Analysing Sept 24th Promo from a Filmmaking Perspective

-Ivy- thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago
#1
Hello fellow SC forum members,

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.

Edited by -Ivy- - 11 years ago

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-sudha- thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago
#2
Amazing analysis !! Oh wow!!
beutifulppl thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago
#3
This analysis is Fantabulous !
Though it is a bit too technical and Complicated for general readers , i guess ... Maybe you could make it simpler in the future ...
but in any case it is a great post .
ShanUlas thumbnail
Posted: 11 years ago
#4
great analysis

i wanna add some acting points...pramad as actor was very weak in all the scenes specially the one where saras and pramad argue about true love.

i found pramad so weak and many times expressionless...while saras was great althrough

kumud had not to do much expression wise so no comments
Arshics thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago
#5
Wow, Ivy, itna as promo, but so much thought and planning and creativity goes into it.
Thank you so much for the analysis. It is a great learning experience for all of us.
Edited by Arshics - 11 years ago
-sudha- thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago
#6

Originally posted by: shana0127

great analysis

i wanna add some acting points...pramad as actor was very weak in all the scenes specially the one where saras and pramad argue about true love.

i found pramad so weak and many times expressionless...while saras was great althrough

kumud had not to do much expression wise so no comments



Noone can match Saras/Gautam, He is too good !!!
sona...666 thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago
#7

Originally posted by: SK_GRfan



Noone can match Saras/Gautam, He is too good !!!

I agree no one can match our Saras/Gautam.
twila thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago
#8
Ivy ... my friend ... 🤗




What a "DHAMAAKEDAAR " first Thread ..... and what a Smashing job you have done ... 👏👏

Now this is called " Starting with a BANG ... " 😃


You decided to post this here on the Forum ... Thanks a ton ...

and you chose to put my name in the credits too ... Awww... That is really sweet of you ... 😊


What do i say ... i have already gushed enough about how Enriching and Illuminating this exercise has been for us ...

Your detailed exposition is Totally Brrilliantt ... The way you have dissected each and every shot of the promo ... with reference to the multifarious techniques covering the differrent aspects of Film making ... Hats Off , buddy !! 👏


Isn't it amazing , how much there is to read ... study ... understand ... and absorb...in even a 30 second promo ...

You have brought to light so many differrent shades and nuances of the Show and the characters through the use of the technical aspects such as Camera work ... the Character placement ... use of Light and Shade techniques ... the techniques of Shot taking etc. (all the MS ... MCU ...CU details ) ... given us so much new info about the art of film making ... the art of Story telling ...the Director's vision ... his ability to use the methods of Film making to give us a smooth narrative ... and so on ... that you have made watching a TV Show now a hugely knowledgeable exercise too for us ...


Once again , Thank you soo much for investing so much of your time and effort in this ...


Just one suggestion ... If you could post the Video of the Promo here too ... it would be just Perfectt ... Complete Post... ( i hope you are not getting annoyed with my suggestions ...need to kick this habit of mine ) 😊


P.S ... Since we have not even finished discussing this Promo yet ... Hope that the post about the new promo is a figment of of someone's imagination ... 😊
Edited by twila - 11 years ago
-Evelyn- thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago
#9
this is really a great analysis by you! :)
Simmer thumbnail
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Posted: 11 years ago
#10
Awesome...loved the analysis ⭐️
Looking forward for more technical posts from you 😊

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