The actor Anshuman Jha is renowned for making creative and thought-provoking decisions. But he already has a dream ensemble of performers for his directorial debut, “Lord Curzon Ki Haveli,” with Arjun Mathur and Rasika Dugal in the major roles, with Marvel Girl Zoha Rahman, Paresh Pahuja, Tanmay Dhanania, and Star Wars actor Garrick Hagon. But as the movie, which was filmed in the UK last year, nears completion, a unique and fascinating detail about the director has come to light: Jha shot his entire debut movie with a single lens (of 35mm). a feat that no other prominent Hindi filmmaker has even dared to undertake.
The single-lens minimalism approach was utilised in cult classics like Hitchcock’s “Psycho” and Kurosawa’s “Rushmore” over the past century. Jha is serving as a reminder of how much can be done with so little, out of choice, at a time when many filmmakers are preoccupied with gathering equipment and storing up the newest toys.
Lord Curzon Ki Haveli:
Anshuman decided to shoot the movie with a single lens while the script was still being developed, according to award-winning writer Bikas Mishra, who also wrote the script for Jha’s debut. Jha’s two cinematographers, French DOP Jean Marc Selva(AFC) and Indian DOP Ramanuj Dutta praise the first-time director for making a “brave & ballsy choice.” According to Jean-Marc, “He had a very clear vision for the film and is not afraid to take risks as an artist.”
While I had a variety of lens alternatives at my disposal, I decided to use a single lens narrative because I wanted it to consistently be as close to human vision as possible—35mm provided that. The watching experience of a single-lens film is subconscious. Additionally, I wanted the end product to have a consistent point of view and not just have a pleasing aesthetic. According to Anshuman, “Lord Curzon Ki Haveli” is a modern homage to my beloved director, Alfred Hitchcock, and his iconic movie The Rope.
The Golden Ratio Films and Jha’s First Ray Films production “Lord Curzon Ki Haveli,” which is slated for release later this year, will be the first Indian movie to feature this unique quality. Click here to get the latest Bollywood movie news updates.
