When Shah Rukh Khan’s Devdas Required All Of Mumbai’s Generators For One Iconic Scene

One of the most stunningly visualized films which was a breakthrough in the history of Indian cinema is Sanjay Leela Bhansali 2002, Devdas by starring Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Madhuri Dixits. The movie has remained a benchmark in to spectacle in Bollywood due to its elaborate sets, elaborate costumes, and gorgeous lighting design.

According to the Indian express, in an interview with the Shemaroo Lifestyle, renowned cinematographer Binod Pradhan looked back at the tremendous amount of effort that was spent in capturing the stunning visuals of the film. In one of the sequences, he unveiled that all the generators in Mumbai were utilized to achieve the intended effect in lighting, an anecdote that best describes what Sanjay Leela Bhansali went to make everything just right.

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The dilemma of lighting up Sanjay Leela Bhansali Grand Vision

Describing the first glimpse of the huge set created by the late art director Nitin Chandrakant Desai, Binod Pradhan said his first impression was the sheer size and magnitude of the set. The stage, which grew around an artificial lake, went a long way beyond his expectation. “That was not my fault. That set was made and then I went there with my assistants. I had to go all around the lake to see the set because it wasn’t in just one space. If I am sitting over here, I could see the set right across. So, my assistant and I just took a round and came back. I didn’t know where to start."

The size of the venue also implied that the conventional lighting systems would not be adequate. What started out as a mere experiment led to one of the most ambitious lighting designs ever carried out in one of the Indian film sets.

Describing the birth of the lighting process, Binod remembered a little but important experience of improvisation. He recalled, “So, I said that let’s put a 100-watt bulb inside that tower. That lighting started with that bulb and from there it kept on multiplying until I used all the generators in Bombay. I am not sure if it was wedding season or not."

What started as a 100-watt notion, literally made one of the most iconic film scenes ever to be filmed. The lighting system was so huge that it was claimed to be in need of over 120 generators and it was all imported to Mumbai.

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Nitin Chandrakant Desai Had to purchase new land to get more generators

The size of the lighting operation also presented a surprising issue, there was not enough space to fit the equipment. According to Binod, the production team was required to develop innovative ways of dealing with the logistical nightmare. “I don’t remember the number of generators, maybe 120. Now, the problem was not just getting the generators, but where do you put them? You need a place to put those generators out of sight, at a place where it’s not part of the set," he said.

To make it appear, the late Nitin Chandrakant Desai who was detailed-loving went to extreme lengths. “Nitin had to actually take another land in other places, take the excavators, and level those places so that all the generators could be parked. It wasn’t just getting the generators, but putting them up was a logistical problem," Binod concluded.

The magic of Devdas: of Art and Light and Vision

It is a story behind the scenes that illuminates the type of scale and craft that Devdas was. The opulence which pervaded every frame of the movie was a tribute to the genius of Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the talent of Binod Pradhan and the artistry which is immeasurable as of Nitin Chandrakant Desai.

Decades after its release, Devdas still inspires filmmakers and cinematographers all over the world despite its ability to demonstrate the fact that sometimes the magic of cinema is in the lengths to which artists are willing to go to get a single perfect shot.

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