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FAVOURITISM EXISTS OPENLY IN TV, SAYS KAMYA PANJABI
Rishabh Suri
In the time of social distancing, characters can’t marry in an elaborate wedding sequence or beat up 20 goons at once. The lead couple can’t engage in romance either. The guidelines suggested by Maharashtra government to resume shoots has made this pretty clear. So, what’s the way forward? One word: VFX. Or special effects.
In the past few years, this technology has come in handy for almost every film, TV or web show. And now, with the ‘new normal’ in place, it will be used more heavily. Producer Anand Pandit agrees, and says that the budgets allocated to VFX will shoot up. “But I feel it’s temporary. As soon as the vaccine comes up, or the intensity of the destruction of the virus goes down, we’ll get into normal mode. But for the next one year, VFX is going to be extremely important,” he adds. Trade analyst Joginder Tuteja concurs, “VFX was anyway used in films for crowd scenes. Now, all the more, because if there are 10 people in a frame, you can’t have them in close proximity. So, there’ll be three-four shots which will be merged. Even for background dancers, VFX could come into the picture, as we’ve seen in regional films.”
Rohan Desai, global head, ReDefine, the company behind
VFX for upcoming films such as Brahmastra and ’83, says that with the need for social distancing, visual effects will come to the fore. “It eliminates the need for additional costumes, props or makeup, all of which involve human contact,” he says. Also, scenes like explosions which require safety protocols and extra crew “can now be shot separately”, he adds.
Filmmaker-choreographer Remo D’Souza, however, has apprehensions. “I don’t feel
AFTER BEFORE
that we can create everything on VFX, or, say, shoot a dance. We’ll have to shoot smartly... It’d have to be incorporated into the story itself. Makers would have to concentrate on stuff which don’t require a big crowd,” he says.
Actor Kamya Panjabi isn’t one to shy away from calling a spade a spade. And she admits upfront that nepotism and favouritism do exist in showbiz, a debate that has been raked after actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death. “This happens, and will in the future, too. If the actors raise their voice, they won’t be cast again by the channel, and will be banned from every production house. Then, you will get to know that they have gone and committed suicide. And people will say, ‘Oh! You will be missed, rest in peace, paison ki kami nahi thi’. Bullsh*t,” she says. Panjabi explains why giving up on life isn’t a solution. “I lost Pratyusha Banerjee, and after that I have been in touch with her parents. And no matter what I do to make them happy… I haven’t been able to repair the damage. The one who goes away does that because he or she is sad. But just see what they leave behind,” the actor says. Rajput’s death came as a big shock, and Panjabi says that just seeing the pictures of the late actor’s father left her teary eyed. “I don’t know them personally, maybe just met Sushant at a few parties. Voh maayoos lachaar baap kya karega?” asks the actor. Panjabi, 40, urges people to speak out about any difficulty they face. “Yes, nepotism bhar-bhar ke hai yahaan. Dikhao na apni himmat, kaho laat maarte hain tumhaari film industry ko… Agar jaana hi hai, awaaz uthaake jaao. After Sushant, I have heard so many incidents of suicides. What is happening to the youth? Fight back,” she says.
Manish Mishra
Fall Winter 2020 edition of Paris digital couture showcase was an artistic reaction to the pandemic. And it wasn’t surprising to see couturiers send out strong messages of social distancing and sustainability through their creations. Designer duo Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren exhibited a salon-style presentation, comprising exaggerated silhouettes with conical spikes — a cheeky hint at social distancing. On the other hand, Giambattista Valli, staying true to his core romanticism, sent out models in tulle headgears that doubled up as masks — a strong nod to the pandemic.
Designer Rahul Mishra’s artistic masks, appliqued with his signature butterflies, had multiple interpretations. “My artisans are like butterflies and
I see myself as a gardener. Hence, I grow flowers that offer nectar to them. When the Covid-19 hit, I saw cities drying up, and there were no butterflies or migrant artisans,” shares Mishra, hinting at providing sustainable employment to craft communities.
Stylist Divyak D’Souza opines that today there is a tussle between the artistic and commercial aspects of jobs, and couture is one place where designers can go all out. “While Rahul’s mask was a fantasy dream, Valli’s soft tulle version had a romantic take. It’s a difficult time for the world but great art can come out of it. The mood is such,” says D’Souza.
Stylist Akshay Tyagi sees couture visuals resonating with our circumstances. “Fashion has a way of offering an immediate reaction to changing situations. Viktor and Rolf’s creations this time had an extra edge around them,” says Tyagi.