MUMBAI: Sanjay Leela Bhansali is a true maestro of Indian cinema—a filmmaker whose vision transcends the ordinary and transforms every frame into cinematic poetry. His commitment to detail and grandeur is unmatched, with each set elevated to the realm of art. Films like Gangubai Kathiawadi stand as a testament to this brilliance, where every scene feels like a painting brought to life.
In an interview, celebrated cinematographer Sudeep Chatterjee shared insights into working on the sets of Gangubai Kathiawadi, particularly the intricate lighting that played a pivotal role in bringing Bhansali’s vision to life.
“For Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022), I tried to artificially light up an entire set—not just for night scenes, but for the day as well,” Sudeep explained. “Which means, instead of using the real sun, we created our own sun and a custom daylight ambience.”
He further elaborated on the technique that gave the lighting its natural look: “Several things had to be taken care of. Firstly, the entire set at Mumbai’s Film City needed to be covered with a ceiling to bounce lights from. I didn’t use a green screen for the sky—I used a white screen that we call a luma key. When you replace it with the sky, the halation you get looks far more real. That’s because when you normally shoot, the sky tends to get slightly burnt out.”
Matching Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s vision is no easy feat. Gangubai Kathiawadi is a cinematic masterpiece, where every detail—from the period-perfect setting to the evocative lighting—is meticulously crafted. The lighting, which felt so natural in both day and night scenes, was in fact the result of immense thought and technical precision.
This is far from the first time we’ve witnessed Bhansali’s brilliance. Time and again, he has created cinematic experiences steeped in grandeur and soul. Now, with Love & War on the horizon, audiences are eagerly waiting to be swept away once again by his next spectacular vision.
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