A movie’s climax moment is frequently the most remembered. This is the turning point in the story, where all the loose ends are tied together. However, how do you film these crucial cinematic moments?
An Idea for the Final Scene
Renowned in the Indian film business, Anil Mehta is recognized for his outstanding work on movies such as Highway, Beyond the Clouds, Sui Dhaaga, Badlapur, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. But his work on Lagaan sticks out as a significant turning point in his career.
Mehta was invited on board by filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker for Lagaan with a specific idea in mind for the film’s final cricket match. In contemporary Indian cinema, the scene where a bunch of Indian villagers overcome a team of Englishmen is one of the most famous.
The Demanding Thirty-Day Shoot
Film Companion interviewed Mehta, who called filming the conclusion “exhausting.” It took a demanding 30 days to shoot the scene, which is included in the final edit of the movie and lasts for 30 minutes.
“We spent 30 days filming. It becomes boring and tiresome to perform the same sequence over and over again, Mehta remarked. He was devoted to emphasizing the drama of the scene rather than just reporting the sporting activity, though, so excuse the repetition.
How Difficult It Is To Film Emotion
Mehta’s largest obstacle was trying to convey every player’s feeling. He declared, “I was emphasizing the drama of the scene, not providing sports coverage. Therefore, feelings have to be fired into every player.” This strategy resulted in multiple conflicts between Gowariker and producer and star of the film, Aamir Khan.
Composing the Scene A few days prior to the shoot
The final sequence was scripted in great detail only a day or two before it was supposed to be filmed, which increased the intricacy. Mehta reminisced, “Ashutosh had promised me that he would write a booklet explaining how the cricket match scenes would be done because it was a crucial sequence, before I began filming Lagaan.” However, that booklet wasn’t prepared until just a few days before the scenes needed to be filmed.”
After a two-day break from filming, the filmmakers worked on writing and discussing the scenes. To make sure they got every ball exactly properly, they had to plan every action and reaction.
Just One Camera for the Project
Mehta was determined to use just one camera, no matter how complicated the scenario was. “We only had one camera, and an additional one on the days that were needed,” he stated. There was a heated dispute over how the sequence would be filmed. Up to the day of the shoot, we continued to emphasize that we were not covering sports; rather, we were filming a sports scene.”
Aamir Khan’s Contribution and the End Product
The movie’s protagonist, Bhuvan, played by Aamir Khan, advised that once the booklet was prepared, they should follow it. Mehta changed course, though, after deciding that the first day’s results were insufficient. He said, “This is not how it is going to work!”
Mehta shot every player in a different way in an attempt to depict the drama in the emotions of each actor. The end product is a cinematic classic that is still praised for its potent emotional effect and narrative.
-Daisy