DAY ONE AT THE BANK- 10TH NOV'09

I wasn’t as nervous on the first day of shoot as I was on the morning of 10th Nov’08. I was worried because I was not sure how so many artists were going to be handled. Unlike some people who don’t give as much credit to the background artists, I have always believed that if you make them feel you are taking care of them they do a better job. Besides, personally I’m a stickler for organization and hate when things are left to be discovered and handled as and when the time comes.

That apart I also knew the pace that we would have to maintain if we were to finish the climax portion planned today and some other sequences. No delays were to be allowed at any cost.

We were shooting in the normal shift i.e. 9.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. by now I had understood the pace of the unit and was hoping that the first shot was to be canned by 11.00 which by regular standards was going to be demanding and add to that the crowd that we had on set that day the task seemed humungous!
Hence I almost fainted when our DOP- Prasad Bhende- was unhappy with an entire wall being orange and asked it to be painted white! Although he was only doing his job and would eventually be in the interest of the film, I had my reservations regarding the timing of the suggestion! However it had to be done. It had to be done!

The wall being painted meant that we had to avoid that part of the set where the painting was in progress and thus the shots were redesigned! On my part all the artists were present and ready by 11.00!
Our action directors- Kushal and Moses- had started designing the sequence and the actors needed in the first shot were on floor getting their rehearsals right. We finally rolled around noon.

As expected the sequences were demanding and taxing. However the action masters had got into the groove and with the artists being of the repute the pace was fast. All the same by the day’s end we could only can the entire climax. I had expected that and had convinced myself that beyond a certain point I’ll have to accept where we stand and keep moving accordingly.

Every time I realized I could unreasonably create an issue I would look at Uttung and seeing him composed and focused I knew the fight was on and I had to stand and deliver subtly but effectively.

However the most important part of this day was that I realized getting the background artists ready was not going to be an issue. It was only the artists’ continuity and art and props that will need attention. Besides the toughest sequence had been canned.

The next 4 days were going to be something we had grown used to by now.

However not in my wildest dream did I foresee that I would I have to leave the set and go when one of the most important sequences of the film was going to be shot!!

Why?...fate!