23 November to 19 December 2020, FTIIONLINE, Film and Television Institute of India, ARUNARAJE PATIL
A well structured comprehensive masterclass, that left a remarkably lasting impact in making the journey of a cine enthusiast like me, complete.
The Course Director looked effortless, at the helm of affairs. The most interesting fact about the course was, Arunaraje Ma’am’s experience in the industry for more than half a century while 90 percent of the participants in the course were in their twenties and thirties. I was elated by the coming together of the younger generation, in an attempt to learn the art of appreciating films, from the grandmaster herself, who has five national awards in her kitty.
The seamless structure cruised through the basics on how films are made, aptly demonstrated using crash course videos on all possible departments of film making.
The broader aspect of ‘Mise en scene’ was decoded element-wise for deeper understanding- Tools of cinematic language and expressions, Character back stories, Cinematography, Dialogues, Production design, Creative use of sound and Use of Music.
Movements in cinema- German expressionism, French New wave and Italian Neorealism were addressed. Films that we watched in correspondence to the lectures that we were introduced, helped me visualize the theoretical aspects better. All participants actively sharing the observation of each film, was an unique experience. It added newer dimension to the films, just by listening to each of the participant’s perspective.
The Male gaze on how women are perceived worldwide, the standards and judgement and Semiotics were novel course components that shaped and mentored the film analyst in me.
The Director’s shot division was captivatingly explained using Aruna Ma’am’s personal diary on each of her films. I was intrigued by the amount of meticulous detailing that goes in to the planning.
Apart from giving the detailed insight of her film making process, Ma’am slid in excerpts of life education. The course not only made me aware of the nuances of film techniques, but it also equipped and empowered me as an positive individual.
The Guest speakers – Saibal Chatterji, Amit Thyagi, Manu Chakravarthy, Karan Bali and Anup Singh, power-packed the sessions with their knowledge and knowhows.
Even weeks after the course, Ma’am’s voice keeps lingering. I am pondering on her shooting experiences and the challenges she faced. I seem to be reflecting on the art of ‘Listening’, rather than just ‘Speaking’. She has just left a great impact on both my film world and my personal world.
For some reason, my inner voice kept echoing the word ‘Tāyi’, which I googled to find what it meant in ma’am’s mother tongue, Kannada. It meant ‘MOM”. Yes, ‘Tāyi’ does seem synonymous to Arunaraje Ma’am.