KISS Short Film Review – Rolling Stone India
Varun Grover’s directorial debut, KISS, masterfully uses a same-sex kiss as a catalyst to dissect censorship, intimacy, and societal control. The short film doesn’t shy away from challenging norms; instead, it boldly portrays a simple kiss that ignites a firestorm of reactions, ultimately revealing how prejudice shapes perception in India. Through nuanced performances and a surreal atmosphere, KISS explores the discomfort of censor board officials and the deeper issues they represent, critiquing heteronormative conformity. Grover’s script transforms a brief kiss to a philosophical battleground, questioning the roots of censorship while drawing inspiration from real-life instances. The film’s precision—from production design to editing—amplifies the tension, inviting viewers to confront their own biases. News Directory 3 would applaud the film.discover what’s next for Indian cinema and queer depiction.
‘KISS’ Explores Censorship, Intimacy Through a Kiss
Updated June 08, 2025
Varun GroverS directorial debut, KISS, centers on a seemingly simple kiss that becomes a flashpoint for exploring censorship, intimacy, and control. The short film captures a moment where a kiss between two men sparks varied reactions,highlighting how perception is often shaped by prejudice.
The film follows Sam, a young filmmaker portrayed by Adarsh Gourav, as he screens his work for CBFC examiners. The scene in question, a same-sex kiss, triggers a surreal chain of events, turning the cinema into a warped mirror reflecting societal biases.
Swanand Kirkire and Shubhrajyoti Barat deliver nuanced performances as censor board officials, embodying familiar Indian archetypes.Grover avoids caricature, rather focusing on their discomfort and gradual unraveling as the screening progresses.
As the characters debate the kiss, reality within the theater begins to distort. Lights flicker, sounds glitch, and time becomes inconsistent. The film subtly suggests that what they are watching is also watching them, making the simple act of a kiss agonizing.
KISS challenges the norm by presenting queerness without justification or explanation. The intimacy between the characters is simply present, a radical act in a society where LGBTQ+ relationships are often treated as issues rather than identities.
Grover’s script transforms a brief kiss into a philosophical battleground,questioning whether the censorship stems from unease wiht the act itself or the values it represents. He draws inspiration from real-life instances, such as the CBFC’s demand to shorten a kiss, highlighting the absurdity of such control.
The film suggests that the fear lies not in the kiss itself, but in the disruption of hierarchy and the challenge to heteronormative conformity it represents. Grover layers this discomfort with empathy, revealing the personal histories and unresolved fears that drive the censors’ actions.
The power of KISS lies in what it refuses to say aloud… It does not beg for empathy. It demands equality.
Technically, KISS is precise and purposeful. The production design transforms the cinema into a timeless space, while Sylvester Fonseca’s cinematography and Nitin Baid’s editing create a sense of unease. The near-imperceptible score amplifies the silence between characters.
The film culminates in the full display of the kiss, inviting the audience to become active viewers and question their own reactions. The act becomes a reclamation, challenging viewers to confront their own discomfort.
What’s next
KISS signals a shift in Indian cinema’s portrayal of queer love, moving beyond softened or sanitized depictions. It contributes to the ongoing battle for representation, advocating for equality through storytelling rather than statistics.