Few months upon arriving in back India, I found myself on the set of a big budget Bollywood multi-starrer feature. Overwhelming in both an experience and the very scale of the film, this was definitely a one of a kind opportunity to observe and learn the trade here in Mumbai.
Handed with a walkie talkie it took me few days to acclimatise to the jargon used between technicians on the set. So, when I was asked to make sure 205 was added, I was clueless for a few moments. You see, here they communicate with numerical codes of gels, rather than their alphabetical names which I was better versed with. So the next few days I rehearsed the numbers in my head. Loaded with reflective glass all across, this set was going to be a task for anyone in charge of clearing the frame and continuity.
The extensive light setup took two days straight, at the end of which the set came to life. With more than a hundred crew members each day, the schedule ran smoothly amidst great amusement for a newbie like me. Although I had previously worked with the lights, some of them had acquired a more local name that I was not aware of. The set protocol, the calls, even the adjustments in lighting. All of it made its ways into my diary. Between lunch breaks I snuck out for questions to ask the DoP, on the basis of my observations and drawings of light setups and camera movement, who answered and clarified my queries very patiently.
While it took me some time to start contributing to the set, towards the end I do think I managed to get a hang of it. From fixing some bulbs onto practical lamps, to making sure gels were correct, I was useful somehow. The cast and crew was welcoming and treated me well. All in all, it was definitely something I’d like to go back to, and that, was my first experience in Bollywood.
On set of a Bollywood feature film Few months upon arriving in back India, I found myself on the set of a big budget Bollywood multi-starrer feature.
