Watch Short Film:
The Admiral's Plea
The sea gruesomely calm runs a chilly tremor
As the Admiral looks up at the cloudless sky
Admiral Tidalwave waits for a message from the clouds above.
He wants to know the whereabouts of the cunning Baron
A wizard strong from the land of Mirage
His eyes set on Greenhaven’s crown
You see the Baron acquired powers sacred.
Learned to hypnotize souls to perform his vicious bidding
Blinded by power he started a rebellion
His control over mind turned friend to foe.
Admiral Tidalwave was assigned to guard the borders and to command the ships
Should the Baron lead an attack
They would resist
Defend the kingdom from the Baron dismissed
The Baron conspired, encouraging the minds tired
To build him Leviathans, Giants of concrete
The Wizard deceptive had a cunning ploy,
He showed the civilians a life of joy
He made them believe Gaia is an obstruction
In the scheme of construction
“So chop her down”
The Wizard ordered
The men did not protest
The poor gullible souls could not contemplate the Baron’s strategy
They strangled the waters and killed the creatures
The mountains eroded precious soil as though they were bleeding
The wizard was succeeding
And so were the humans at least they thought
That the happiness brought by the infernal sedation
Would forever remain as eternal elation
Clouds descended from the sky bearing thundering news :
A storm is approaching set out to wipe the kingdom barren
Baron von Mirage would then ascend
Snatch the throne and claim Greenhaven as his own
The Admiral had just one ray of hope
A powerful mask, The Hypnoguard was crafted
To clear the minds of those who were drafted
He then called upon me, a messenger loyal
To spread the word throughout the lands
To reach out to captains ask them to prepare for the upcoming war
The admiral said
The mask is not magic but a symbol you wear,
It carries the message you have to share
Of Baron and his gambit
Once they are aware of his spiteful snare
They’ll associate the mask with a radiant glare
It helps them see will set them free
So hear ye captain, a storm approaches
Don this mask and call upon others
If we don’t stand, we might have to bid Greenhaven goodbye
As we succumb to the barrage of the Baron
The Wizard of Mirage
Frames from the Film
Poems in Water
About The Admiral's Plea
The Admiral’s Plea is a poem dedicated to highlighting the destructive nature of industrialization, progress, and capitalism, and how these forces, symbolized by the kingdom of Greenhaven, destroy nature while granting the illusion of progress. The Baron personifies this destructive force, using his magical powers to brainwash the public into building ‘Giants of Concrete.’ He declares that Gaia (nature) is an obstruction in the scheme of construction, echoing how the natural world is often sacrificed for human ambition.
Humans, ensnared by the idea of progress and unaware of its consequences, mindlessly follow the Baron’s bidding. This serves as a metaphor for how we, in modern society, remain blind to the long-term consequences of our actions on the environment.
The poem presents the need for a final stand to preserve nature. Admiral Tidalwave, a personification of water, is assigned to protect the land and raise awareness about the destructive path humanity is on. The Hypnoguard mask symbolizes the mindfulness and self-reflection needed to break free from the Baron’s manipulation and recognize the harm being done.
The poem revolves around the themes of nature preservation, raising awareness of humanity's plight, and promoting reflection on the consequences of actions that harm the environment. It also emphasizes the essential role that water plays in sustaining both nature and humanity.
This short film was made as a final assignment for the Open Elective Course "Poems in Water" for the students of National Institute of Design, Gandhinagar, conducted by Shiraz Iqbal, Aditya Dipankar, Amarnath Praful, and Saurabh Srivastava. The team members are Prawigya Pariyar, Mohit Khetrapal, and Ankit Swami.
Screened on: 22nd December 2023
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