In the Mumbai lockdown, we shot a very interesting short film named Corona is a Conspiracy. I can directly give link to the film. However, maybe you’re interested in writing or in knowing how simple yet interesting writing is done. If you are, let me show you the script we had before shooting. After editing, few things change here and there. But, I’ve not changed those parts in the script – it’s exactly as it was on the shooting day.
The script is written in the classic 3 Act format – set-up, resolution, and confrontation. I hope you like the script as well as the short film of 10 min duration.
If you’re interested in not spoiling the suspense, then I’d suggest you watch the film first and then read the script to understand how the film was written. If you’re interested in knowing how a film can be made from a script, then read the script and then see how it’s shown in a film. Choose the method most useful for you.
Enjoy reading and viewing. Cheers!
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SCREENPLAY OF THE SHORT FILM
Corona is a Conspiracy
Written by Ashish Lal
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INT. FLAT – AFTERNOON
Rahul Verma, a tall young guy, is arguing about something on his phone.
Rahul: Abe saale, pagal ho gaye ho tum sab. Conspiracy hai ye Corona aur lockdown. Arre kyun, jisko dekho discussion nahin karna chahta. Karte hain na debate. Hello…hello…fattu saale sab ke sab.
The bell rings. Rahul opens the door to see salesman Amit Naren, a tall young slim guy, who’s wearing a mask.
INT. AT FLAT’S DOOR – AFTERNOON
Naren: Hello Sir. I am Naren, Amit Naren.
Rahul: Like Bond, James Bond. I’m Verma, Rahul Verma.
Naren: Bond kahan Sir. I’m just a salesman.
Rahul: Allow kar diya fattu society ne salesman ko?
Naren: Haan Sir. Temperature check kiya. Aur mask ke saath allow kiya iss shart pe ki sirf ek tiffin leke jaana hai, baaki saare neeche rakhne hain. Sab ke orders lekar, fir wapas aake tiffins dene hain.
Rahul: To tu tiffin bechta hai?
Naren: Tiffin nahin Sir, ultra-premium special new tiffin hai. Isko aap multipurpose tarike se use kar sakte hain. Ye air tight hai, microwave safe, aur spill proof bhi. Garam khana garam rahega aur thanda paani thanda. Itna sab kuch sirf 375 rupees mein Sir. Market mein agar aap lenge to yehi tiffin 5000 ka milega lekin hamari company ispe discount deke ise aap jaise logon ke liye sirf 375 mein bech rahi hai.
Rahul: Mere jaise logon ke liye? Matlab main kangla lagta hoon.
Naren: No Sir. I didn’t mean that. I meant aapke jaise good looking, educated, rich logon…
Rahul: Kitna bolta hai bhai tu. Mera bahut baat karne ka mann hai. Aa ja Naren, andar aa ja.
Naren: Sorry Sir, society guards ne bola hai andar nilkul nahin jaana.
Rahul: Tab to na ho payega bhai.
Naren: No problem Sir. Have a good day.
Naren starts leaving when Rahul asks.
Rahul: Kitne tiffins hain jo bechna hai tumhe?
Naren: Sir 500
Rahul: Sab khareed lunga agar andar aayega aur ek debate jeet lega to.
Cut to:
INT. FLAT – AFTERNOON
Naren comes from the washroom and sits on the chair.
Naren: Thank you Rahul Sir. Badi zor ki lagi thi. Maine saare safety precautions liye.
Naren sits on a chair while Rahul is sitting on another chair and sometimes walking.
Rahul: Mera kehna hai ki ye jo safety precautions hai, lockdown hai corona ke naam pe ye sab conspiracy plan hai rich and powerful logon ka. Poori duniya fattu hai isliye ye sab chal raha hai. Meri nahin fatti. Tu mujhe galat saabit kar de, meri faad de aur main tere 500 tiffins le aaunga. Apni Ma ki kasam hai.
Naren: Fatti to sabki hai Sir.
Rahul: Meri nahin fatti.
Naren: Maaf kijiyega, lekin ghar mein safe baithe hain aap to usme kya fategi Sir.
Rahul: Mask utaar. Arre mooh mat dekh, chal mask utaar.
Rahul takes off his mask.
Naren: Nahin Rahul Sir, ye aap theek nahin kar rahein.
Rahul: Chal ab fook maar mere mooh pe. Bechna hai be ya bakar karna hai bas?
Naren is scared, but then blows on his face. After that, he coughs a little.
Naren: Sorry Sir.
Rahul: Ab vishwas ho gaya na meri nahin fatti.
Naren: Lekin Sir, W.H.O. ne bola ki pandemic hai to sahi hoga.
Rahul: WHO to sabse bada fraud hai. Kabhi bolta hai normal hai, kabhi bolta hai pandemic hai. Kabhi bolta hai hawa se nahin failta, kabhi bolta hai hawa se failta hai.
Naren: Wo sab chodiye Rahul Sir, India mein lagbhag 37 lakh logo ko corona ho gaya. Iska kya jawab hai aapke paas?
Rahul: Abe, maan le 50 crore ko viral fever ho gaya, to kya karun? Poora desh band kar doon. Sabko kya kya hota hai, theek ho jaata hai.
Naren: Sir, lagbhag 65,000 log mar gayein hain, unka kya?
Rahul: Hazaron lakhon log malaria, viral fever, diarrhoea, heart attack aur yahan tak road accidents se bhi marte hain. To tab tak saare roads band rakhoge jab tak road accidents mein curve neeche na aa jaaye ya accidents zero na ho jaaye? Kya nonsense hai? 65,000 number bahut kam hai 135 crore ki aabadi waale desh ke liye.
Naren: Sir, aapke liye wo number hai, lekin jinke yahan maut hoti hai unke baare mein sochiye. Aapke liye aur aapke ghar walon ke liye aapki zindagi ek number nahin hai.
Rahul: Abe mujhe kuch nahin ho raha. Sirf jinko pehle se bahut saari beemariyan hai wohi marte hain.
Naren: Aisa to nahin hai Sir. Mera jigri dost tha Krishna, aapki tarah ekdum fit, gym jaane waala, lekin wo bhi 10 din mein chal basa.
Rahul: Abe wo koi rare case hoga.
Naren: Aap bhi to usme ho sakte hain.
Rahul: 2% bolte hain mortality rate hai. Fir bolte hain lakhon ko asymptomatic corona hoke theek bhi ho gaya, pata bhi na chala. Iska matlab unko bhi agar jod dein, to 0.1% se bhi kam mortality rate hoga. Main uss 0.1% mein nahin aaunga.
Naren: Mujhe yaad hai Sir. Krishna bhi aise hi bolta tha. Kitna lamba, chauda, handsome, intelligent banda tha. Hamesha debate karta tha Sir bilkul aapki tarah. Debate ki maa mar gayi aaj.
Rahul: Abe tu meri faadne ki koshish kar raha hai na? Lekin meri fatt nahin rahi.
Naren: Sir, maine aapko ek cheez nahin batayi.
Rahul: Kya?
Naren: Maine test karwaya tha parson. Aaj result aayega.
Rahul: Kis cheez ka test be?
Suddenly Naren’s phone rings.
Naren: Aa gaya.
Rahul: Utha, speaker pe daal.
Phone voice: O Naren bhai, tere ko BMC waale dhundh raele hain. Utha ke le jaane ke vaaste. Corona ho gaya tere ko be. Tu to marega hi saala, baaki bhi marenge. Tu tiffin nahin, maut bech raha hai.
Rahul panics. He makes Naren wear the mask. He also wears a mask. He goes to the kitchen.
Naren: Kya kar rahein hain Rahul Sir?
Rahul: Garam paani kar raha hoon. Bhaap se maar dunga Corona ki ma ko. Aur saala wo kya tha haan Giloy wo bhi le lunga. Fuck meri fatt rahi hai. Saale mooh pe kyun khaansa agar tujhe corona tha to.
Cut to:
Rahul keeps money at a place. Asks him to take it. He then sanitizes every place.
Naren: Sir main tiffin le aata hoon neeche se.
Rahul: Abe Maa ki kasan khayi hai, isliye paise de raha hoon. Mujhe tere infected tiffins nahin chahiye. Maut bech raha hai tu.
Naren: Jaisi aapki marzi Sir. Zinda rahenge to fir milenge.
Flashback
INT. FLAT’S BATHROOM – AFTERNOON
When Naren had gone in the bathroom, he calls Krishna:
Naren: Sun bhai, phone on rakh raha hoon. Tu sunta rehn sab kuch. Aur agar tujhe lage koi help kar sakta hai to kar dena.
INT. OUTSIDE FLAT – AFTERNOON
Naren walks out happy with a cunning smile on his face.
INT. FLAT – AFTERNOON
Rahul is taking steam, drinking Giloy, drinking kaadha and praying to God.
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THE SHORT FILM
Corona is a Conspiracy
Rahul aggressively believes that Corona is a Conspiracy, but nobody wants to debate with him. A salesman Naren comes to sell tiffins. Rahul gets his ‘bakra’ and challenges him – if the salesman proves him wrong, Rahul will have to bear a huge loss. Through interesting twists and turns, this short film will entertain you as well as make you think beyond popular opinion.
Writer-Director-Editor: Ashish Lal (https://www.instagram.com/ashishlalreal)
Actors: Ashish Lal & Rakesh Sharma
Cinematographer: Krishna Agarwal
Music Director: Monty Verma ‘Venom’ (Linktr.ee/V_enom)
DI Colourist: Jaicky, J.S. Studio
Banner: RedAsh Films (https://www.facebook.com/redashfilms)
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