Dope, Booze, and Fag can keep you high and intoxicated for just the time your consume it and a little after it. But I experienced a new drug with this new venture ' Tanu Weds Manu'. The work culture, the people, the whole ambiance makes you insane to crave for it. The intoxication you get is addictive and no rehabilitation center can help you recover from it.
Working at odd hours gives you a kick 9:00 to 5:00 jobs are so mundane, 5:00 to 9:00 is in. When the world sleeps and you are working with flood lights and babies, tracks and dollies is so much more exciting and adventurous. Creating day in night and going against the law of nature...is so awe inspiring.
In the wee hours when all and sundry are in deep slumber the directors and others are on their foot running around to make a shot perfect. From light man to camera person are as vigilant as bats, they sense even a small change in the setting of lights and blocking just like a bat sense its prey by its mere exhaling and inhaling.
I just loved the people the whole crew their, everyone was so full of zeal and passions. All were hungry to work if one was summoned four use to be at the director's beck and call. No ego clashes, no procrastinations just work, I saw there.
Learnt the jargons of the media world not to flaunt it but to keep it grow with it and use it as and when required. The road of learnng began with knowing people from this humongous field. My day at the shoot began on 9th October, 2009 and my first introduction was with Mr. Rishad Rizvi and well know city director and a theater person. Like a food chain the series of introductions happened. Next was Mr. Rati I will remember him by the way I was introduced to him... "He is a man one must know if you are in this Film Making field, Ambika this guy has immense contacts and hold" Rati ji is a man of production and done more than hundreds of movies.
Next like a timid deer I stood next to Ashish new to surroundings and a little jittery and cranky like a school going kid but I was pacified soon. I came to know (whose who?, Whose your daddy? and whose the baby?) Aanand .L.Rai the Director of the film was a tall plump guy with a tiny paunch. Always casually dressed with a rugged jeans and striped and checkered Shirts tucked out. He was a jolly guy. Next I met Himanshu Sharma the script writer was very much from Lucknow and was a Spring Dale College product was a serious guys but the way he use to dress I perceived he was super creative (1 of my ways of judging one's creativity). Next was Anay Goswamy the Camera person started as a photographer and by 21 he was professionally into it he was a F.T.I pass out. One helluva a guy so focussed and passioned I hardly saw him sitting and wasting time. I always found him near his camera or discussing scenes with the director and telling the light man about the shot and the lighting he wants.
The camera used was AARI FLEX 235 considered the lightest cameras for shooting films was the most beautiful machines that I saw there. Ebony black loved its design and the finesse with which it was made. All the gadgets for the film was hired by 'Ad labs' Then you guys must have seen a device with which the assistant directors call out (SCENE 1 / 2 TAKE 1) you guys know it... thats called a 'clap' and before every and shot it is done as a rituals well I know my readers are intelligent but just to tell them, since no single shot is perfect so many takes are taken and the camera uses the reel use record it so when on the editing table this clap makes the herculean task of making the films as easy as snapping ones fingers. Next comes the 'Continuity Book' in which everything is written the scene, number of takes which angle the scene was shot the type of lens used and all about it.
Till now I have just heard and and read about various kind of camera angles but this time I was witnessing it in person I was the' Tracks' the 'Dolly', the 'Trolley' the 'Jepy Jep', ' Easy Rick' and the 'Rick' well all these are technical lingo rather equipments to hold the camera to shoot a specified scenes. Isn't it amazing? Then I almost saw all movements and angles of camera from panning to tilting, low angle to bird view. Learnt about tight frames and loose frames, the significance of a wide shot and keeping characters as suggestions to shoot the protagonists. Learnt the importance of continuity and we actors had to wear the same attire was days. It used to get so boring :((
Then there were many Assistant Directors in this film they being Vivek he was the Chief A.D followed by Akshara, Anuj, Abhishek, Gaurav, Abahy and Ashish. It was an awesome experience interacting with them. I had a great Rapport with Akshara our connections and bonds began with Loreto a common school we shared though we were from different states yet the school brought us closer. She was the sweetest and the most genuine person around. Always ready to help and had plethora of patience in her as a novice she mothered me know and learn many things there.
There was an entire team of light man which was headed by a man whom we used to call 'Jon da' they all were so skilled they use to install those huge reflectors and babies, bounce in just few hours. With their agility and quickness I almost thought these guys have Gorilla instinct in them. But I came to know how consuming and tedious this job is... Our camera person being a perfectionist used to spend hours on lighting. So in that case to shoot a 6 second shot it took 3 hours for the light department to put all in place and to achieve the desired effect.
I have told you all behind the scene now its time to meet the stars. Kangana Ranaut, R.Madhvan , Jimmy Shergil, Radenra Gupta, Deepak Doobariyal, Ejaaz Khan, Swara Bhaskar andNavni Parihar.
Among many scenes I shot with them one which is etched in my memory is the one in which I was with Madhvan and Kangana at that time I almost felt sandwiched between the auras of these to known people. I realized with such a immense screen persona they possess, it has actually strengthens their auras that I almost felt suffocated and suppressed. But with time I gradually made my way and chiseled a way for myself. It was a great experience working with them. They knew how to draw a line between their professional and personal lives. Could see the hunger to work and acheive fame in their eyes.
Kangana was more of a shy girl hardly spoke on the sets use to reharse her lines when waiting for the shot to get ready. She look even young in person as compared on screen. Her sister Rangoli always use to accompany her with her dog Pluto and her spot boy and hairdresser and makeup artist were like mandates of a constituency, they were always there even if not required.
Next was Madhwan well working there gave me a privilege to call him 'Maddy' ;) was a serious guy on set while the scene was shot other was he was quite jocund and jolly off screen. With a robust physic and 4 decades to his age he looked quite fit. Joking with people tell us how to improvise our scenes to make it better or just playing with the still camera were few acts he use to indulge in.
Deepak Doobariyal was one fine actor and an amazing person with zero attitude and no star tantrums use to hang around on the sets only . It seemed he abhorred his vanity so spent most of his time with us the junior actors and extras. But hats off to his acting prowess its so natural as if he learnt it from his mom's womb.
Swara Bhaskar was in my opinion a debutant but was good in her own way, she began his acting career with theater a dusky girl with a resonant voice will give a tough time to all the sultry and scorching beauties in our tinsel town.
One person whom I admired the most was Navni Parihar was just an epitome of an Indian beauty not just beauty but poise grace and elegance personified,is a very dedicated actress though a little insecure about her presence on screen but thats okay ( Its a phobia all actors suffer) Technically I spent more time with on sets so a silent relationship of just acknowledging each other began. I became a mute spectator to all her gestures and skills and with this I learnt a lot.
For this venture I had to sacrifice all my festivals from Deepavali to Bhai Dooj, no regrets because I learnt the biggest lesson in life. "KAAM HI POOJA HAI" (work is worship) This was the day when we were shooting the climax on deepavali and we the junior actors asked our casting director that did you guys do the traditional and very ritualistic Laxmi Pooja ? and I just got enlightened with his answer. That day I was the most contended person on this blessed earth.
Soon the movie is about to come to an end... ( I mean the schedule in Lucknow was coming to an end) and I so much into it can feel the pain of not having it anymore. Though we have a second schedule but we will have to wait for like a fortnight or an month.
The last day was quite overwhelming, people were so suffused with enthusiasm and happiness just because they were leaving to their respective cities and homes that very evening. With broad smiles and a bizarre agility engulfed the atmosphere... Everything was so quick the time was flowing like a sand and at noon 12:00 the director announced "PACK UP" and the whole unit screamed with glee it was some festival of a kind. People hugging each other, getting photographs clicked thanking each other. People being applauded for their work. In short we shared lighter moods with them. some with a smile and other with wet eyes. It was a whirlpool of emotions. An experience I will never forget I will always cherish it like those great times spend with friends and relish it like those hot chocolates which transported me to heaven.
Though the journey was a short one there more to come...
"PACK UP"
