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Cinematographer Sudeep Chatterjee has made a significant mark in Indian cinema over the last two decades, renowned for his compelling visual storytelling. His collaboration with esteemed directors, particularly Sanjay Leela Bhansali, has resulted in some of the most visually stunning films in the industry. His diverse filmography showcases his versatility as a cinematographer, ranging from commercial successes like Dhoom 3 to critically acclaimed films such as Bajirao Mastani, for which he won a National Film Award.
Sudeep Chatterjee’s insights into his craft reveal a deep passion for cinematography and a thoughtful approach to filmmaking. In an interview with Hindustan Times, he reflected on his experience working on the blockbuster film Dhoom 3, expressing mixed feelings about its reception.
He noted that, “When the film released it did very well but I don’t think it got a lot of love. I was disappointed with the kind of appreciation the film was getting because I had put in a lot of hardwork, and I had to give up a Bhansali film in the mix.” He mentioned that he was unable to work on Ram Leela due to the continuous extensions of the shoot, which left him feeling somewhat disappointed that his hard work did not receive the appreciation he had hoped for.
Chatterjee’s dedication to his craft is evident in his meticulous preparation for each project. For instance, while discussing his work on Gangubai Kathiawadi, he described the extensive five days of rehearsals required to capture the intricacies of the Garba dance in the song “Jhoome Re Gori.”
He emphasized that the choreography involved multiple moving parts, “there were 3 people who were moving: the steady cam operator, my assistant who was running with a Chinese lantern to light Alia [Bhatt]’s face and the light was on a fader, and I had to run along with it to control the intensity of that light… it was practice and observation.”
Chatterjee’s journey in the film industry is marked by a series of collaborations with some of the most talented filmmakers and has worked on critically acclaimed movies like Chotushkone, Chandu Champion, Brahmastra and many more.
Sudeep Chatterjee’s insights into his craft reveal a deep passion for cinematography and a thoughtful approach to filmmaking. In an interview with Hindustan Times, he reflected on his experience working on the blockbuster film Dhoom 3, expressing mixed feelings about its reception.
He noted that, “When the film released it did very well but I don’t think it got a lot of love. I was disappointed with the kind of appreciation the film was getting because I had put in a lot of hardwork, and I had to give up a Bhansali film in the mix.” He mentioned that he was unable to work on Ram Leela due to the continuous extensions of the shoot, which left him feeling somewhat disappointed that his hard work did not receive the appreciation he had hoped for.
Chatterjee’s dedication to his craft is evident in his meticulous preparation for each project. For instance, while discussing his work on Gangubai Kathiawadi, he described the extensive five days of rehearsals required to capture the intricacies of the Garba dance in the song “Jhoome Re Gori.”
He emphasized that the choreography involved multiple moving parts, “there were 3 people who were moving: the steady cam operator, my assistant who was running with a Chinese lantern to light Alia [Bhatt]’s face and the light was on a fader, and I had to run along with it to control the intensity of that light… it was practice and observation.”
Chatterjee’s journey in the film industry is marked by a series of collaborations with some of the most talented filmmakers and has worked on critically acclaimed movies like Chotushkone, Chandu Champion, Brahmastra and many more.
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