From the archive record
In this interview, cinematographer Himman Dhameja shares his approach to filmmaking and the collaborative process with a director. He explains that his primary responsibility is to understand the director’s vision by deeply engaging with their ideas, going beyond the script through detailed discussions on shots, lighting, and actor direction. He emphasizes that capturing the tone of a film is critical and often requires several months of preparation. Dhameja notes that while long-term collaborations with familiar directors streamline communication, working with a new director—such as Ketan Mehta—requires aligning his own cinematic philosophy and life experience to effectively serve the director’s vision.