‘Ramayana’ cinematographer Pankaj Kumar on chasing sunlight and building a world of Gods
Ramayana: Cinematographer Pankaj Kumar talks about the process of building visuals for Nitesh Tiwari’s film, the deliberate pre-visualisation process, and his philosophy behind capturing light
Cinematographer Pankaj Kumar on building visuals for Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Ramayana’, the deliberate pre-visualisation process, filming the Swayamvara scene and his philosophy behind capturing light
Updated - October 29, 2026 05:16 pm IST
Pankaj Kumar and a still of Ranbir Kapoor from ‘Ramayana’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Cinematographer Pankaj Kumar has mastered low-key mood. His visuals have a piercing ability, whether it is to capture the rapturous decay of an individual’s sanity amid the beguiling snow of a turbulent valley in Haider or the moral ambiguities residing in the lifeless rooms of a Delhi house in Talvar. World-building is at the centre of his work, seen most strikingly in the shadowed brilliance of Tumbbad, where the dynamism of his images led to a devastating horror extravaganza. Barring his work in Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva, Pankaj has largely worked with realism to extend a lasting sense of palpability to scenes. That’s why it is curious to see him change gears for Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, the two-part mythological spectacle built on a stellar scale starring Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi in the lead. Here, the horizons have widened, and grandeur is the norm.
Pankaj admits feeling intimidated initially. “It was going to be a bigger film than I had ever done before. But at the same time, its ambition was seductive,” he says, ahead of the film’s release on November 5.
Published - October 29, 2026 04:51 pm IST
entertainment (general) / arts, culture and entertainment / cinema / Indian cinema / Hindi cinema / The Hindu MetroPlus / interview
Terms & conditions | Institutional Subscriber
Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.
We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.
