Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | Friday Review | Cinema Plus | Young World | Property Plus | Quest |

Camera, lights and emotions

R. Narayan Kumar With GRD students.

“Don’t be ashamed. Carry your camera and capture everything possible, because each experience is a story by itself,” said cinematographer R. Narayan Kumar. “When you see something, and if it strikes an emotional chord — it angers or disturbs you — then you know you have a story to share. ” He spoke to students at Communiqué ’08, organised by the School of Communication, GR Damodaran College of Science.

A faculty member at L.V. Prasad Film and Television Academy, Chennai, Narayan Kumar said that cinematography was not only about the science of capturing motion pictures, but involved a lot of assimilation, creativity and imagination. “Mani Ratnam maybe your idol, but by imitating his technique as a cinematographer you are committing a huge blunder,” he said. At no point should a cinematographer compromise on his tangible elements or individuality, because it is this element that makes you stand out.

Having worked with the likes of K. Balachander he knew exactly how to encourage the aspiring visual communication students. “A good photograph is equal to a thousand words. But the ‘feel’ and ‘value’ will be added only when the communicator can relate to and empathise,” he said. “Seeing new places, meeting new people helps you tell your stories better,” he pointed out.

Bollywood has a record of making more films than most countries. But it is disheartening to see that most of the content is being ‘recycled’. “Technique, endorsements by high profile actors and state-of-the-art equipment are secondary. The story is lost when the content is typical,” he asserted. “Good films can be made regardless of the camera and actors. A keen eye and imagination is the key.” Narayan Kumar also held a day’s workshop, ‘Fundamentals of film and television and the basics of lighting’.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail