DREAM SNATCHERS | A MUSICAL ZERO BUDGET SHORT FILM | SHOT ON

Summary :-
Dream snatchers are the non-physical entities which steal people's dreams and ambitions. But who are they? Where do they exist? As per mentioned in the beginning of the story by Conductor “Sawari apne sapno ki zimmedaar khud hai” and this is the end too. Anshul was his own dream snatcher who stolen his own dreams. Conductor kept on mentioning the dream snatchers exist in "Gharwalo ke taano mai, zimmedaariyon ke bhoj mai, aaram ke samandar mai aur khud mai" As khud mai signifies the main protagonist and antagonist of the story. We ourselves are the main enemy who stops ourselves to achieve our dreams.



Representation of the elements in story
The bus signifies the journey of life. When conductor says "agla stop dream snatcher ka hai" That time Anshul was in 3rd year of his college and next year is his final year where he have to decide his career and whether he wanted to follow his dream of being a filmmaker or not and this signifies the vulnerable period of time where dream snatchers get active and steal people's dreams and after that Conductor also mentions this in the lines "Yahi umar hai jab sapne jaatein toot aur fir 25 saal baad dikhti unki kabar". Once the time passes away we regret and saw the grave of our dream. Which is the last frame of the film too where Anshul encounters his dead younger self on the last seat of the bus.
When Anshul speaks about choosing a backup plan instead of fully chasing his filmmaking dream, a sharp sound of glass shattering is heard — it's the mirror breaking at the end of the film. This moment symbolizes the exact point where his dreams began to fall apart. These two events unfold in parallel: the older Anshul, overwhelmed by regret and frustration, smashes the mirror — not just as a reflection of his current pain, but also as a blow to his younger self who never dared to fight for his dreams.

Backup plans are often made in the name of safety and comfort, but more often than not, they blur our focus and steal the fire that could’ve fueled our true potential. In trying to stay safe, Anshul lost sight of the one path that made him feel alive.

Characters
Shaitaan - The person who is keep the record of dream snatchers. He is a mysterious entity which keep the record of everything related to dream snatchers. People who have been prey of dream snatchers.

Directed and Produced by - Neelesh Kaushik
Story & Screenplay - Lokesh
Rap & Music - Divyansha Verma
Edited by - Neelesh Kaushik and Daksh Chillar
First Assistant Director- Vansh Yadav
Second Assistant Director - Rijul Bhardwaj
Cinematography
Cinemat A - Shashwat Sagar & Kabeer Khanna
Cimemat B - Rahul Bhatia
Production Design - Rahul Bhatia
Cast
Anshul - Rubyansh Yadav
Conductor - Sanjeev Popely
Anshul 's Father - Jenin Fernandey
Anshul's Mother - Daisy Kaushik
Shaitaan - Vansh Yadav
Tarun - Vansh Yadav
News Reporter - Mehul
Shaitaan (B) - Yagya
Vedant - Neelesh Kaushik
Script Supervision-
Parth
Mansi
Vansh Yadav
Satvik
Himani
Behind the Scenes -
Naman Arora and Daksh Chillar
Special Thanks to
Sudhir Sharma
And Shubham Travellers