Times of Bennett
ArticleFeatures

‘Saanjha Kuaan’: The Art of Love on a Screen

This piece is a review of the original, Times School of Media produced short film 'Sanjha Kuaan'. Directed by BAFTW student Safin Laller. It tells a historic tale of love, selflessness and despair. While being exemplary of what the combination of true dedication and passion can look like.

Published:February 17, 2026 at 03:32 PM5 min read
‘Saanjha Kuaan’: The Art of Love on a Screen
Correspondent: Shubhangi Sarkar

Love truly knows no bounds. And this is a human truth that was once again emphasised by the original, Times School of Media production- ‘Saanjha Kuaan’- The Shared Well.

Directed by first year BA Film, Television and Web Series’ student Safin Laller, this 20-minute-long, self-funded, and student-led short film, is a story that leaves a lingering, bittersweet feeling that remains unforgettable. Even if, for a brief amount of time.

When asked about the inspirations behind this creation, Safin referenced the legendary Indian director- Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Devdas’. Another unforgettable drama that set the standards for Indian period pieces. Alongside his own experiences of unrequited feelings towards a sweetheart in his 10th grade of high school that were expressed only on a piece of paper.

What makes this short film even more interesting is the fact that this short colonial drama, is from the very creative mind of someone who belongs to the Gen-Z era of low attention spans and fickle trends.

The film starts off with a hooking mystery, surrounding an indecipherable piece of paper that a young boy finds in his mother’s keepsake box. And the process of decoding those words is what acts as the transition into the main story, in form of a flashback that the mother experiences.

The female lead, Lajjo, who was portrayed by fellow TSOM student Aastha Dubey, does a brilliant job in enacting the role of a young Indian woman in the colonial era. Her shy and timid personality acts as a classic representation of the patriarchal pressure, that the women in those times had to endure.

And yet, in a colonial setting where women’s needs, wants and desires were never a topic of consideration, Lajjo’s character decides to pursue her own willingness of learning music. From the young man she meets at the well, which she uses to draw water from, every day.

This young man is introduced as Bhuvan Chaudhary, a classical music maestro from Lahore, who happens to recognise Lajjo’s talent for singing. Thanks to her coincidentally humming along the song ‘Jhoot na bolo sajna’ during his practice sessions.

Portrayed by First Year Mass Communication student, Arnav Kapse; Bhuvan’s charismatic persona of being a knowledgeable and passionate young artist is depicted with a sort of perfection that pulls the audience deeper into the film.

Due to Lajjo’s father being the ‘Sarpanch’ or ‘Head’ of the village that she resides in, a lot of hesitance about this secret exchange of musical wisdom between both of them, is expressed by Lajjo’s character all throughout. As she tries her level best to let this secret remain a secret. Because the consequences of interacting with another man, and attempting to pursue her own dreams was no less than a crime in the heavily patriarchal, colonial era of Indian history.

Her hesitance however, is gradually shown to begin fading away and blooming into feelings of affection instead. With the skilful usage of cinematographic elements such as lighting, music and dialogue writing. And of course, the actors’ own remarkable abilities.

Lajjo’s fellow admirer, Faisal, is introduced into the film with a very simple and comedic tone. Especially through his light-hearted banter with his mother, voiced by second year Mass Communications student Viraji Singh. This comedic element acts as a pleasant refresher from the film’s overall emotion-heavy narrative. While in striking contrast, Faisal becomes the one, bringing the storm after the calm. For his actions end up placing a major barrier between Bhuvan and Lajjo’s frequent rendezvous.

The transition from moments of happiness, to those of betrayal, hopelessness and despair are presented to the audience using perfectly crafted background scoring and songs. Whose lyrics were also composed
by the young director himself.

And ultimately, the notions of pure love is what fuels Lajjo’s choice to blacken her tongue, and lie about Bhuvan harassing her under the pretext of teaching her music. Which ultimately prevents him from getting killed by the village’s sarpanch. For ever daring to love his daughter. This acts as a ‘full-circle’ moment, considering that the song that brought them together in the first place, was a request to his loved one to not lie.

The production’s focus on detailing is noticeable in many instances throughout the film. Such as Bhuvan’s usage of a fountain pen to write down his last lesson to Lajjo on the same piece of paper that she held onto, for years. A clear nod towards the film’s established colonial setting.

Additionally, at the very end, when the timeline flips back to the present, true love’s victory is depicted through the ironic plot twist of Lajjo’s young son, being called out by his friends as ‘Bhuvan’. Simply proving Safin’s brilliance as a writer, director and lyricist.

Logistically too, the film was an outcome of sheer hard-work and research. Considering that the entire film was shot in a single day, from dawn to dusk, in a hidden spot of Kurukshetra, Haryana.


The spot, which consisted of both, a well, and old residential structures as the cast mentioned, was rather difficult to find. Because in the director’s own words, ‘Jin cheezo ko hum aam maan rahe hai, wo ab khaas ho chuke hai’.

Ultimately, ‘Saanjha Kuaan’ is a visually spectacular, dramatical, period piece. Which is a beautiful representation of a very commonly used statement by romanticists and lovers around the world. That is, “If you love someone enough, let them go’.

The author is a second year BA Mass Communication student. She is extremely passionate about international relations, linguistics, cultures and anime. And she likes to indulge in digital art in her free time.

Tags
#saanjha kuaan#lajjos#bhuvan#haryana#mass communications#kurukshetra#ba film#arnav kapse#aastha dubey#faisal

Related Articles

BENNETT DIALOGUES launch with the War in West Asia
Article
Campus

BENNETT DIALOGUES launch with the War in West Asia

Bennett University has launched BENNETT DIALOGUES, a fortnightly talk series conceptualized by Chancellor Vineet Jain (Times Group MD) to help students grasp global geopolitical shifts. Led by Prof. Dhiraj Singh (Head, Centre for Media & Technology), it features informal fireside chats and Q&A with experts in geopolitics, business, and media. The series aims to connect world events to everyday impacts, like how the US-Israel-Iran war affects India's petrol and LPG prices. The inaugural edition on April 21 explores "The War in West Asia," with Times Now's Zakka Jacob and Dr. Waiel Awwad (Syrian-origin expert on West Asia conflicts, based in Delhi). Prof. Singh highlights its blend of Times Group media legacy and Bennett's academic excellence, benefiting media, liberal arts, business, and law students.

Apr 18, 20262 min
#dialogues#zakka jacob#dhiraj singh+3 more
War bugle disguised as a ceasefire: Examining Lebanon's situation post Israeli air strikes
Article
Features

War bugle disguised as a ceasefire: Examining Lebanon's situation post Israeli air strikes

On April 8, a fragile ceasefire briefly eased global tensions after 40 days of war between Israel, Iran, and allies, announced by Trump on Truth Social and confirmed by Iran and Pakistan's PM Shehbaz Sharif, who brokered it. Celebrations ensued worldwide as markets surged and oil prices fell, until Israeli jets struck Lebanon that morning, killing 357 civilians in what Beirut dubbed "Black Wednesday," while Israel excluded Lebanon from the deal. No formal agreement exists; conflicting statements emerged immediately, with Pakistan and Iran insisting it covered Lebanon, but Israel and the US rejecting that after a Trump-Netanyahu call. Lebanon, already devastated with over 2,000 deaths since March, was sidelined in a multi-front conflict involving Hezbollah, Iraqi militias, and Gulf interceptions. Post-ceasefire issues mounted: Iran kept the Strait of Hormuz choked, charging exorbitant fees and slashing traffic from 110 daily ships to four. Historic US-Iran talks in Islamabad on April 11 collapsed, prompting a US naval blockade that doubled down on the disruption, halting all oil route traffic (20% of global supply). The two-week truce window lasts until April 22 amid ongoing messages, but optimism fades after the deadliest civilian day coincided with its announcement.

Apr 17, 20264 min
#lebanon#trump#iran+5 more
Dhurandhar: Propaganda or not?
Article
Features

Dhurandhar: Propaganda or not?

This article attempts to find an answer to whether Dhurandhar a propaganda film or not? For a film so highly acclaimed and criticized, Dhurandhar has managed to become a topic of debate in almost every Indian household.

Apr 16, 20266 min
#dhurandhar#rekha pachauri#jaskirat singh rangi+2 more
Exploring Why The Voice of Hind Rajab Sparked a Quiet Censorship Storm in India
Article
Features

Exploring Why The Voice of Hind Rajab Sparked a Quiet Censorship Storm in India

The film "The Voice of Hind Rajab", directed by Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, reconstructs the tragic final moments of six-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab, killed in Gaza amid the Israel-Palestine conflict. It serves as a powerful commentary on civilian suffering, war's human cost, humanitarian crises, and global indifference, transforming a personal loss into a broader critique of geopolitical silence. The documentary has sparked controversy in India, where distributor Manoj Nandwana reports an oral block by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) due to fears it could strain India's strengthening ties with Israel in defence, tech, and trade. No formal written order exists, raising concerns about transparency, artistic freedom, and censorship influenced by diplomacy rather than by cinematic guidelines. Director Ben Hania voiced heartbreak on Facebook, lamenting the decision amid her lifelong love for India and Bollywood, while questioning if the "honeymoon" between the "world’s largest democracy" and the "only democracy in the Middle East" is so fragile. The case highlights broader trends of political sensitivities curbing films on contentious issues, unequal treatment of global narratives, and tensions between art, authority, and empathy in India's media landscape.

Apr 7, 20266 min
#hind rajab#kaouther ben hania#voice of hind rajab+2 more
Opera and Ballet: Why Timothée Chalamet’s comments couldn’t even make a ‘dent’ on the art forms
Article
Features

Opera and Ballet: Why Timothée Chalamet’s comments couldn’t even make a ‘dent’ on the art forms

Timothée Chalamet's offhand dismissal of ballet and opera as irrelevant sparked outrage from the arts community, including the Met Opera, Royal Ballet, and stars like Misty Copeland. Yet, post-pandemic declines in audiences and funding reveal harsh truths: these forms struggle against streaming, gaming, and inaccessibility due to high costs and elitism. The piece urges evolution over defense—through bold collaborations (e.g., Lady Gaga), innovative productions like Anna Nicole, and pop culture crossovers, akin to theatre's Tarantino buzz or Chalamet's own savvy marketing. Dismissal as "uncultured" misses the point: his words are vital feedback for survival in today's attention economy.

Mar 20, 20264 min
#opera#ballet#timothe chalamet+2 more
On Her Own Terms: The Alysa Liu Comeback Story
Article
Features

On Her Own Terms: The Alysa Liu Comeback Story

This article looks at the impressive story of Alysia Liu, Olympic Gold Winner in the 2026 Milano Cortina Games. It examines the underlying power and courage it takes to not only leave something you love but to come back stronger than ever before,

Feb 27, 20266 min
#liu#tonya harding#nancy kerrigan+4 more