Ice Cream, a six-minute fifty-nine-second Assamese short film by filmmaker Smriti Prakash Boruah, quietly explores grief, loneliness, and memory in a simple yet powerful way. Coming from Duliajan, Assam, Smriti Prakash not only directed the film but also handled the story and screenplay herself.
The film follows Rabindra Boruah, played by Indranil Neog, a man living with emotional pain he cannot fully accept. From the very beginning, the film creates a tense and mysterious atmosphere through its background score, hinting that something is deeply wrong inside the household.
One of the most touching scenes in the film is when Rabindra sits with his daughter Mala and shares ice cream in the living room. It appears to be a happy family moment, but the silence and emptiness around them make the audience feel that something is missing. The joy feels incomplete.
The film slowly reveals its emotional core through small domestic details, especially during a scene involving fish, which reminds Rabindra of his wife’s habits and choices. Soon, the shocking truth comes out — Rabindra’s wife and daughter are no longer alive. He has been living in denial, imagining a family life that no longer exists because he cannot accept his loss.
The cinematography by Delvish Gohain supports the emotional tone of the story with simplicity and restraint.
The turning point in the film arrives with the appearance of a little girl named Janaki. Her character carries symbolic meaning. In the Ramayana, Janaki is another name for Sita, who was believed to have emerged from the earth and was discovered by King Janaka. Similarly, Janaki in the film appears unexpectedly in Rabindra’s life when he is emotionally broken.
Her presence first destroys Rabindra’s illusion, forcing him to face reality. But later, she also becomes a symbol of hope and healing. Through her, the film suggests that even after deep grief, life can still offer new meaning.
In less than seven minutes, Smriti Prakash Boruah successfully combines emotional storytelling, family memories, and mythological symbolism into a thoughtful and moving short film.
