a static frame - Ishita calls up her friend (Sen Sharma’s voice on the other end), Seema steps out, takes the lift, and the man moves out of the frame. That shot depicts the power dynamics between the characters, wherein Ishita first stands tall and firm but in a moment’s time, she too, bends down. Literally - to hide from the other two, figuratively - reaching to the core emotions that are the same, regardless of the class divide.

In a usual setting, one would terminate the services of the help. But Ishita chooses not to confront Seema about it – for Ishita starts deriving pleasure from seeing them have sex. Day after day, she sneaks into the house that is officially her own and watches them perform through a mirror. These scenes are aesthetically shot, with long continuous pans signifying the transition of days. Another impressive aspect of these scenes is the gripping soundtrack.

The extreme close-up shots of Ishita’s face while she is seeing them in action, are representative of her bottled-up emotions. Tillotama Shome’s expressions are of top class. Her eyes do all the talking and her face carries hidden sentiments of longing. There is a scene where Ishita masturbates and then breaks out crying. That one scene encapsulates everything that Ishita as a character is going through. Her internal dilemma stems from a deep-seated yearning to be with someone and be the recipient of someone’s touch and love. Despite the worldly belongings that Ishita owns, she doesn’t feel any richer than her house help. Seema may not have material possessions but has a companion to realise her needs, to love, and to traverse through life.

The film also explores the elasticity of physical spaces. How a certain space can be shared, owned, and disowned by its inhabitants - depends largely on the situation and time. In a scene where Seema first realises that Ishita is in the house and perhaps, in the know of what’s going on – Seema takes ownership of the space while Ishita tiptoes away from her own house. The choreography of the scene is tremendous and changes the underlying forces operating between the characters thereafter.

Tillotama Shome’s Ishita is strong and vulnerable – all at the same time. The character is surprised by its own switched mannerisms but owns and accepts them, nonetheless. From Monsoon Wedding to the latest The Night Manager – Shome truly lights up the frame with every character she plays on-screen.

Amruta Subhash’s Seema is strong, sassy, and upright – much like her manager in The Mirror. Subhash’s performance has all along been appreciated in Bollywood projects like - Firaaq, Gully Boy, Sacred Games 2, Choked, and Bombay Begums, among others. However, my favourite Amruta Subhash film has been Avinash Arun’s national award-winning Marathi drama Killa (2015). Subhash as a widowed mother in the coming-of-age film portrays a compelling character – tender, compassionate, and stoical at times.

The Mirror&nbsp;is Konkona Sen Sharma’s second directorial project. A Death In The Gunj&nbsp;(2017) her directorial debut established the fact that she is just as unparalleled a director as she is an actor. For anyone who has followed Sen Sharma’s work over the years across languages, it is quite difficult to put down a list of her best performances. In fact, it is almost impossible unless one is tasked to. Irrespective of whether it is a lead role or not – Sen Sharma’s acting supremacy cannot be disregarded.

However, there is one film that I cannot not mention. 15 Park Avenue&nbsp;- one of her earliest films, had the power to stir up my emotions and numb me for days when I first watched it. Sen Sharma played the character of a schizophrenic woman under the guidance and direction of her mother and prolific filmmaker – Aparna Sen. It is one of the few Indian films that talk about mental health issues with the sensitivity and understanding it warrants. 15 Park Avenue&nbsp;was released in 2005.

18 years later with The Mirror, Konkona Sen Sharma is still at her best – just that, now she dons the Director’s hat with as much dexterity as she does with her acting.

Written by Konkona Sen Sharma and Pooja Tolani, The Mirror&nbsp;is the most powerful of all shorts in Lust Stories 2. It opens you up to the world of two women who enjoy exploring sexual desire unapologetically. The film brings me to question – Why is it that the forbidden, the mysterious, and the unattainable - always so desirous? And what is it about transgression that makes desire so palpable and compelling?

The Mirror&nbsp;will make you pause, introspect and question. Allow it to find its way to your mind and reflections. It is currently streaming on Netflix.

I leave you with a few lines from one of the most admired poets of the 20th century - Sylvia Plath. The lines crossed my mind as I watched the film. Interestingly, the poem is titled Mirror.

Most of the time I meditate on the opposite wall.

It is pink, with speckles. I have looked at it so long

I think it is part of my heart. But it flickers.

Faces and darkness separate us over and over.

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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Disclaimer: Spoiler’s Alert: A few scenes from the short film ‘The Mirror’ have been detailed out to the best of the writer’s ability and understanding of the subject.

Disclaimer: Spoiler’s Alert: A few scenes from the short film ‘The Mirror’ have been detailed out to the best of the writer’s ability and understanding of the subject. This may spoil your film-watching experience if you haven’t watched the short yet. Readers’ discretion is advised. Do I see myself in ‘The Mirror’? I look at myself every day in the mirror. It is usually a rushed affair. I layer my eyes with kohl, brush my hair and give those final touches to the face, hair, and attire – and I am ready to step out. How often do I look into the mirror and pause for some time? Do I take a moment to reflect on how far I have come by - the fears, pains, rebellions, and joys I have been through? Do I recognise my deep, dormant feelings? Do I understand the inhibitions and desires that have settled in, deep within? Perhaps not. Perhaps, the emotions are so cold, suppressed, and underdeveloped that they generally don’t show up in day-to-day events. The sentiments start becoming mature only when they are faced with a situation. A situation that challenges the status quo and throws us into a deep pit of wanting. And, thus, we enter the world behind the face into the mirror. Something like that happened when I watched ‘The Mirror’. The Mirror – a short by the brilliant filmmaker Konkona Sen Sharma in the Netflix anthology Lust Stories 2, explores the themes of loneliness, desire, class divide, and voyeurism, through the characters played by the terrific actors - Tillotama Shome and Amruta Subhash. One of the initial scenes establishes the positions of the two characters – Ishita (played by Tillotama Shome) and Seema (played by Amruta Subhash). Ishita – a single, career-oriented woman, discovers that her house help – Seema is having sex with a man in her bedroom. Ishita immediately runs out to a corner. In a static frame - Ishita calls up her friend (Sen Sharma’s voice on the other end), Seema steps out, takes the lift, and the man moves out of the frame. That shot depicts the power dynamics between the characters, wherein Ishita first stands tall and firm but in a moment’s time, she too, bends down. Literally - to hide from the other two, figuratively - reaching to the core emotions that are the same, regardless of the class divide. In a usual setting, one would terminate the services of the help. But Ishita chooses not to confront Seema about it – for Ishita starts deriving pleasure from seeing them have sex. Day after day, she sneaks into the house that is officially her own and watches them perform through a mirror. These scenes are aesthetically shot, with long continuous pans signifying the transition of days. Another impressive aspect of these scenes is the gripping soundtrack. The extreme close-up shots of Ishita’s face while she is seeing them in action, are representative of her bottled-up emotions. Tillotama Shome’s expressions are of top class. Her eyes do all the talking and her face carries hidden sentiments of longing. There is a scene where Ishita masturbates and then breaks out crying. That one scene encapsulates everything that Ishita as a character is going through. Her internal dilemma stems from a deep-seated yearning to be with someone and be the recipient of someone’s touch and love. Despite the worldly belongings that Ishita owns, she doesn’t feel any richer than her house help. Seema may not have material possessions but has a companion to realise her needs, to love, and to traverse through life. The film also explores the elasticity of physical spaces. How a certain space can be shared, owned, and disowned by its inhabitants - depends largely on the situation and time. In a scene where Seema first realises that Ishita is in the house and perhaps, in the know of what’s going on – Seema takes ownership of the space while Ishita tiptoes away from her own house. The choreography of the scene is tremendous and changes the underlying forces operating between the characters thereafter. Tillotama Shome’s Ishita is strong and vulnerable – all at the same time. The character is surprised by its own switched mannerisms but owns and accepts them, nonetheless. From Monsoon Wedding to the latest The Night Manager – Shome truly lights up the frame with every character she plays on-screen. Amruta Subhash’s Seema is strong, sassy, and upright – much like her manager in The Mirror. Subhash’s performance has all along been appreciated in Bollywood projects like - Firaaq, Gully Boy, Sacred Games 2, Choked, and Bombay Begums, among others. However, my favourite Amruta Subhash film has been Avinash Arun’s national award-winning Marathi drama Killa (2015). Subhash as a widowed mother in the coming-of-age film portrays a compelling character – tender, compassionate, and stoical at times. The Mirror is Konkona Sen Sharma’s second directorial project. A Death In The Gunj (2017) her directorial debut established the fact that she is just as unparalleled a director as she is an actor. For anyone who has followed Sen Sharma’s work over the years across languages, it is quite difficult to put down a list of her best performances. In fact, it is almost impossible unless one is tasked to. Irrespective of whether it is a lead role or not – Sen Sharma’s acting supremacy cannot be disregarded. However, there is one film that I cannot not mention. 15 Park Avenue - one of her earliest films, had the power to stir up my emotions and numb me for days when I first watched it. Sen Sharma played the character of a schizophrenic woman under the guidance and direction of her mother and prolific filmmaker – Aparna Sen. It is one of the few Indian films that talk about mental health issues with the sensitivity and understanding it warrants. 15 Park Avenue was released in 2005. 18 years later with The Mirror, Konkona Sen Sharma is still at her best – just that, now she dons the Director’s hat with as much dexterity as she does with her acting. Written by Konkona Sen Sharma and Pooja Tolani, The Mirror is the most powerful of all shorts in Lust Stories 2. It opens you up to the world of two women who enjoy exploring sexual desire unapologetically. The film brings me to question – Why is it that the forbidden, the mysterious, and the unattainable - always so desirous? And what is it about transgression that makes desire so palpable and compelling? The Mirror will make you pause, introspect and question. Allow it to find its way to your mind and reflections. It is currently streaming on Netflix. I leave you with a few lines from one of the most admired poets of the 20th century - Sylvia Plath. The lines crossed my mind as I watched the film. Interestingly, the poem is titled Mirror. Most of the time I meditate on the opposite wall. It is pink, with speckles. I have looked at it so long I think it is part of my heart. But it flickers. Faces and darkness separate us over and over. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Opinion | Do you see yourself in Konkana Sen Sharma's directorial The Mirror?

Prince Harry is on Tuesday expected to take the witness stand in a London court as part of claims against a British tabloid publisher, the latest in his legal battles with the press.

King Charles III's younger son will become the first senior British royal to give evidence in court for more than a century when he testifies against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN).

He and various other high-profile claimants accuse it of unlawful activities, including phone hacking.

The case is one of several that the 38-year-old prince has brought against British newspaper groups since stepping down from frontline royal duties in early 2020 and eventually relocating to California with his American wife Meghan Markle. 
 
Harry's lawyer David Sherborne told London's High Court on Monday that the prince was targeted by illegal information-gathering even as a young schoolboy and his phone would have been hacked on "multiple occasions".

"No aspect of the young prince's life was safe" from press intrusion, he submitted.

Representing MGN, publisher of The Mirror and The Sunday People tabloids, barrister Andrew Green said there was "no evidence" that Harry's phone was tapped.

The prince had been expected to appear in the courtroom Monday but did not take part in the hearing because of flying to the UK late Sunday after celebrating his daughter Lilibet's second birthday, according to Sherborne.

The case against MGN centres on claims its tabloids conducted unlawful information-gathering to obtain stories about Harry and other claimants, including two TV soap opera actors and the ex-wife of a comedian. 
 
At the start of the trial on May 10, MGN apologised and admitted to "some evidence" of unlawful information-gathering, including for a story about Harry.

But it denied voicemail tapping and also argued that some claims had been brought too late.

Sherborne submitted that "industrial scale" illegal activities were happening at MGN and had been approved by senior executives.

Harry, who is fifth in line to the throne, has had a turbulent relationship with the press and holds the media responsible for the death of his mother Princess Diana, who died in a Paris car crash in 1997 while being pursued by paparazzi.

In television interviews and his explosive memoir "Spare" -- released in January -- Harry hit out at other royals, accusing them of colluding with the press.

In court filings unveiled in April, Harry claimed the royal family as an institution had struck a "secret agreement" with one UK publisher that had prevented him from suing, to avoid a royal entering the witness box.

He also alleged the monarchy wanted to prevent the opening of a "Pandora's Box" of negative coverage that could tarnish the royal brand.

The prince has vowed to spearhead efforts to enforce change on Britain's tabloid media, and the MGN trial is one of several ongoing legal battles he has launched against the press.

They include joint legal action against Associated Newspapers (ANL), publisher of the Daily Mail, over alleged breaches of privacy.

The California-based prince made a surprise appearance at the High Court in March to hear legal arguments in the case, but did not give in-person evidence.

His testimony on Tuesday will be the first time a senior royal has given evidence in court since Edward VII, who took the stand in an 1890 slander trial before becoming monarch.

Charles's sister Princess Anne became the first member of the current royal family to be convicted of a criminal offence after one of her dogs bit two children in 2002. 
 
She pleaded guilty to an offence under the Dangerous Dogs Act so was not required to give evidence in court.

Prince Harry is on Tuesday expected to take the witness stand in a London court as part of claims against a British tabloid publisher, the latest in his legal battles with the press.

Prince Harry is on Tuesday expected to take the witness stand in a London court as part of claims against a British tabloid publisher, the latest in his legal battles with the press. King Charles III's younger son will become the first senior British royal to give evidence in court for more than a century when he testifies against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN). He and various other high-profile claimants accuse it of unlawful activities, including phone hacking. The case is one of several that the 38-year-old prince has brought against British newspaper groups since stepping down from frontline royal duties in early 2020 and eventually relocating to California with his American wife Meghan Markle. Harry's lawyer David Sherborne told London's High Court on Monday that the prince was targeted by illegal information-gathering even as a young schoolboy and his phone would have been hacked on "multiple occasions". "No aspect of the young prince's life was safe" from press intrusion, he submitted. Representing MGN, publisher of The Mirror and The Sunday People tabloids, barrister Andrew Green said there was "no evidence" that Harry's phone was tapped. The prince had been expected to appear in the courtroom Monday but did not take part in the hearing because of flying to the UK late Sunday after celebrating his daughter Lilibet's second birthday, according to Sherborne. The case against MGN centres on claims its tabloids conducted unlawful information-gathering to obtain stories about Harry and other claimants, including two TV soap opera actors and the ex-wife of a comedian. At the start of the trial on May 10, MGN apologised and admitted to "some evidence" of unlawful information-gathering, including for a story about Harry. But it denied voicemail tapping and also argued that some claims had been brought too late. Sherborne submitted that "industrial scale" illegal activities were happening at MGN and had been approved by senior executives. Harry, who is fifth in line to the throne, has had a turbulent relationship with the press and holds the media responsible for the death of his mother Princess Diana, who died in a Paris car crash in 1997 while being pursued by paparazzi. In television interviews and his explosive memoir "Spare" -- released in January -- Harry hit out at other royals, accusing them of colluding with the press. In court filings unveiled in April, Harry claimed the royal family as an institution had struck a "secret agreement" with one UK publisher that had prevented him from suing, to avoid a royal entering the witness box. He also alleged the monarchy wanted to prevent the opening of a "Pandora's Box" of negative coverage that could tarnish the royal brand. The prince has vowed to spearhead efforts to enforce change on Britain's tabloid media, and the MGN trial is one of several ongoing legal battles he has launched against the press. They include joint legal action against Associated Newspapers (ANL), publisher of the Daily Mail, over alleged breaches of privacy. The California-based prince made a surprise appearance at the High Court in March to hear legal arguments in the case, but did not give in-person evidence. His testimony on Tuesday will be the first time a senior royal has given evidence in court since Edward VII, who took the stand in an 1890 slander trial before becoming monarch. Charles's sister Princess Anne became the first member of the current royal family to be convicted of a criminal offence after one of her dogs bit two children in 2002. She pleaded guilty to an offence under the Dangerous Dogs Act so was not required to give evidence in court.

Prince Harry to testify against British tabloid publisher

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