Modern dating is, more often than not, a performance. Whether on Tinder or Bumble, individuals craft their idealized persona, hoping to match with others engaged in a similar performance. Yet, within this spectacle, a point of fatigue inevitably emerges, fostering a longing for genuine connections. In his debut 9-minute film, Next, Please, Rishav Kapoor adeptly captures the performative nature of dating, exploring the intertwined themes of fatigue and loneliness, complemented by the infusion of virtual reality and advancements in technology.
Having served as an Assistant Director in both major commercial productions and smaller independent films, Kapoor has garnered experience across the cinematic spectrum. He was particularly excited for Next, Please not only because it's his debut film but also for the opportunity of working on flimmaker Chaitanya Tamhane's script, he says, "I think the greatest challenge for me was to do justice to Chaitanya's writing. He is, of course, a celebrated filmmaker for a great reason."
In this not-so-futuristic short film, Arpita, played by Shreya Dhanwanthary, walks into the "Lonely Club Bar" where the attendant, played by Jim Sarbh, assists her in choosing the location of her date.The bar has already selected the perfect match for her based on her dating preferences. Utilizing virtual reality, the attendant presents her with options like a colonial bar from the 19th century, a 1950s jazz bar from Mumbai, and a prohibition-era desi dive bar known as Aunty Bars. She chooses the Aunty Bar because it seems "least pretentious" and "more rooted" to her. From the process of selecting the location of her date, we know that she is seeking something non-performative and real; that she has been on enough pretentious dates and is weary of trying to find the perfect match for herself. The paradox of this film lies right here: Arpita is searching for authenticity through virtual reality, which is inherently unreal. Kapoor also states, "the developments in technology are moving so fast, we all are trying to grab onto something real and the world is forcing us to increasingly connect in artificial ways and to find true love in those artificial ways is challenging."
In the unreal Aunty Bar, Arpita meets Vinay. They hit it off instantly with quips about their exhaustion with dating apps and the cycle of eternal disappointment. When Vinay suggests that Sisyphus should have been on dating apps, to repetitively be on same old dinners and display peacock feathers, Arpita asserts that he doesn't need to showcase his best side for this date. Five minutes into the encounter, Arpita wishes to end the VR date and go to a 'real bar' because she feels a genuine connection with Vinay. Despite the attendant advising her to take it slow and reminding her that this is not a real setting, she retrieves her VR setup.
We are transported into a rusty, claustrophobic room from the sophisticated Aunty bar, further signifying the inauthentic aspects of it all. As Arpita waits for Vinay to come out of the washroom, the camera captures the awkwardness on Arpita’s face, slowly dawning on her that Vinay had bailed on her. She walks out of the bar as another woman walks in, once again emphasizing the often repeatitive cycle of searching for real and vulnerable love in the unreal settings of dating apps, social media, and VR. Through this commentary on modern dating and tech, Kapoor manages to resonate with today’s as well as the upcoming generation, who find it increasingly difficult to discover authentic love.
Words Paridhi Badgotri
Date 05.12.2023