Recherche d’objectifs, d’articles et aide
For the musical biopic ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’, Sylvester Fonseca collaborated with veteran director Imtiaz Ali to bring the story of the legendary Punjabi singer to the screen. Known for his dynamic and evocative visual style, Fonseka approached this project with a unique lens—both figuratively and literally. After the dark, gritty aesthetic of Kennedy with Anurag Kashyap, Fonseca had to pivot his technique to match the vibrant, warm, and richly textured world of Amar Singh Chamkila.
Fonseka selected Cooke 1.8x Anamorphic/i FF lenses after conducting extensive tests with several other lens options, including spherical, Arri anamorphic, Hawks, and Zeiss. “The Cooke Anamorphic 1.8x stood out due to its perfect balance between sharpness and subtle softness at the edges,” Fonseca explained. “Shooting wide open, the sharpness was decent, but at T2.8, the lenses performed exceptionally well, maintaining a detailed image while preserving the subtle organic characteristics that work so well for a narrative like this.”
Fonseca also emphasized the use of a special flare set with uncoated glass elements to achieve unique soft flares and blue streaks in the image. “These flares added an organic, filmic quality to the visuals without drawing too much attention away from the actors’ performances, allowing the narrative to shine,” he noted. The 1.8x anamorphic lenses offered a large field of view, which helped create a sense of visual scale and grandeur on screen, subtly influencing how the audience perceives the film’s setting. However, Fonseca acknowledged the trade-off: “The lenses are large and heavy, which required careful planning and handling during the shoot.”
Fonseca faced the challenge of balancing the film’s realistic biopic tone with the heightened visual language needed to portray Chamkila’s vibrant world. « Lighting was key in differentiating Amar Singh Chamkila from my previous work on Kennedy,” Fonseca said. “While Kennedy used a more raw, gritty approach, for Chamkila, I had to polish that rawness. I employed practical lamps and a blend of hard and soft lighting, which helped maintain authenticity but with a refined edge. » Fonseca further manipulated the visual tone through the use of color, enhancing warmth in certain scenes to evoke emotions and contrast with cooler, more neutral tones when necessary to reflect the evolving narrative.
Fonseca and Imitiaz worked closely to ensure that key post-production elements were integrated from the beginning of the shoot. “We devised several methods during the recce phase itself,” Fonseca explains. “For example, split screens, archival photographs, 2D animations, and text compositions were all planned early on, so much of the visual effects work was decided upfront and shot accordingly.” This foresight allowed Fonseca to capture footage with these effects in mind, streamlining the post-production process and ensuring the final product felt cohesive and intentional.
During the film’s musical sequences, text supers were used to explain the meaning of the lyrics, helping audiences unfamiliar with Chamkila’s work connect with the story on a deeper level. Additionally, graphic superimpositions with vivid and dynamic imagery were layered over the music to evoke specific moods and emotions, creating a more immersive experience for viewers.
One of the significant challenges of shooting Amar Singh Chamkila was recreating the distinct geography and atmosphere of Punjab, particularly for the portions of the film set in Canada, which were largely shot in Mumbai. “We paid meticulous attention to the smallest details, especially with practical elements like bulbs, props, and costumes, to ensure we captured the authentic feel of both Punjab and the scenes abroad,” Fonseca remarked.
Archival footage was also used throughout the film to transport the audience to Punjab during the period, blending historical accuracy with the emotional depth of Chamkila’s story. Key moments from Chamkila’s and Amarjot’s lives, including their stage performances, were recreated with care, while photographs were used as a narrative device to add further dimension to the storytelling.
Fonseca credits the Cooke Anamorphic 1.8x lenses with helping him achieve the distinct visual style required for Amar Singh Chamkila.
“These lenses provided the perfect balance of sharpness and subtle anamorphic characteristics that suited the narrative… shooting wide open was fantastic, offering selective depth of field and incredible detail, while still allowing for a cinematic softness that added richness to the visual storytelling.”
Reflecting on the project, Fonseca praised the collaborative spirit of director Imtiaz Ali. “Imtiaz has a way of channeling his ideas through you, making you feel like you’re co-creating every shot. His strong vision and creative thought process made the experience truly memorable. We took many creative risks, but I’m glad they all worked, contributing to a cohesive and immersive portrayal of Chamkila’s life.”
