Archives – Page 8 – Dev Benegal

Portal Peel

Post date October 27, 2004

I’m reading about John Peel’s death on a newswire service connected via a wireless cell phone to the intenet.
What makes this uncanny is that I’m in the same room and the same table where I used to prop up a small short-wave radio some 30 years ago and listen to his show on BBC World Service.
The radio and John’s show was the portal to my world. I’m not sure I loved all the music but there was some strange stuff that I’m sure I would have never heard elsewhere.
Even in far away Delhi he had fans and his wry style was legendary.
What was that Indian thing about life being cyclical?

Films

The Masters

Post date October 13, 2004

I’m fortunate to have met some of the masters who have made cinema what it is. I will be writing aboout some of these encounters from time to time in this blog. Some of the people whose work I admire and who will feature in this are: Subrata Mitra the legendary cameraman, Satyajit Ray the director, Walter Murch the editor and sound designer. Also in this will be the unsung heroes. The people who never get noticed in the movies but who have made an indelible mark on cinema in their small way. I’m thinking of Bhanudas Divkar the film editor, Kamat Ghanekar the great cinematographer, and of Ashok Mehta the maverick Director of Photography.

Films Photography, Music & Audio

Chris Doyle

Post date July 21, 2004

My pictures of Chris Doyle when we met in Delhi.
Here’s what Salon has to say of him:

Christopher Doyle may be the greatest cinematographer now working. The movie (Hero) is utterly gorgeous to look at but Doyle’s work is never merely “pictorial.” It always has the dramatic impetus of the scene in mind. He is a master of lighting, shading, hues and precise yet subtle camera movement and is one of the least fussy masters imaginable.

When I sent this to Chris, he responded, “I blush.”

Doyle_Carried Away

Chris Doyle- Carried Away. Photograph ? Dev Benegal 2004

Films

Garbage

Post date April 29, 2004

On my way to meet Walter Murch, where he was conducting a ten day workshop at the Film & Television Institute (FTII) here’s what was in front of our car.
Amazing what one comes across in Bombay. The city has this crazy energy which most filmmakers seem to ignore.

Garbage Bollywood style.JPG

Films

Chalo China 2004

Post date January 21, 2004

Prof. Makarand Paranjape of the JNU in Delhi is taking a few of us to China in April. My film Split Wide Open will be one the films being screened. keep a watch here for pictures and updates from China.