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For national Award-winning cinematographer Supratim Bhol ISC, the choice of lens is never just technical—it is emotional. Introduced to the Cooke Panchro/i Classic FF by Mr. Peter from Cooke India two years ago, Supratim waited for the right canvas to unleash their poetic charm. That moment arrived with the Birla Opus Paints commercial, directed by Mithun R Shaw and produced by Minikin DGwork.
“The first time I saw the Panchro/i Classic through the viewfinder, it felt dreamy—like touching child skin: creamy, warm, and tender. The lens gave me a centered sharpness with a graceful fall-off to the edges, wrapping the image with a subtle vintage glow I had never experienced before. For this film, I worked with focal lengths of 50mm, 75mm, 100mm, and occasional touches of 24mm and 32mm. Shooting mostly around T2.8, I could create separation, texture, and emotion in every frame. My lighting approach is layered in three planes—foreground, middle, and background—and here, the background played a vital role in storytelling. After a demanding 14-hour shoot on the ARRI Alexa 35 Full Frame, the results felt painterly, alive, and timeless.”
“The Alexa 35 paired with the Panchros elevated the narrative. The softness of the lenses gave the story its emotional depth, while the mood and colours aligned seamlessly with our vision. After color grading, the skin felt alive, and the background worked as a silent character—enhancing the film’s soul. This wasn’t just a commercial; it became a poetic piece.”
“When I received the raw files, I was stunned. They weren’t just beautiful—they were exquisite. The smooth roll-off in shadows and highlights, the depth from the center sharpness, and the balanced colour consistency across the focal lengths made grading a joyful exploration. On the 75mm and 100mm lenses, the skin tones glowed with natural texture and warmth. It felt like the lenses themselves were guiding the grade. I now look forward to grading a feature or series on Red paired with these Panchros.”
The collaboration of lens, light, and vision transformed this ad into a visual symphony—where technology and artistry merged seamlessly. With the Cooke Panchro/i Classic FF lenses, the Birla Opus Paints film became more than a commercial; it became a celebration of mood, texture, and timeless storytelling.
