Showing posts with label Pawel Dyllus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pawel Dyllus. Show all posts
Mirzya: Twin tales of timeless love
7:51 AM
BOMBAY TIMES (October 7, 2016)
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's
Mirzya, a twin take on the popular Punjabi folklore about Mirza and
Sahiban, is set in two eras, separated by centuries. The team is already
on a high with the teaser, songs and the trailer being appreciated. The chemistry of the lead pair - newcomers
Harshvardhan Kapoor and Saiyami Kher - has also become the talk of the
town. Here's what went into crafting this timeless love story:
WORLD OF MIRZYA
- Mirzya has Mehra returning to direction after more than three years. His last directo rial was Bhaag Milkha Bhaag in 2013.
- This is the first time Mehra is launching newcomers under his direction.
- He has used an array of colours to depict emotions. While the folklore has been shot in a blue-grey palate, the contemporary story is a mix of fiery colours.
WHAT MAKES MIRZYA SPECIAL
THE MAGICAL GULZARMirzya has Gulzar saab, one of the most formidable writers in Bollywood, returning as a screenplay writer after 17 years. He has pieced together the Mirza-Sahiban love story beautifully.
UNTAPPED LOCATIONSMirzya has been shot at two locations that are poles apart in terms of topography. The folklore was shot in Ladakh, which Mehra has revisited after Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. And Rajasthani cities, Jodhpur and Udaipur, along with a few hamlets, form the backdrop for the contemporary love story. Mehra was keen to shoot at virgin locations like Nubra valley, Pahalgam lake, Shiv Niwas Palace, Fatehgarh Palace, Thulia and Ranau.
EARTHY MUSIC
Mirzya is India's first musical in years, and its score has gradually grown on the listeners. Gulzar, Shankar Ehsaan Loy, and a mix of earthy voices make Mirzya's album a work of art.
HORSES
Apart from the protagonists, the folklore and the contemporary story have horses in common. In fact, they are central to the plot. Harshvardhan even lived on a ranch in the US with 30 horses to prepare for his part. Saiyami and he also took lessons in horse riding. Mehra transported Rajasthani horses to Ladakh for the shoot.
HARSHVARDHAN-SAIYAMI'S CHEMISTRY
Harshvardhan and Saiyami, who had become extremely comfortable with each other, shot an intense love-making scene. It was okayed in a single take and was probably the only sequence which found instant approval.
DIRECTOR'S TAKE
On Mirzya: I was in college when I first saw the play Mirza-Sahiban, in 1981. It moved me immensely - in fact, the story has stayed with me for the past 35 years. Every time I thought about the screenplay of Mirzya, I couldn't visualise any familiar actor playing the role.
On Harshvardhan: Right at the beginning, I told Harsh, 'You are not a rocket and I am not a launch pad. You are a human being and I will do whatever I need to, as a director, to make this film happen. In the process, I'll learn a little bit of direction and you'll learn a little bit of acting and we will unlearn a bit of things we have preconceived notions about'.
On Saiyami: Saiyami surprised us all; I could see her improving by the hour.
FOUR DEBUTANTS
SAIYAMI KHER
Saiyami is a model and sportsperson, who also boasts of a showbiz lineage. She's yesteryear actress Usha Kiran's grandchild, and Shabana and Tanvi Azmi's niece. HEROINE SPEAKS...
On Harshvardhan: He is easy to get along with. We played on the set and even now, we play cricket and hang out together. With every passing phase of the film, we got closer.
On Rakeysh: I gave a total of 10 screen tests. Rakeysh sir sent me and another girl, who had made it to the final round of the auditions, to Delhi for an acting workshop, because he wanted to be sure about his leading lady. After I returned, there were a few more screen tests, and I was finally signed on in April 2014.
Anuj Choudhry and Anita Patil, who play pivotal roles, are also making their foray into cinema with Mirzya.
HARSHVARDHAN KAPOOR
Mirzya launches Anil Kapoor's son Harshvardhan, who is diametrically different from the rest of his family as far as his choice of films and roles are concerned. and roles are concerned. HERO SPEAKS...
On Saiyami: I keep telling Saiyami that in the next two years, she will not recognise herself. To be honest, I am a little worried about it, as I'm very protective by nature. I hope that I get to work with her again. Our relationship will last forever; it's not something that happens to everyone, it happens to very few people.
On Rakeysh: I am very familiar with Mehra's style of working. I also think creatively, and we are both very laid-back. In a way, I feel I've been ruined.
DOP PAWEL DYLLUS
Mehra roped in Polish cinematographer Powell Michael Dyllus to bring his story alive on screen. He has filmed Rajasthan like never before, and has stuck to the brief, which was to explore the modern touristic aspects of the state. The ghagras and the sound of the sarangi are intrinsic elements of the narrative.
HIGH-OCTANE ACTION
- The contemporary love story has plenty of thrilling action sequences. After researching for about six months, Mehra roped in Australian action director Danny Baldwin for the project.
- The night safari sequence deserves a special mention. It was shot in Ladakh, with 30 horses and trained polish riders. Saiyami and Harshvardhan worked doubly hard to make the sequence look and feel real. The actors even refused to use body doubles.
- Mirzya features one of the greatest horse chases in Hindi cinema's history -i t has shattered Sholay's record. Harshvardhan also met with an accident while shooting for one of the action sequences.
Mirzya, produced by Cinestaan Film Company & ROMP Pictures, releases today.P
Here's how Bollywood is attracting international cinematographers
7:55 AM
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; September 18, 2016)
Remember the road trip that Hritihik Roshan, Abhay Deol and Farhan Akhtar embark upon in 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara' (2011)?The charm of the Spanish countryside, the fun of smashing tomatoes at the La Tomatina festival, the drive through long winding roads and the adrenaline rush during the bull run gave us new vacation goals. This stunning imagery was captured by Spanish cinematographer Carlos Catalan (right), who first came to India to shoot Zoya Akhtar’s debut film, 'Luck By Chance' (2009). The cameraman has since become a regular part of her crew.
Large influx
An increasing number of international cinematographers are being hired to work on Bollywood films. This influx is not surprising. As the largest film industry in the world, it is natural for Bollywood to attract talent from all over. “The scale of a Bollywood film is huge. All the years that I spent in this industry have pushed me to the limit and taught me something new,” says Catalan.
While there is no dearth of good cameramen in India, a lot of directors feel that a foreign eye always brings in a fresh view. Debutant director Shujaat Saudagar, who is currently busy with his upcoming film, Rock On 2, hired the services of Belgian cinematographer Marc Koninckx (above), who had earlier worked with Bharat Bala on Maryan (2013). Saudagar says, “An international director of photography (DOP) comes with new ideas and sees things in a different perspective. They look at India with a fresh eye. We shot most of our film in the northeast and wanted to capture its essence in its natural form.” Koninckx adds, “If an Indian DOP comes to Paris, he will capture the beauty of the city like no other French cameraman, as he is new to the environment and doesn’t set any restriction around his vision. When I came to India to shoot for Rock On 2, I knew that the film was about rock music and songs are an essential part of Indian films. To shoot the songs, understanding the music culture and capturing the beautiful landscape was an immersing experience.”
Director Shakun Batra, too, recently worked with American cinematographer Jeffery F Bierman in Kapoor & Sons says, “There was no conscious decision to hire an international DOP. I was in touch with a lot of local cinematographers, but we weren’t able to work out the dates. I had seen Jeffery’s work and contacted him. Once we sat together, I thought he could understand my vision. My brief to him was simple: that I wanted to capture all the characters without over-dramatising them and he did a brilliant job with it.”
Grabbing the opportunity
Swedish cinematographer Sophie Winqvist (above), who worked on the Bipasha Basu-starrer Aatma (2013), has an Indian connect, which encouraged her to work on a Bollywood film. Her mother worked in an NGO in Tamil Nadu and once she visited her, she fell in love with the place. In 2004, she worked as an assistant in 'Dil Jo Bhi Kahey' (starring Amitabh Bachchan) in Stockholm, where she became friends with cinematographer Binod Pradhan and other crew members. "After working on the film, I came to Mumbai and stayed for five months. During that time, I worked on a short film and visited a few film shoots. The city fascinated me and I kept coming back. Later, a friend showed a music video I had shot to director Suparn Verma, who contacted me, and that’s how I became a part of Aatma and Bollywood," says Winquist from Sweden.
Adjusting to Indian sensibilities
For Koninckx, understanding the culture on the sets of Rock On 2 was more important than anything else. "The cast and crew of the film made it easy for me. I never felt like an outsider and even language was never a barrier. In fact, I speak a little Hindi now," he quips.
Winqvist says the biggest takeaway of working on a Bollywood film was learning to do jugaad. "There were times when I would be stressed, but everyone in the crew would say, 'Ho jayega madam. Tension mat lo. Kuch jugaad kar lenge’. I had to let go of a lot of control and learn to laugh when things constantly changed. I still have my beloved studio in Bandra and miss being there as well as my friends."
The flipside
While a lot of foreign technicians easily adapt to Indian ways of working, some still find it difficult. Polish cinematographer Pawel Dyllus (above), who worked as a cinematographer on Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s upcoming film Mirzya, says it was initially tough for him to settle down in an alien environment. "In the last three years, I barely spent around six months in Poland. I was either working in Armenia or in India. So, I was hardly in touch with my family. At times, I really felt homesick."
Dyllys adds that with time, one learns to settle down. "Every film comes with its own sets of issues and you have to learn to deal with it. I like to be in an action and every film is a big adventure for me."
"For most of us, it is the opportunity,” says Koninckx. "It’s a competitive market and it isn’t easy to get a break in Bollywood. It’s a great place for us to work and learn as I would have never got this kind of experience back home.”
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