Richa Moitra, a 27-year-old cinematographer from Siliguri, has worked on two recent Bollywood films, Bhediya and Qala.
Bhediya, starring Kriti Sanon and Varun Dhawan, has been released in theatres. The horror-comedy spectacle Bhediya is a big-screen masala entertainer directed by Amar Kaushik, who is well known for his work on Stree.
The Following article is based on the interview taken by DailyO. Read More.
On the other hand, Anvita Dutt’s Netflix film Qala, stars Tripti Dimri, Babil Khan, and Swastika Mukherjee in the lead roles. Produced by Karnesh Sharma and Anushka Sharma under the banner of Clean State Filmz, this psychological thriller takes place in the milieu of 1930s Indian classical music. On December 1st, Qala had a direct OTT release.
I never knew I would work in Bollywood because I come from a small town where people don’t know or don’t care about how films are made. Most of them will also not stick around for credits to read the names of the crew members.
Richa Moitra
For Bhediya, Moitra worked as an assistant cinematographer for Jishnu Bhattacharjee, who is renowned for his work on movies like Ajeeb Dastans and Mardaani 2, while for Qala, she worked with Sidhharth Diwan, the director of photography (DOP), who is recognised for his work on movies like Queen and Bulbul.
Comparing and contrasting one’s experiences working on two distinct movies Moitra states, “Bhediya is a dramatic, masaledaar film that focuses mostly on the action. We also have to use natural areas like forests. Contrarily, Qala is a tremendously artistic endeavour as evidenced by the lighting and compositions.”
At Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh, Moitra joined Bhediya’s outdoor photo shoots. It was difficult for her to shoot in the area’s dense forests in the dark. Moitra stated in her interview with DailyO: “Leeches frequently attacked the team. As we were filming in January and February of 2021, the winter fog occasionally posed a challenge. On occasion, our vehicles may become trapped on the winding roads, leaving us stranded with a lot of heavy equipment to handle.”
She stated, “Large and singular sources of light have to be employed, making the film dull yet vibrant at the same time,” in reference to the lighting used for the Netflix film. A lot of harsh light was used, and the subjects were photographed using a method that emphasised sharp shadows and a high-contrast appearance. In the case of Qala, the characters stand out in the frames despite the fact that the setting and costume design relies on modest tones.
She described her experiences working on the Qala sets, saying, “Even Anvita Dutt and Siddharth Diwan are creative individuals. And you can see with the colours and sets of Qala that the lighting ultimately depends on what the director and the screenplay require.”
In the upcoming action film Yodha starring Sidharth Malhotra, Moitra will collaborate with Jishnu Bhattacharjee. She is also a member of the cinematography crew for the upcoming Shah Rukh Khan movie Jawan. “Being on the same set as Shah Rukh is a dream come true; it’s a strange sensation for a beginner like me,” said Moitra of getting the chance to work alongside him.
Siliguri to Bollywood : Richa Moitra’s Journey
Having landed several major Bollywood films in quick succession, Moitra currently resides in Mumbai. She had a humble upbringing in Siliguri, followed by a professional stint in Dubai.
“I always knew I had to get into films. Siliguri is a small town, surrounded by nature. We have mountains, rivers, and even a wildlife sanctuary. That played a major part in the way I saw the world.”
Richa Moitra
Her impressive portfolio and journalism degree helped her land a contract job in Dubai. Moitra was forced to return to India when the pandemic swept around the globe. On her way home, she halted in Mumbai, where she was ordered to be quarantined for two weeks. However, when Mumbai later went into complete shutdown, she opted to stay there and began forming some connections with those in the industry because getting into films was something she had always wanted and had always longed for.
In the near future, Moitra says she hopes to collaborate with filmmakers like Rajkumar Hirani and Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
