Mani Ratnam taught me to simplify things, be rooted: Sharmishta Roy
Chennai
April 4, 2017
National Award winning production designer Sharmishta Roy
says working with filmmaker Mani Ratnam twice in a row has taught her to simplify
things and be rooted in her approach to work.
Having worked in "OK Kanmani", Sharmishta reunited
with Ratnam for Tamil romantic-drama "Kaatru Veliyidai", which is
releasing on Friday.
Talking about how working with the "Roja" filmmaker
has changed her perspective about cinema, Sharmishta told IANS in an email interaction:
"The most valuable takeaway from working with Mani Sir has been to simplify
things, be rooted and, therefore, honest. I don't know if people think my work
has changed, but I personally believe that I have learnt to truly value a script
and let it dictate my tactical decisions."
Popular for her work in mainstream Hindi cinema in films such
as "Dil Toh Pagal Hai", "Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities"
and "Veer-Zaara", it was through her filmmaker friend Shaad Ali that
she was introduced to Ratnam.
"For 'OK Kanmani', I kept my focus on meeting the director's
vision. We had a successful time making the film and I greatly appreciate Mani
Sir's work ethos," she said.
Talking about Karthi and Aditi Rao Hydari starrer "Kaatru
Veliyidai", she said it is a story that spans many cities and different
timelines.
"Keeping the viewer cued in to the story through unobtrusive
details related to time, ethnicity and professions was a large part of the production
design of the film. I felt strongly for the protagonists in the story. While
it might seem unrelated to production design, I think it majorly influenced
my work. I wanted them to live a certain way, own particular things and have
a definite aesthetic," she explained.
Admitting that it was a daunting task to work on the project
due to its vast canvas, Sharmishta said: "It encouraged me to explore the
possibility of creating worlds in places far removed from their true geographical
location. Adhering to a colour palette, being mindful of details and props to
ensure they were time-appropriate made the art work challenging and exciting."
Unlike "Ok Kanmani", this wasn't an easy project
to work on. It came with its set of challenges.
"Most of the film was shot in spaces repurposed to suit
the requirements of the film. We often had to work with inclement weather, non-availability
of construction and decorative material and tight schedules. Fortunately, a
strong production team made my life easier through proper coordination amongst
different departments," she said.
Asked if any particular set work challenged her, she said:
"I was particularly frustrated with the construction of a set for a song
sequence and fortunately it eventually turned out to be one of my favourite
set-ups."
Although considered a taskmaster by his peers, Sharmishta said
Ratnam expects his team members to feel intensely about the project, and therefore
creates an inclusive environment.
"Once that is established, the onus is on each one to
live up to his expectation -- bring the script to life in a way that it resonates
with the audience. Over the months of working with him, I am convinced that
he is physically and mentally indefatigable. All of us on set want a drop of
that secret potion," she added.
On a concluding note, she said it would be her privilege to
get to work with the auteur again.
Chennai
April 4, 2017
National Award winning production designer Sharmishta Roy
says working with filmmaker Mani Ratnam twice in a row has taught her to simplify
things and be rooted in her approach to work.
Having worked in "OK Kanmani", Sharmishta reunited
with Ratnam for Tamil romantic-drama "Kaatru Veliyidai", which is
releasing on Friday.
Talking about how working with the "Roja" filmmaker
has changed her perspective about cinema, Sharmishta told IANS in an email interaction:
"The most valuable takeaway from working with Mani Sir has been to simplify
things, be rooted and, therefore, honest. I don't know if people think my work
has changed, but I personally believe that I have learnt to truly value a script
and let it dictate my tactical decisions."
Popular for her work in mainstream Hindi cinema in films such
as "Dil Toh Pagal Hai", "Meenaxi: A Tale of Three Cities"
and "Veer-Zaara", it was through her filmmaker friend Shaad Ali that
she was introduced to Ratnam.
"For 'OK Kanmani', I kept my focus on meeting the director's
vision. We had a successful time making the film and I greatly appreciate Mani
Sir's work ethos," she said.
Talking about Karthi and Aditi Rao Hydari starrer "Kaatru
Veliyidai", she said it is a story that spans many cities and different
timelines.
"Keeping the viewer cued in to the story through unobtrusive
details related to time, ethnicity and professions was a large part of the production
design of the film. I felt strongly for the protagonists in the story. While
it might seem unrelated to production design, I think it majorly influenced
my work. I wanted them to live a certain way, own particular things and have
a definite aesthetic," she explained.
Admitting that it was a daunting task to work on the project
due to its vast canvas, Sharmishta said: "It encouraged me to explore the
possibility of creating worlds in places far removed from their true geographical
location. Adhering to a colour palette, being mindful of details and props to
ensure they were time-appropriate made the art work challenging and exciting."
Unlike "Ok Kanmani", this wasn't an easy project
to work on. It came with its set of challenges.
"Most of the film was shot in spaces repurposed to suit
the requirements of the film. We often had to work with inclement weather, non-availability
of construction and decorative material and tight schedules. Fortunately, a
strong production team made my life easier through proper coordination amongst
different departments," she said.
Asked if any particular set work challenged her, she said:
"I was particularly frustrated with the construction of a set for a song
sequence and fortunately it eventually turned out to be one of my favourite
set-ups."
Although considered a taskmaster by his peers, Sharmishta said
Ratnam expects his team members to feel intensely about the project, and therefore
creates an inclusive environment.
"Once that is established, the onus is on each one to
live up to his expectation -- bring the script to life in a way that it resonates
with the audience. Over the months of working with him, I am convinced that
he is physically and mentally indefatigable. All of us on set want a drop of
that secret potion," she added.
On a concluding note, she said it would be her privilege to
get to work with the auteur again.
Tags: Mani RatnamOK KanmaniKaatru Veliyidai