‘Cinema’s Greatest Challenge Is Reels’

Goutam Ghose is one of India's most celebrated contemporary film makers.

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He has bagged multiple National Film Awards, along with the Golden Peacock for Best Film (Moner Manush) at the 41st International Film Festival of India.

He is also the proud recipient of the Vittorio De Sica Award in Italy, 1997, and in 2006, was awarded the Knighthood of the Star of the Italian Solidarity. Ghose, who turns 75 on July 24, is still chasing cinematic adventures.

In a two-part interview. “This year, at the first Asian Art Film Award in Macau, my son and I won the Best Cinematography Award jointly. I don’t know about world cinema, but I don’t think there's a precedent in Indian cinema for a father-son duo winning an award jointly.”

How does it feel to bring in a milestone birthday?

I don't count the years I have lived. As long as my spirit is alive, I'm fine.

(Smiles) I have no outstanding debts, I don't pay EMIs. That gives me peace of mind, the freedom to chase adventures and yes, write haikus too.

When I shot Raahgir: The Wayfarers, which is finally releasing after five years, my actors, Tillotoma Shome, Neeraj Kabi and Adil Hussain, were surprised I didn't want to take the shot from different angles as is common today. I told them that for me, every shot is a master shot because while working in the celluloid era, particularly in Bengal with a stringent budget, we mostly followed a 3:1 ratio and could go for a maximum of three takes.

In the digital age, young film-makers like my son Ishaan can work far more freely even within a tight budget.

Jhilli, the first feature film Ishaan directed, was shot in a dhapa (garbage ground) in Kolkata with characters drawn from that area. He used a small Sony camera, Sony A7, Canon 16-35mm lens and a hand-held stabiliser, recreating the sound completely during post-production.