MUMBAI: Tamil film Sanikizhamai Sayangalam 5 Mani is in the news for the technology used by the producer-cum-cinematographer SPS Gugan to shoot the film.
The cinematographer whose earlier film was Theni Vazhi Andipatti wanted to do something different in his next. He had two things on his mind. Firstly, he wanted to better the quality than his earlier film that was shot with an HDV camera and secondly, it should be cost-effective.
After a lot of search, Gugan zeroed in on the HDSLR (High Definition Single-Lens Reflex) Camera. Once he had his hands on one, he did test shoots and then saw the test print in Mumbai.
"The result was satisfying and that‘s how we decided to shoot Sanikizhamai Sayangalam 5 Mani using an HDSLR camera. It‘s a first, not only in Tamil cinema but in Indian cinema as well," says the producer-director.
Explaining the new technology, Gugan says, "The camera is very cheap compared to the ordinary film camera. A few shots of Slumdog Millionaire were shot using this camera. Even in Hollywood, this camera has not been used to shoot a full-length feature film."
The main advantage, he points out, is the high resolution output. "It‘s a one-time investment of Rs 7-10 lakh. Along with the camera, there‘re a number of lenses available. For a small budget film, the HDSLR camera is apt. It‘s not designed for movies but there‘s a video-mode option and the quality has come out well," says Gugan.
The digital chip of the camera can be used to shoot another film. The producer has applied for the Limca Book of Records as this is the first full-length feature film shot with the HDSLR camera.
