Guwahati, April 29: A tea house becomes the timeless backdrop for stories of love, loss, and life across generations, where each sip of tea tells a tale of connection and change.
Tales from the Teahouse- a simple story of sharing tea and the conversations that unfold around it by Assam-based visual storyteller Hirak Jyoti Nath, is one of the top 18 animated short films shortlisted for the prestigious Animation Filmmakers Competition (AFC) of the World Audio-Visual and Entertainment (WAVES) Summit 2025.
Curated by Dancing Atoms Studios in collaboration with the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, the AFC received an overwhelming number of entries across traditional animation, VFX, AR/VR, and virtual production. After a rigorous nine-month selection process, the best 42 projects — including 12 feature films, 18 short films, 9 TV/limited series, and 3 AR/VR experiences — will be showcased during the WAVE Summit in Mumbai from May 1–4, 2025.
Tales from the Tea House is a culmination of Hirak Jyoti Nath’s love for layered narratives and visual storytelling. It captures the quiet beauty of everyday relationships across generations.
“This story is from the heart of Assam’s age-old tea gardens,” says Nath. “It’s a simple story about sharing tea and the conversations that unfold around it. Through a cup of tea and a familiar place, I have tried to show how small, quiet moments can have a big impact on people’s lives,” Nath says.
The 15-minute short film Tales from the Teahouse is a poignant animated short set in a cosy tearoom, where generations of characters connect, reflect, and rediscover themselves over cups of tea.
Spanning decades, the story follows Aadhya’s journey from a curious child to a reflective adult, and eventually a wise elder, as she navigates life, love, loss, and legacy. Through intimate conversations with her mother, suitor, son, and eventually granddaughter, the tearoom becomes a timeless space where memories are brewed like tea—rich, layered, and comforting. With themes rooted in Indian culture, the film celebrates everyday rituals like sharing pakode and tea as emotional anchors in times of change. Deeply human and evocative, the narrative captures how small, tender moments quietly shape us.
The animated short blends watercolour-inspired visuals with poetic storytelling, offering a warm, reflective meditation on family, time, and the generational passing of dreams and resilience.
Hirak Jyoti Nath is seeking funding for production, mentorship for animation, collaboration with buyers and distributors, and artists and animators to collaborate and help with marketing.
“This recognition is a pivotal moment not only for the artists themselves but also for the animation filmmaking industry in the Northeast,” says Sanjib Parashar, Lecturer in Cinematography at Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Regional Government Film & Television Institute, Assam. “We have a reservoir of untapped talent whose narratives possess local charm and universal appeal. The Northeast is on the threshold of a creative revolution.
Hirak is an artist and visual storyteller with a love for simple, heartfelt narratives. With a background in traditional Indian art as well as digital art, he enjoys exploring everyday moments that carry emotional depth. Over the years, he has worked on plays, short films, and visual projects, blending writing with visuals to tell meaningful stories. Through his work, Hirak is bridging the personal with the universal—one story, one frame, one sip of tea at a time.
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