Pawan speaks out!

When you go behind the camera, how difficult is it to not be tempted to show how much you can do with the cinematography?
I���ve to always understand that cinematography is part of a film. In my directorial debut, Bhoomi, the cinematography is almost invisible. Generally cinematographers often can���t restrain themselves. While a cinematographer���s craft should be reflected in a film, I believe it should gel with the storyline and complement the director���s vision.I simply can���t use a good close-up or an interesting light if it doesn���t go with the flow of the film.
Some technicians believe that falling in love with the subject is important while working on a film. Do you agree?
Initially, I need to fall in love with the subject. But while shooting, I need to detach myself to get my
objectivity. In fact, I prefer to be involved with the editing of a film a while after it has been shot. It helps me to be objective and often makes room for rediscovering the movie.
Could you rate your recent works in Kolkata, including The Last Lear and Via Darjeeling?
The Last Lear���s subject isinteresting. Moreover, I���ve got a certain tuning with Ritu (Rituparno Ghosh). To an extent I���m happy with my work in The Last Lear within the given situation. I���d give 70 out of 100 to myself for this film.
How about Via Darjeeling?
It was the first time I was shooting a thriller. I tried to give a different look to every point of view expressed in the film. I���d give myself 40 out of 100.
Which films would get an 80 or a 90 out of 100?
I don���t think I���ve yet done something to merit a 90 out of 100. Patalghar, Antaheen and Chokher Bali would get an 80.
Antaheen is an urban story and the city, in many ways, is also a character. How did your lens define this?
As in music, I also had to find the key note for doing the cinematography of Antaheen. The city is very passive in the film, with people trying to communicate with each other. I tried to express that by using a long lens. That helps in expressing how isolated people are trying to get united in a metropolis that is otherwise quite blurred in the backdrop.
Why is it said that Avik is still not in his elements when he shoots for commercial Hindi cinema?
I���m very selective about doing commercial films. For Bunty Aur Babli, Shaad Ali wanted to shoot on actual locations with the available light so that the film wouldn���t look fake. As and when the scenes required gloss, specially for the Kajra Re song, I shot it accordingly. Commercial cinema takes up a lot of time. Bunty Aur Babli took up a year for me. There is a dilemma over whether to spend that time on such cinema or do a couple of other works that I can hark back to.
With not too many great projects happening in Kolkata that can do justice to your talent, was directing your own film a choice or a compulsion?
I believe I too have to shoulder the responsibility of creating opportunities for myself as a cinematographer. Directing my own film is both a matter of choice and compulsion. There are some subjects that I don���t see others working on. Besides, I always wanted to take up direction. But, I���m not taking to direction out of frustration.
What���s the status of Bhoomi?
The project has been revived and I���ll begin shooting in Kolkata at the end of this month with Pawan Malhotra and Sahana Goswami.
How would you describe your Bengali film, Ekti Tarar Khoje?
That���s the working title of the film. It���s both a thriller and a love story. The best part of the film is that it���s being produced by director Aniruddha Roychowdhury. Such a process had started in Hollywood and Bollywood. I���m in the process of finalising the cast/script.
Do you like being in the limelight?
I have no problems if I���m highlighted for the right reasons.
Are you a diplomatic person?
No. It���s just that if I disapprove of something, I say it in a way that rightly puts across my views.
But don���t you prefer silence when there is a contradiction?
I don���t want to be known as an egotist b*****d. In our field, it���s very important to leave the ego aside. Only then can we deliver as a team.