Comments on: Subrata Mitra The Master of Light http://devbenegal.com/2004/12/08/subrata-mitra-the-master-of-light/ heaven is in your mind Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:10:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Soujatya Dasgupta http://devbenegal.com/2004/12/08/subrata-mitra-the-master-of-light/#comment-11807 Soujatya Dasgupta Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:31:01 +0000 http://devbenegal.com/2004/12/08/subrata-mitra-the-master-of-light/#comment-11807 Hi Dev, Thank you so much for this really interesting and informative article on Subrata Mitra, unarguably the greatest Indian cinematographer ever. I read about his innovative 'bouncing light' technique from Satyajit Ray's famous book 'Our Films Their Films' and how he invented the "bounced" lighting technique in Ray's Aparajito by a simple and inexpensive device as a white outstretched cloth, to achieve shadowless diffusion, even though Ray and Bansi Chandragupta were little doubtful of Subrata's experiment. Ray went on to claim that this is the most effective technique in films made under realistic format. Subrata's technique led him to innovate what became subsequently his most important tool - bounce lighting and this a whole 10 years before Sven Nykvist claimed to be its originator in American Cinematographer Subrata can clearly be placed along side the great cinematographers of the world, like Sven Nykvist, Vittorio Storaro, Vilmos Zsigmond or Gregg Toland. I an avid Satyajit Ray fan (infact I worship him, like many others) and I am excited to read such an interesting article about Ray's famed cinematographer. Thank you so much. The fact that you have seen him, interacted with him, observed his work, and surely learnt a great deal in this process, is some kind of a life time opportunity, right? When Ray died, I was 14 and didn’t see many of his films at that time (largely feeding upon Bollywood crap), though, being a Bengali, I had indubitably heard of him and his work as he became a household name. But after few years, I got introduced to the 'World of Ray' and his cinema, and that changed my perspective about cinema forever. Its interesting to note that Subrata Mitra is a distinguished sitar player and had composed music and played the sitar for The River and Pather Panchali! Hi Dev,

Thank you so much for this really interesting and informative article on Subrata Mitra, unarguably the greatest Indian cinematographer ever. I read about his innovative ‘bouncing light’ technique from Satyajit Ray’s famous book ‘Our Films Their Films’ and how he invented the “bounced” lighting technique in Ray’s Aparajito by a simple and inexpensive device as a white outstretched cloth, to achieve shadowless diffusion, even though Ray and Bansi Chandragupta were little doubtful of Subrata’s experiment. Ray went on to claim that this is the most effective technique in films made under realistic format. Subrata’s technique led him to innovate what became subsequently his most important tool – bounce lighting and this a whole 10 years before Sven Nykvist claimed to be its originator in American Cinematographer
Subrata can clearly be placed along side the great cinematographers of the world, like Sven Nykvist, Vittorio Storaro, Vilmos Zsigmond or Gregg Toland. I an avid Satyajit Ray fan (infact I worship him, like many others) and I am excited to read such an interesting article about Ray’s famed cinematographer. Thank you so much.
The fact that you have seen him, interacted with him, observed his work, and surely learnt a great deal in this process, is some kind of a life time opportunity, right?
When Ray died, I was 14 and didn’t see many of his films at that time (largely feeding upon Bollywood crap), though, being a Bengali, I had indubitably heard of him and his work as he became a household name. But after few years, I got introduced to the ‘World of Ray’ and his cinema, and that changed my perspective about cinema forever. Its interesting to note that Subrata Mitra is a distinguished sitar player and had composed music and played the sitar for The River and Pather Panchali!

]]> By: dev http://devbenegal.com/2004/12/08/subrata-mitra-the-master-of-light/#comment-26 dev Tue, 03 Jan 2006 15:03:44 +0000 http://devbenegal.com/2004/12/08/subrata-mitra-the-master-of-light/#comment-26 Dinkar, Thanks for that! Upamanyu and I are working on Mammaries of the Welfare State which is a kind of sequel to English, August. Check back here for the official release of English, August. Would any readers / viewers like the directors commentary and some extra's on the DVD or are you just happy with the film? Dinkar,

Thanks for that! Upamanyu and I are working on Mammaries of the Welfare State which is a kind of sequel to English, August. Check back here for the official release of English, August.

Would any readers / viewers like the directors commentary and some extra’s on the DVD or are you just happy with the film?

]]> By: Dinkar Bakshi http://devbenegal.com/2004/12/08/subrata-mitra-the-master-of-light/#comment-24 Dinkar Bakshi Tue, 03 Jan 2006 08:21:42 +0000 http://devbenegal.com/2004/12/08/subrata-mitra-the-master-of-light/#comment-24 Dear Dev, I am eagerly awaiting the release of English, August on DVD. Where can I buy it online, when it is released. With kind regards Dinkar. Dear Dev,

I am eagerly awaiting the release of English, August on DVD. Where can I buy it online, when it is released.

With kind regards

Dinkar.

]]> By: Ravi http://devbenegal.com/2004/12/08/subrata-mitra-the-master-of-light/#comment-12 Ravi Fri, 23 Sep 2005 07:25:12 +0000 http://devbenegal.com/2004/12/08/subrata-mitra-the-master-of-light/#comment-12 Hi Dev, I am great fan of the movie English,August.. It was hilarious and wonderfully directed. I was wondering if the movie is available in DVD/VCD format anywhere ? I remember having seen the movie some 7 years back on Star Movies. I thought you must be right person to answer my query.. Thanks, Ravi. Hi Dev,

I am great fan of the movie English,August.. It was hilarious and wonderfully directed. I was wondering if the movie is available in DVD/VCD format anywhere ? I remember having seen the movie some 7 years back on Star Movies.
I thought you must be right person to answer my query..
Thanks,
Ravi.

]]> By: Dev Benegal http://devbenegal.com/2004/12/08/subrata-mitra-the-master-of-light/#comment-10 Dev Benegal Thu, 01 Sep 2005 09:24:20 +0000 http://devbenegal.com/2004/12/08/subrata-mitra-the-master-of-light/#comment-10 Shamik, Thanks! One would not believe what I had to go through to convince the newspapers to publish this. The Times of India flatly refused saying they do not publish obituaries and followed that statement by publishing one a few days later of a Bollywood star! It's only when I argued, pleaded and begged did the resident editor agree to 400 words! 400 words for someone who has invented the concept of bounce lighting in cinema! MidDay was better and said 800 words would be fine. I do agree that a longer piece would have been better. But having been so close to the man what I'm killing myself about is not having taken a single photograph with him or of his! I guess that's the whole point; we didn't think much of ourselves. Cinema was religion! Shamik,
Thanks! One would not believe what I had to go through to convince the newspapers to publish this. The Times of India flatly refused saying they do not publish obituaries and followed that statement by publishing one a few days later of a Bollywood star! It’s only when I argued, pleaded and begged did the resident editor agree to 400 words! 400 words for someone who has invented the concept of bounce lighting in cinema! MidDay was better and said 800 words would be fine. I do agree that a longer piece would have been better. But having been so close to the man what I’m killing myself about is not having taken a single photograph with him or of his! I guess that’s the whole point; we didn’t think much of ourselves. Cinema was religion!

]]> By: Shamik http://devbenegal.com/2004/12/08/subrata-mitra-the-master-of-light/#comment-9 Shamik Thu, 01 Sep 2005 09:00:38 +0000 http://devbenegal.com/2004/12/08/subrata-mitra-the-master-of-light/#comment-9 Hello Dev.... Been a great fan of English, August....not so much of Split Wide Open, though i respect the film for its rather bold treatment. This too is an article on a man who deserves every letter that has been written about him. So much has been said about Subrata Mitra being what he is thanks to Ray. I wonder what Ray would have been without Mitra. Good that you brought in focus Mitra's craft and artistry. Even though i think you could have buttressed it with more information about how Mitra operated (the "god in the details" bit), being a journalist for five years now, i know newspaper place their own set of demands on the writer, space constraints for one. But thanks anyway, and looking forward to more interesting stuff from you.... shamik Hello Dev….
Been a great fan of English, August….not so much of Split Wide Open, though i respect the film for its rather bold treatment.
This too is an article on a man who deserves every letter that has been written about him. So much has been said about Subrata Mitra being what he is thanks to Ray. I wonder what Ray would have been without Mitra.
Good that you brought in focus Mitra’s craft and artistry. Even though i think you could have buttressed it with more information about how Mitra operated (the “god in the details” bit), being a journalist for five years now, i know newspaper place their own set of demands on the writer, space constraints for one. But thanks anyway, and looking forward to more interesting stuff from you….
shamik

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