Short films in India have always played a pivotal role in expressing new concepts in a short span of time. Short films have less duration than feature films and usually have a running time of 40 minutes or less. Short films in India are the hub of innovative storytelling. They are also cherished for their conciseness and entertainment value. Often new filmmakers step in the film arena through short films which render prominence to their new techniques and ideas. It acts as a first step of professional filmmaking. However, many eminent Indian filmmakers have also ventured in this arena and created some of the most admired short films of all times. Professional actors and filmmakers have many a times chosen short films as an alternative form of expression. Short films are a great way of expressing a new or poignant concept of any genre, be it fiction or non fiction. They also play significant roles in creating social awareness about critical social issues. Quite often short films adopt unconventional film making techniques and narratives devoid of dialogues.

Premiere of Short Films
Short films are greatly promoted and appreciated in various film festivals which confer recognition to the innovative efforts of the filmmakers. In fact most of the short films depend on festival exhibition for reaching the viewers. However some of them are also distributed on internet through various websites which over years have attracted a huge traffic of artists and viewers. A number of short films in India have walked away with prestigious accolades at Indian as well as international film festivals. Short films in contemporary times have gained huge popularity as it provides a great platform for the exhibition of art with low expenses.

Prarambha
Prarambha is a 2007 Kannada short film made to increase awareness about AIDS. The film was directed by Santosh Shivan and the story was written by Ritesh Menon and Mubina Rattonsey. The movie portrays the quest of a boy for the person who gave him birth and how a truck driver helps him in his quest and reinstates him in the school which dismissed him for being HIV positive. The film was premiered at Toronto International Film Festival in the year of its release and was screened in India at 38th International Film Festival of India. The movie was made for Richard Gere`s AIDS foundation.

Little Terrorist
Little Terrorist is a Hindi short film released in 2004. It was written and directed by Ashvin Kumar and was nominated for an Academy Award in the year 2005. The movie depicts a Pakistani boy who enters the Indian land chasing a cricket ball and is then forced to a hide out. The film was invited by 103 film festivals and bagged awards in 14 of them. It is also the first Indian short film which got a theatrical release in the country.

Pikoo
Pikoo is a Bengali short film made in 1980 by the notable director Satyajit Ray. The movie is a soulful narration of a day in the life of a six year old boy in the backdrop of the extramarital affair of his mother. The film was made for a French television channel, France 3.

Printed Rainbow
Printed Rainbow is a 2006 short film which earned the director Gitanjali Rao the Young Critics Award, Small Golden Rail and the Kodak Short Film Award at Cannes in 2006. The film depicts a poignant story of a lonely woman and her cat, united by a matchbox collection. The film beautifully switches between drab and vivid colours sketching a heart touching tale.

Ek Anek Aur Ekta
Ek Anek Aur Ekta is a short educational film released in 1974 by the Films Division of India (Government of India). The film focussed on teaching the value of unity and teamwork to children and inspires the citizens to strengthen the nation by standing united irrespective of cultural differences. Directed by Vijaya Mulay, the film won the National Film Award for Best Educational Film and the Best Children`s Film Award in Japan. It is also the first Indian film from the animation studios of then Centre for Education Technology. The film forms a great example of story telling through animation in India.

Other Short Films in India
Other short films in India include 1:30 am, Blood Brothers, Chaitra, Freedom at the Edge, The House That Ananda Built, In the Name of the Son, Last Train to Mahakali, Reflections, Samayer Kache, That Day After Everyday, White Knight and many more.