I Find Story Telling More Challenging: Gorky!

Is it true that accounts become easy if you are good at Maths? Is it wrong to assume that every person who has a beautiful handwriting also draws well? Today, we at Rangmunch.TV, bring to you a person who captures faces not just in stills but in moving pictures as well. A person who is known for his sense of humour, intelligence and his ability to turn reality into imagination and vice versa.

Sunidhi Chauhan's snap taken at the Coke Studio @MTV

Gorky, the Director of Channel V’s High School Drama Humse Hai Liife, is an ace Photographer who has to his credit prestigious projects like MTV Coke Studio, Ishaan on Disney and also the movie Men Will be Men!

We caught up with him during our Rangmunch Set hopping sessions and needless to say, the conversation was worth capturing within the frames of our portal, for all of you to see.

Manish Malhotra's picture taken at the Chivas Studio 2011

Story telling v/s Photography:

I find story telling more challenging. Photography is more of luck. It all depends on what you capture in that second or micro second. When you are telling a story, it is more of a journey you are showing.

Primarily, I love to shoot people, so it’s their expression or their setting or their environment and what it conveys at that point in time that captures my attention. I personally hate to photo shoot those typical pictures that have a green or a white backdrop even though they are the most sought after ones, since you can shoot with a white background and replace it later with whatever setting you like. I like to have people guessing as to where the picture was taken and that is why you will always find an element of mystery in all my pictures.

Tricks of Photography in the Digital Age:

I do edit my pictures. As you know there are many pluses and minuses to it. The biggest minus is that you become overtly reliant and lazy. I think most people have become that way post advent of the digital age. In a certain situation, you become complacent. For example if the right balance is off in a picture, you can work on it later and adjust it. The discipline somewhere goes missing. However, for me it also acts as a check, because I keep going back to my basics to see what I have actually done. The good part about this is that, anybody with a decent sense of framing and composition can actually take up photography. Your tools are diversified. It gives a great amount of freedom. If you don’t have the resources, editing helps you. You may not be at a particular place at a certain time, but having the editing tools certainly makes it easier to establish the look and feel of what you can’t do otherwise. I would say edits have just extended the reach of what you can do as a photographer.

One Creative Quirk:

Music moves me a lot. I listen to a lot of Western Classical Music and have developed my music taste buds lately for Bollywood music too. Old Hindi melodies somehow do it for me! Off late, I can’t get enough of the Inception track. But if I were to pick from Television, the music of Humse Hai Liife is also fabulous. It is not conventional. In the very first episode, there is a number with Raghav that has a rap-hip-hop feel to it. It’s a song, at the same time it’s not a song as well. Similarly, there is also Arjun’s song in the second episode that I really like. Well, as you can see, I love music.

Heli  Daruwala aka Saloni of Humse Hai Liife

The Passion:

I didn’t per se always know this is what I wanted to do, but I have always indulged in things that have moved around the camera. It is only in the recent few years that I’ve taken up photography professionally. I was getting very fed up of not doing anything creative. So when I was called to do a look test for Red Chillies Entertainment, I gladly took it up. Then we did a show for Disney. From there on, I’ve been shooting and this is where I am today. But, when I don’t want to take up too much work, I end up over quoting and over charging (laughs).

Creative Corner:

My “Writing Desk” is my favourite Creative Corner. You will find all my paraphernalia there including my computer. I am a huge internet junkie. My computer and my internet are my inlet into all those places I cannot be at. I generally like browsing through tech stuff, watch music videos on Youtube, visit Photography sites. I am also a gadget freak!

When I see the video-mixes that the fans make of their favourite actors, I don’t know what to say at times. It is absolutely a great labour of love. I understand the spirit behind it is pure and honest. One can go into the whole copyright issue but keeping that aside, to make so much of an effort, at times I wonder how they manage it. Do they all have editing suites fitted into their home? How do they manage to collect all these videos? It’s crazy and amazing at the same time, considering they are not getting anything in return.

"The picture that started all the madness" - Gorky

Photographers Delight in the Industry:

I have not had that kind of body of work, but amongst the people I have shot, I really like shooting Drashti Dhami (who plays Geet in Geet-Hui Sabse Parayi) a lot. I like the colour of her eyes and the way they catch light. 

I have just started shooting the girls on Humse Hai Liife, since I have been caught up with directing them. I always carry my camera with me. Especially the day we were shooting introductions, I thought it was important for me to shoot and have three signature pictures for publicity as well as for the website. I shot pictures of the fight sequence as well. I think Abigail’s smile can light up a room.

Handling Pressure:

I turn extremely funny when under pressure. When there is no other outlet for pressure, you have to be the one who takes the load and does it in a positive way. I don’t believe in shouting at people. I just have a word with them and ask them to stop screwing around. When you shout, it eventually leads to more confusion and erratic behaviour. Hence I prefer talking to them in person when pressure is building up because of someone!

Motivation Mantra for the Team:

I don’t follow any particular cheering up exercise to motivate my team. However, when an actor performs well, I ask everyone to clap for them. Especially in Humse Hai Liife, since they are all new, I ask the unit to clap for them or I go and talk to them separately. That becomes more important sometimes. If someone doesn’t perform well, or you have a problem with an actor’s performance I don’t say anything, in front of everyone, I call them later and talk to them personally. That always helps! Like for example in the scene where Sia had to leave home, I thought Aby(Abigail) was very good, I went her and gave her a  hug to let her know she did a good job and later Mama too demanded a hug which I had to eventually give him!

Television Today:

Television today is no longer a platform where you can nurture talent. Earlier you were raw, you would come here to hone your skills, sharpen, polish and then move on to a bigger better platform. That’s why you had an Anurag Kashyap, Imtiaz Ali, Anurag Basu. On Television, you do have talented people and you are working under different kind of pressures in order to deliver your best. Creativity is compromised at times with quantity taking precedence over quality. Earlier on Doordarshan one episode was like a film. Nowadays, day-to-day scenes are shot by people who don’t know the background of the story. The person who knows the background of the story and the person executing it on a day-to-day basis are not the same. So when there is a disconnect problems do crop up at times. Even for the actors, it’s not humanly possible to be on their toes all the time. Their personal life takes a toll; at times they have to continue shooting despite failing health!

Television viewing today has become more of a habit. You set your mind to tune into a certain channel at a particular time every day. When you don’t get what you want, there are so many other options. There are many shows, which people don’t even watch. There is so much emphasis on audio and the effect that you grasp the essence of the scenes even without watching them. Tumhara show koi dekhe na dekha, you understand the scene. Unfortunately Seasons, like what the Yashraj Banner experimented with, didn’t work too well. 

However, the notion that Television is a lesser medium than films is slowly changing; in fact, I would say it has already changed. If you look at the kind of budgets involved in Television today, and the kind of shows that are being made, you will vouch for the same. It’s about time an initiative is taken up to do a variety of shows, and then we will surely get to see all kinds of shows on Indian Television.

Rangmunch.TV would like to thank Gorky for candidly sharing his Creative Journey and Work with us.

Interviewed by:

Niharika Vidya Sagar

Swati Ghosh

Edited by:

Niharika Vidya Sagar 

100 episodes of Dil Dosti Dance!

The name by itself suggests, its all about love, friendships and loads of dance !! Channel V's Dil Dosti Dance, today completes 100 episodes a midst all fun and frolic.

Set in St. Louis College, this show tells the story of dancers! Like you would expect from a college story, there is loads of love and romance in all forms within the four walls of this show. The show in the recent past has also introduced Teen Hearthrob Karan Singh Grover, as Professor Karan Mallick who has stepped into the college to set the lives of the students right. The show also witnessed the professor, giving students tips on how the boys could win over the girls, whom each of them secretly adore. Rey and Kria like always have their I Hate You like I Love you equation going. 

We got in touch with the Concept-Story-Screenplay writer of the show Priya Ramanathan, who has been associated with the show right from the start and congratulated her. On asking her how she would like to sum up the 100 episodes that went by here is what she said..

"I cannot believe its been a hundred episodes. But then again, if your life and job is all song and dance, I guess days go by quickly !"

So true ! On that note, we wish the entire team of D3 a hearty congratulations on behalf of Rangmunch.TV and we hope they keep singing and dancing away through this beautiful journey till eternity !

Written by,

Niharika Vidya Sagar

Rangmunch.TV

Its Kabaddi Kabaddi time on D3

Channel V's Dil Dosti Dance is a show about dancers , but it tells the story of people from different walks of life studying under one roof. In the latest track, the students of St.Louis college have been challenged by their new mentor Karan Mallik (Karan Singh Grover), to a kabaddi match. He has split the teams into two, much to their dislike with pairings that have not been well accepted. While it would be interesting to see the teams plan out their strategy and try to out do one another, it would be interesting to see how this match changes things for the students.

As we already know, Karan has stepped into the college to mend the ways of the students and has realized there is loads of hidden unrest and hostility between the members. Karan was even seen giving the boys tips to win over the girls and get close to them in the process. On the other hand, Sharon refuses to accept Bharat as a  part of their team stating he is low class and a mechanic.

It is pretty evident why Karan, has picked a game like Kabaddi. He feels this game would help everyone come close and work as a team and perhaps work towards a common goal of winning the match. With loads of thrill, romance and anticipation in store, this match is certainly one to look forward to. 

Will Kria and Rey come closer during the match? Will Sharon be able to accept Bharat in the same team and become a little more understanding towards him? Will Karan sir, succeed in achieving what he plans to to? The man will decide answer many such questions! Like they say, may the best man win !

Niharika Vidya Sagar

Rangmunch.TV

In my mind only Abigail can play Sia in Humse Hai Liife: Hitesh Kewalya!

Well, have you ever thought where a story evolves? In the mind of a writer. Where does it take shape? In his imagination. Where do you finally see it? On the screen! This journey from a creative mind to a visual medium is a story in itself and an interesting one too.

Rangmunch.TV introduces you to Hitesh Kewalya, who writes the story, screenplay and dialogues for Humse Hai Liife along with his sister Roopal Kewalya, on Channel V, and also adds the Nanda Kisor and Hallo Hi Bye Bye touches to Bua ji and Mamiji in Is Pyar ko Kyaa Naam doon through his dialogues. Talking to Hitesh, only makes you respect the Writer Fraternity even more as a clan, that silently work in the background, knowing fully well, that the name in those credits may just scroll away while the characters and stories they create, would go on to live in the hearts of the audiences forever.

Rangmunch Team had the priviledge of talking with Hitesh, who revealed some fascinating facts about his journey with Humse Hai Liife, the High School Drama on Channel V ….right from its conceptualization to the way it’s being portrayed onscreen!! 

The Inception...

One fine day I got a call from Nissar (Parvez-Producer) as they had been toying with the idea of making a youth based show. When I came on board, at the onset it was very clear in our minds that we wanted to present a real story and not just a fluffy teenage romance to the audience.

What we had initially conceived was something more edgy and dark than what we are seeing right now. I happened to see a documentary in a film festival called the Boxing Ladies (by Anusha Nandakumar, SRFTI). Its a film about three sisters who undergo training to become boxers. It was not about the boxing, but the struggle the movie portrayed that gripped my attention. I then thought, our story needs to have a balance between both youth issues- the struggle of a boxer as well as her personal life. That’s how it all started. I began working on the initial story, gave the girl a past and then all of us jammed in and took it forward.

The Characterisation of Sia, the Protagonist!

….When writing a story, the biggest challenge is to create the protagonist. The protagonist of your show is someone who portrays certain values and virtues that reflect the kind of show you want to make. It is extremely important that the viewers relate and connect to him or her. I want every small town girl to look at Sia and identify with her. I want every girl to relate with Sia emotionally or otherwise. Therefore, etching out every aspect of a Character then becomes a mammoth task. It is like an ever-evolving process. Sia has to react differently in each situation. We also have to keep in mind that there is going to be a scenario where the girl who is so focused towards her passion and goal, will perhaps fall in love as well, and when that happens, how would she react then? Since the story revolves around Sia, hence in my opinion, she is the toughest one to pen down.

Aspects of Story telling...

Once your story is chalked out and your characters are relatable, everything else just falls in place. You don’t have to worry or bother about what others are doing. When telling a story, as a Writer, Director or a Producer one has to remember that the audiences are watching it because they connect and identify with your story. As long as we are true to our characters, and the story is engaging, we know a show will find its audience and people will watch it. Unveiling of story is like an onion. You peel off one layer and there is another one beneath it. If you can maintain the level of curiosity among the viewers, they will keep coming back to watch the show. You can’t keep comparing yourself to others or for that matter start following what they do. That’s not an ideal way to work on a story, as that way you are forcing things in a manner that is not organic to the entire set up.

Cliche Cliché Cliché …

Clichés always work on Television, but they should be carried out with an element of unpredictability attached to them. As a case study, in the first scene Gautam, Sia’s brother is shown running with a pair boxing gloves. Till the time he runs and comes, you know he is going towards Sia, but just when you think he will give it to her and there is going to be a regular brother and sister emotional scene, Sia slaps him. Now that thappad (slap) was the element of unpredictability, which the audiences did not anticipate. Therefore, we try to play around clichés but tweak it wherever necessary, so that there is an element of surprise and freshness in the way its presented.

Hero.... as in a Fiction!!

…..In any story-the word Hero means a person who is strong. Even if you look at history, a Hero is someone who touches death, over comes obstacles, and reaches the roof. Touching death is a part of his weakness, and the transformation that happens from weak to strong is what goes into making a Hero. You can even take an instance from our  day to day life - for me, beating traffic and reaching a place on time makes me a Hero too (laughs). The protagonist is however, different from a Hero. Here in Humse Hai Life, Vishal could be the protagonist- but then there always has to be a Hero in a story!

When Sia met Abigail ...

….I think I am still in the process of making the two meet. I have made certain observations about Abigail after having interacted with her and watched her perform from close quarters. Somewhere it becomes very important to marry the two; the character and the girl portraying it. Right now in my head only Abigail can play Sia. If it was someone else, then we would have had a different Sia. While writing scenes for Sia, I always keep Abigail, the person in mind. Since I know how Abigail speaks in real life, it becomes easier for me to incorporate it in my writing, as I know how she would perform in a particular scene. There are certain things that Abigail does, and if it works for us, then Sia does it too. Adding layers to a performer and a character is an evolving process. It’s like an orchestra. There might be a tabla, harmonium, a violin, but how much of each needs to be played and when is what brings in the harmony.

After a point in time, the audience become very particular about what they want to see of a character. If you do not show character consistency, then audiences start alienating themselves from what they are watching. Hence, we have to be alert at all times when we are projecting a character in a certain way.

Imagination Vs. Reflection….I wouldn’t be in my right mind if I thought what I wrote would exactly get translated on screen to the T. It’s not a cake recipe. Even cakes don’t turn out the same every time even though we follow the same recipe. A story is a Vision. Especially in Television or any creative medium, you just add your bit and pass it on. There is always going to be a value addition at every stage. No one person drives the entire scene. Everyone working on a show is looking at it from his or her perspective. The Writer, the Director, the Producer, and even the Channel at times comes back with their feedback. When you work on a story over a period of time, you eventually end up developing a vision that everyone agrees upon.

As a writer, when I first thought of this story, as i had told you earlier, it was very dark in nature, but eventually changes happened. I knew at the back of my mind, that the story may not be the way I had actually conceived it. As you meet different people and discuss things, a concept develops and takes its own shape. There is no hard and fast rule that one person sets the vision and the rest merely follows it. It doesn’t happen that way and it shouldn’t either.  

For instance, we have decided on showing an elephant in our story. Now, whether we want to show a white elephant, a fat one, or a big one or some other, is something that all of us have to agree upon. Amalgamation of ideas always brings about a better product. I consider myself lucky to be working with 4Lions as they always give me an opportunity to share my thoughts and views. However, after all our brainstorming and discussions we always manage to reach a common ground at the end of the day. There have been instances when I have wanted to make some changes at the last moment, and have mailed them as late as the morning of the shoot and they have made those additions in the shoots because they agree it would fit better with the story...

The Art of Writing...

….I don’t think Television or film scripts need flowery or poetic language at all times. I follow a very normal way of writing. Like for example, if I write about a beautiful morning, there could be many perceptions to a beautiful morning. Whose beautiful morning is it? Is it being shot in a chawl or elsewhere? 
So I need to remember the character, the set up and the story while penning down my thoughts. If I end up writing something that is beautiful to read, but difficult for a Director to execute, then my writing would be of no use.

Humse Hai Liife ….The story!!!

...Humse Hai Liife is a story about what ultimately drives you towards your passion. This is a tale of Sia’s struggle. We may not show how she is going to go and win the Olympics, but Sia wants to be a boxer and this story tells you how she uses every opportunity to fulfill her dreams in a place where she perhaps has things working against her at all times. Her success and survival forms the crux of the story.

We are also trying to establish a character that is diametrically opposite to Sia; Pooj, who shares the room with Sia. Despite hailing from similar backgrounds both Sia and Pooj think differently. While Sia uses her scholarship at Elite to pursue her dreams to be a boxer, Pooj takes this as an opportunity to mould herself and become a part of the world and society she has moved into. She wants to befriend a bunch of people who she thinks are cool in order to find acceptance. With Pooj, we are trying to subtly show you the other side of human psyche.

The story is set in a school wherein you can bring in various angles and aspects. It can become a zone where you could just be having fun. But our idea is also to give a message while telling the story, not only to the youth, but also to  parents who watch the show and relate to every character as they might be seeing their own child in one of the kids at Elite. Every character has its own story and acts in a particular way with the other for a certain reason. There is so much to explore that at times we are equally anxious for the story to unfold. You will also see, various other angles getting revealed as the story progresses.

We know, we are making a show, which would eventually cater to a wide range of audience, not just youngsters. We want every person who watches the show, to see it because a part of them connects with the story. Hopefully, we should be able to achieve that in the days to come.

We would like to thank Hitesh for sharing his Humse Hai Liife experience with Rangmunch.TV and taking most of us back to school, with his true to life High School Drama.

Interviewed and Edited by:

Niharika Vidya Sagar 

Swati Ghosh

Rangmunch.TV