Summary
This is certainly not a throwaway sci-fi short film; you will be intrigued by the story that’s told, even if it is reliant on seen-before tropes.
This review of Navarasa season 1, episode 3 for the short film Project Agni: Adbhuta contains spoilers. We discuss the ending.
The third short film of Navarasa season 1, Project Agni: Adbhuta, follows Vishnu, a man obsessed with a radical theory. The film sees this theorist becoming enthralled in a life that is outrageous and unexpected as his mind voyages towards the creation of the world. It’s quite a step up in deep thinking compared to the last short film, as Vishnu spends a vast portion of the story explaining what he has discovered to a close friend.
Project Agni: Adbhuta relies heavily on previous films, giving glimpses of Inception and Interstellar; in fact, in the opening scenes, there’s a slight sliver of the Inception soundtrack that teases the audience even more. While the film’s attention is to flabbergast the viewer with an all-encompassing idea, unfortunately, the premise is so heavily scoped that it requires more time and thought. A thirsty sci-fi fan will relish the opportunity of the story but will be left disappointed that it’s only a short film. The third short film relies on the extravagant sci-fi look, bordering on Doctor Who’s aesthetics and design.
This is certainly not a throwaway sci-fi short film; you will be intrigued by the story that’s told, even if it is reliant on seen-before tropes.
Navarasa season 1, episode 3 – Project Agni: Adbhuta short film ending
As the film moves forward and it is clear that Vishnu is holding on to some demons, he invites his friend Krishna to discuss his latest theory. He begins by talking about the Mayans’ prediction of the end of the world (December 21, 2012) and then moves to discuss an advanced alien race, planetary positions, and other theories that we are all familiar with. It’s no surprise his friend is impatient at this point. However, Vishnu then moves to his actual theory — he states they are living in a computer simulation designed by an advanced ancestral and intelligent civilization. He marks that there is a planet of conscious reality and a planet of a subconscious reality. He claims that the subconscious reality started disintegrating on December 21, 2012 — eventually, humans will no longer be able to dream.
Of course, at this point, Krishna is frustrated and attempts to leave, but when Vishnu closes his eyes, another version of himself and Krishna appears, which frightens his friend, and he sits back down; when Vishnu opens his eyes, the other versions of themselves disappear.
Vishnu then shows Krishna his laboratory, where he has carried out all his findings. He explains how the subconscious mind has access to The Creator and that by using the God molecule, he learned the hard way that drifting through time does not carry your memories — you can’t choose the time, and the future dictates the present, meaning the concept of free will does not exist. When he drifted and returned, his wife and son were not there — they were no longer a part of his life.
In Vishnu’s new world, led by his subconscious mind, physical laws do not apply. By making imagination into reality, it’s become a potential weapon that could destroy the world. Vishnu gives Krishna Project Agni and asks him to leave. He explains that when creating this experiment, his assistant Kalki brought his subconscious to this reality and became a monster. He wants Vishnu to use Solution A in the briefcase to stop Kalki while he takes a leap of faith — Vishnu has realized that he forgot the beauty of the present.
Krishna leaves. As Vishnu is about to kill himself in the hope that it will return him to the reality he once existed in, there’s a knock on his door — it’s Krishna with his partner. It turns out Kalki had morphed himself to look like Krishna to fool Vishnu; he now has Solution A.
But the real lesson of this story is to appreciate what you have. Appreciate the present. Appreciate your loved ones. Vishnu’s obsession with finding meaning led to a meaningless life and caused more harm than good.
What did you think of Navarasa season 1, episode 3 – short film Project Agni: Adbhuta? Comment below.
