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Daily soaps are using rain to highlight pivotal moments
Seema Sinha, TNN | Jul 20, 2013, 12.00 AM IST
READ MORE Saraswatichandra|Chhanchhan|Gautam Rode|Ravindra Gautam|Bollywood
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Daily soaps are increasingly using rain to highlight pivotal moments in the storyline
Bollywood has used the rain to great effect to convey a variety of situations. For some time now, though, the film industry has been experiencing a 'dry' spell with TV soaps now drenched in downpours, highlighting the show's high points.
Director Ravindra Gautam, who has used the monsoons in almost every show of his, says, "At times, when we feel sustaining audiences' interest could be lacking, our simple mantra is 'Barsaat karwa lenge'," he laughs, adding that serials are shot just a day before its telecast date and the team may not always have creative inputs.
Adds director Arvind Babbar, "We have to show artistes in different moods, so obviously, rains play an important role. Moreover, when you connect the actor's feeling with nature, it takes the scene to another level." Arvind has shot rain sequences in Kesar, Mera Naam Karegi Roshan and Mitwa Phool Kamal Ke in the past.
"Be it an actor's introduction scene, a consummation scene or any other high point, rain adds value," says director Anil Kumar, adding, "We created rain in the marketplace in Kahiin To Hoga to show romance between Sujal and Kashish. The episode was a huge hit. Such visuals support drama."
Further, the director used rain in his show Kasamh Se when the three sisters come to Mumbai from a small village and have no place to stay. Rains denoted both anxiety and fear. Then, inKkavyanjali, about 80 tankers were used to create faux floods to depict the 2005 Mumbai deluge, with the main lead caught in the midst of it all."
"Special effects add value and freshness to the scene. A romantic scene wouldn't make an impact if shot in sunny weather," says actor Gautam Rode, the male lead of Saraswatichandra. When Rode's character professes love to Kumud there are heavy rains shown in the background. Again, when Kumud goes hunting for a doctor for her ailing father on a cycle late in the night, heavy downpour was used to bring in more drama.
However, many actors, who find the end result captivating, don't quite enjoy shooting in rains. "It is tough. I have done many rain sequences in the night. I would feel cold and shiver. There could be even 20 takes. You can't open your eyes with all that water being poured down. But yes, it adds beauty and brings in that romantic feeling. I suppose rain is the best option," says Sanaya Irani, the female lead of Chhanchhan. She recently celebrated a 'mini honeymoon' on the terrace with screen hubby Anuj Sachdeva. A rainy backdrop provided the right romantic setting.
Adds Anuj, "It is quite ironical that we had to wait for the actual rain to stop and start our own 'rain' because we couldn't operate our lights. Also, it leaves our hair and clothes in a mess."
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