I'm Ivy and posted below is a 'technical reading' of the latest SC promo, conducted at the request of my dear friend Twila from CB. After requests and kind encouragement from a few other CB friends, I'm posting it on here as well. I should apologise in advance, if this comes across as a bit complicated with all the filmmaking terms, but that was the intent, to look at the promo from a different optic, going beyond the usual plot and actors. Those, who after reading, feel like they are interested in this further, can visit our CC thread where a discussion regarding this is on-going, and there you will also find a glossary of all the technical terms (pg 1) used in the analysis: http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3753042
So here goes... And this is my first in making a topic on SC forum, so please be kind 😳
An Example of 'Mise-en-scene Reading'; Saraswatichandra Promo, September 24th.
Starts off with a Medium Shot (MS, from waist up) of Pramad and Kumud. The shot composition, gives an ambience of romance, as well as illumination and the breaking of illusions. Notice the use of chiaroscuro, the background is enveloped in shadows. Why? Look to the placement of characters, Pramad is 'leading' Kumud, not by hand, but by a 'push'... The darkness and shadows symbolises, where Pramad has come from, Pramad's 'essence' - dark and evil. He is taking Kumud towards the light, but it is a light encased in 'glass'... Glass breaks, glass pierces, and glass hurts. Also the camera pans, from right to left. A sweeping effect, kind of like when someone is drowsy and can accidentally or not, get hurt/into trouble. All this means Kumud is in for a rude shock.
Pramad 'leads' Kumud, she is blindfolded, not by any cloth etc, but by Pramad's palm. This suggests that she will let him in, to the point that he will lead, and she will follow. Not by compulsion, but by volition. Once he takes off his palm, the shot tightens... Moving from a MS to a Medium Close-up (MCU, from shoulders up), becoming further intimate. This outlines the next part of Pramad's plan. Once he has Kumud trusting him enough that she will allow him to lead her, blindfolded (i.e. Kumud may/will take Pramad's side over Saras/BD), and then he will try to engage Kumud 'as a husband'... Note, when the 'blindfold' first is 'taken off' Kumud appears mesmerized by the 'light' that Pramad has led her to (meaning, he will very likely spin her a yarn) and then she gets distracted by the 'gold', representing her marriage. This is a two-pronged strategy employed on Kumud (the light and the gold)... Once Pramad tries to make moves on her, Kumud is going to be 'flustered/taken in' to the point where she will nearly 'capitulate'... Notice that she raises her hand by herself, accepting Pramad's 'token' to be her husband. But we never really see, right there, if Pramad succeeds in that respect.
Because the foreground blurs and the background comes in focus (Saras, MS, then MCU)... He is standing behind 'glass' (again break, pierce, hurt) that obscures somewhat the doorway... He cannot go to Kumud, and Kumud is unaware of him. Suggests possible Saras/Kumud tension. He stares in shock/confusion and the voice-over explains his pov: Saras suspects but he is unsure as to whether Pramad is really sincere or not. This may mean also, that he lacks evidence and Kumud's support. Notice, he is placed all alone, while they are a 'couple'. Saras' background is also in contrast. It is evenly lighted, meaning Saras is on the level, and white, bright, because that is his essence: pure. And there, after Saras shares his suspicions, then only we see that Kumud accepts Pramad as husband via the token 'gold'. This means, Kumud goes against Saras' better judgement. And as she does, that very moment, Saras leaves from there. Maybe to gather evidence as to Pramad's true face or leave Kumud to her 'happy' fate.
Then there is a dissolve, to enable continuty editing and we see a MCU Saras in a car. Then a Close-up (CU) Saras as he remembers in flashback, what he saw, so recently in fact that the flashback is still in colour. The CU on Saras at this point, internalises him. Note, Kumud, is never in CU, which suggests the track will not show her in a dilemma, she will blindly believe. Only Saras will not and he may take active measures against it, alienating Kumud. Then we have an example of Parallel Editing to accomodate in the frame, Pramad and Saras both in cars. Both placed opposite to each other and both backlighted, one recedes into background as the other goes into sharp focus. Rivals. This is to highlight that this is a battle between the two men only, that Kumud is a prop/collateral damage. And the fact that their ways are opposite, but also note that they are so placed, that they can be heading for a full-frontal collision, in future. Pramad postures and flaunts his triumph, his lines suggest that he knows Navin is Saras, and Saras response to him acknowledges that he knows Pramad does and he doesn't give an eff. That cuts Pramad's triumph short... The reaction he wanted from Saras he is not getting. Saras purposefully looks away, straight, as though Pramad ain't worth his time anymore and a CU of Saras, as he says the last line declares that this is WAR.
Overall thoughts:
Promo overall is dark and ominous, not romantic. The 'romance' is all for Kumud's benefit. This is achieved primarily through mise-en-scene: props, lighting and camera shots. The use of chiaroscuro, which hinders Kumud from seeing beyond what Pramad wants her to see, parallel editing which pits Saras and Pramad as rivals. And only Saras in CU which suggests that he will be the only one in this whole track that the viewers will relate to. Kumud will be relegated to a prop only. And Pramad will not go beyond a caricature. This also fortells a possible Saras-Kumud 'break'. And the rain suggests, that when Saras leaves, he will do so under explosive circumstances, or if not, then he will bring back explosive news, to shatter the glass, which encased Kumud's light.