Rajesh Ransinghe the acclaimed Director is a specialist when it comes to setting up television shows coming under the supernatural genre.
His latest work, Brahmarakshas 2 the newest Balaji Telefilms show on Zee TV has been high on visual effects and the promos and first look of the show has been appreciated.
With Brahmarakashs 2 launching, we at IWMBuzz.com talked to Director Rajesh Ransinghe about the new show, his vision as Director and on his journey being the ‘master’ in the genre.
Says Rajesh, “I have created and set up quite a majority of shows in the supernatural genre. Special effects have always been my forte. When I started, I started it on a small machine, with MX 10. Now working on effects is easier. The technology that is present today is more user-friendly and achievable than the earlier version. The digital support that we get is immense. This is indeed a good sign for the industry. Yes, all this coupled with a good vision will do wonders.”
Talking of the main challenge involved in setting up a supernatural genre show, Rajesh avers, “The biggest challenge involved in this genre is make-belief. In my shows of this genre, the camera setup and the music have talked volumes. They have been a medium of expression. I have mostly directed many hero-oriented concepts. Talking of Brahmarakshas 2, Balaji Telefilms always has the ingredients of a family, its richness, look and feel. Balaji definitely has a huge pocket to spend and the production house really spends a lot in making the product perfect. The story line is very good, credit to Ekta’s vision. Her ideas are mass-appealing. Ekta has her own followers and she knows the nerves of her audience.”
“Ekta tells her story in her own way. The Director and maker merge in ideas and work out the execution. I have tried my best in giving 100percent support to the maker. I had workshops with the actors. Pearl V Puri is a fantastic actor. Nikki Sharma though new is good. We have a huge supporting star cast,” he adds.
“When it comes to special effects, there is a mathematics and chemistry involved. We have to create another world in which the actors need to imagine and act. We shoot with a green or blue background, but the imagination has to be brought into the character or the artist. This is where a Setup Director is needed. Later the show is taken over by other Directors. Once a river flow is made, they know in which direction the water will flow. This is how it works for Setup Directors on television. It is a task full of challenges for sure,” adds the Director.
“In our meetings, we talk about the technical parts. My cameraman Pradeep Gupta has been with me for many years. He is again a man who puts in a lot of efforts to understand. I have earlier done live double role in the show Vani Rani.
The camera was moving, and one Tanvi Azmi was cooking while the other walked from behind. That was a visual seen for the first time on Indian television. Usually Directors do split screens, in double roles. But in the show, I did it live. Parth, our special effects guy is fantastic. For the first episode of the show, a stadium was created brilliantly. My DOP and special effects team did a great job.”
“I have been directing mostly the one hour shows. My expertise lies in it. If you focus well, challenges look softer and achievable,” he adds.
Ask him about his best Setup shows and he says, “Adaalat, Sssh.. Koi Hai, Phir Koi Hai, Agent Raghav, and definitely this is a new breed show, Brahmarakshas 2.”
About his next plan, Rajesh says, “I am nearing completion of the writing of my feature film. I am doing some research for new ventures. Work on my feature film will soon start. This will be my third film. My first was Rokkk a horror film, second was Janiva a Marathi film. Let’s hope things work.”
