A Dose of RGV

After AB Baby's and Aamir's entry into blogdom, noticed that another visionary has raised his voice with a net-presence. RGV's blog is a reactionary one, which dwells significantly on responses to "reviews", "comments" and "opinions" of other film personalities, critics and aam junta.

However, a few of his insights, specifically with regards to the construct of scenes from his movies, are truly inspiring. One may have to search for them, amongst predominantly inflammatory and opinionated posts - but they're out there.

Here's one of my favorites - RGV outlining the structure of a scene in one of his most definitive films - Kshana Kshanam (Telugu) - featuring Venkatesh and Sridevi - in one of her most lovable performances

(interesting to note that he based KK and its premises on 'Foul Play' and 'Romancing The Stone')

"Also one of my favorite examples of how you can create drama through editing is in the above mentioned chase in the forest.

I start from a mid close up of Venkatesh and Sridevi running towards the camera they look back to see if anyone is following them and as Sridevi turns back she looks at something on the ground screams and both fall from the frame we start wondering what has happened then I cut to see Ramireddy and cops looking around. We further wonder where they disappeared. Now we suddenly see both of them against a mud wall crouched. Now we know they are safe but still wonder what that falling from the frame was about. Then Sridevi sees something stifles a shout. Venkatesh reacts to that and reaches out towards the camera and I cut to a top angle to see Ramireddy in the foreground standing at the edge of a pit and a hand reaching out in the ditch to retrieve Sridevi’s floating handbag. The audiences then realize that they fell in a ditch in the first shot.  

This is a classic case of manipulating the audiences mind with dramatic editing technique. If in the beginning itself when they drop out of the frame, if I showed them falling into the ditch the whole sequence will look very informative. But by revealing it bit by bit I was making the audiences imagination race."

Truly simple, subtle - yet brilliant. Granted that this technique is one inspired from several clever and nifty tactics from the vat of global film-making. The knack is that RGV caught and replicated it - and its a matter of lauding his observation. In my opinion, good film-making always has been hallmarked by the ability of entrancing the audience to the degree that they are rendered unable to notice such intricacies. To be able to get your viewer to say "wow" instead of "how did he do that?". Not just the suspension of disbelief, but "visual manipulation" which could result in even the simplest of scenes coming across to be mesmerizing.

In other news, heard that Karan Johar's coming out with a blog, soon (My Name is Karan). Should it be called a Klog, and don a golden caramel template?