Hrishikesh Gandhi – The Light behind the Cinematography

Hrishikesh Gandhi – The Light behind the Cinematography

Hrishikesh Gandhi is a simple man with a beguiling smile and a charming nature. Just don’t get him riled up, for he has a short temper. Not that I witnessed it, he admitted to having one. The Director of Photography for three running shows Geet Hui Sabse Parayi, Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon and Hum Se Hai Life, he is a team player. He loves to shoot for Geet, as it has given him recognition that he as a cameraman perhaps always craved. His lighting in the show got him acclaim and accolades from industry stalwarts whom he looks up at.

He started his career by assisting Barun Mukherjee who he considers the God and the best Cameraman in the Ad industry. He believes he was privileged to have worked with him and that is where he developed passion for lighting. According to him camera is a format which keeps changing with time but it is lighting that sets the mood for a scene. He listens to music while shooting a crucial scene especially the emotional ones. I watched him shoot the sequence of Geet’s dream and her fear portrayed there after as she hugged Maan and he played a soulful song to get the mood right both for him and Dhrashti Dhami. He also asked Gurmeet Chaudhry if he wanted music as he played Maan who paced the floor worrying about Geet. The said episode was aired on 10th November 2011.

Another interesting aspect to him I found was the way he treats each of his actors in a special manner. Melanie Peis, had a wish to be shot by him and in the dance sequence squealed when he came to the Geet Sets for the same. She jumped with joy when he said, “I am finally shooting you!” (with a camera of course). He also mentioned how he is always happy to shoot for Geet as it holds a special place in his heart and Dhrashti Dhami is the face that he loves to shoot! He also finds Sanaya beautiful, especially her skin.

When we talked about his rapport with the directors he has worked with, his favorite is Nissar Parvez and he loves Maan Singh, Ravi Bhushan and Lalit Mohan. He said, “I have worked with various directors but Nissar has worked with only one DOP!” That tells you that the respect is mutual and brilliance attracts brilliance.

When he described the actors he believes Gurmeet Chaudhary and Barun Sobti have fabulous eyes though one is high energy and other is laid back guy. He has recently done a song on Hum Se Hai Life. Don’t forget to watch it on Channel V and get the perspective they have worked with to create the moment.

Hear from the master of lighting, what it takes to make the scene what it is and he swears, each masterful scene is only because of team work from actors to spot boy to lighting team to his assistants.

Vrushali Tripathi

Telly Tadka

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