Unpaused is a wonderful collection of five beautifully crafted short movies that underlines the struggles, confusion, fear, helplessness, anger, loneliness, distress, vulnerability and cowardice that struck our lives once the COVID-19 induced lockdown was announced. the anthology, knitted by a slew of terrific performances, is a pertinent commentary on a pandemic and its depredations.

Cinematography is excellent in all segments, with near perfect production production colouring that is among the best in 2020 Indian cinema. Editing is crisp and neat, making sure none of the five segments drag unnecessarily even one bit. Production design, costumes and makeup were very decent in all segments. Directors Nikkhil Advani, Avinash Arun, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Krishna D.K, Nitya Mehra, Raj Nidimoru have really put in a great effort to ensure good quality returns in their respective segments. Music was subtle and calm throughout the segments depicting the tone of events unfolding within. Acting is generally very good overall, armed with some very good performances by a host of well seasoned actors. With Geetika Vidya Ohlyan performance in Vishaanu segment being the best of the lot.

Overall, Unpaused is important because it serves to chronicle this slice of history, that we all took part into. It helps that it is also an enjoyable, insightful affair where we get a peek into the lives of others, during the pandemic, both rich and poor and see how they conquered their vulnerability. At a run time of 114 for five segments, Unpaused is a breeze that will remind us of our own fear & helplessness during March & April 2020. 7.7 stars out of 10 for the beautiful presentation of heart touching stories.

I could totally relate with the last 3 stories. Seen it happening with my close ones. Phenomenal acting by everyone. Definitely needs a sequel.

Films made during the ongoing pandemic (such as C U Soon, Putham Pudhu Kaalai, and more) came with their own set of challenges: to stay relevant and current while addressing viewers from a relatable emotional standpoint. Unpaused definitely won't be timeless but if someone in the future were to look back at the year 2020 and its nuances, a film such as this would be a worthwhile reference. Here's a collection of five stories (minus one) where the central character is the coronavirus. Let's break them down one by one.

Glitch: Probably the wackiest and most innovative among the lot, Glitch talks about finding love during prolonged stretches of isolation. Set in the future, technology has improved and dating has gone virtual (thanks to AR & VR),but a legit vaccine is yet to be found. Raj & D.K give their leads (played by Saiyami Kher and Gulshan Devaiah) some thoughtful texture, and the story plays out in a funny-yet-relatable manner and ends with the quintessential 'aww' moment, without plunging into any sort of melodrama.

The Apartment: Directed by Nikkhil Advani, this is the only segment which didn't require a pandemic setting - sexual harassments (in the corporate world),broken marriages, and suicidal tendencies have existed long before the virus outbreak. The depth in plot and characters is certainly lacking, but the performances keep it float. The narrative too is adequately paced and manages to keep viewers engaged throughout, ending on a solid note.

Rat-A-Tat: Tannishtha Chatterjee helms this one, where neighbouring ladies (from two distinct generations) get off on the wrong foot, eventually warming up to each other. Reminding me of the inter-generational warmth spread in few of Putham Pudhu Kaalai's stories, the segment also dives deeper into the notion of women being alone by choice - something that's relatively less explored in Indian cinema. Rinku Rajguru and Lilette Dubey play their parts well enough.

Vishaanu: Cinematographer Avinash Arun Dhaware (known best for Pataal Lok) tells the story of an immigrant labourer's family and their struggles (to get home) and the little joys they indulge in. The immigrant family is now holed up in a sample, unoccupied flat, exploring the luxuries of the rich while wondering how they can relocate back to their village. Conceived and performed in convincing fashion (by Abhishek Banerjee & Geetika Vidya Ohlyan),I found this episode to be the anthology's standout piece.

Chaand Mubarak: A well-off but lone (and ageing) woman strikes a bond with a rickshaw driver during their trips to the supermarkets and medical stores. As expected, the segment begins with a sense of class bias (and dissent between strangers),but the two get to know each other better over their differing interests and backgrounds. The result is a positive evolution for both with the burgeoning realization that living independently or having your family living elsewhere can mean different things to different people. While the plot may seem a tad unrealistic, the performances are earnest.

Overall, Unpaused is worth a watch even if it may not stand the test of time. The pandemic has left its mark on cinema, and Unpaused could well be one of its not-bad outcomes.