The Republic Day weekend was a revelation of sorts. On Sunday night, Life OK telecast a superlative awards night -- Life OKScreen Awards 2015 and on Republic Day, the parade was telecast live on two GEC channels -- Colors and RISHTEY ? the Doordarshan network and CNN-IBN notwithstanding. When I surfed to Colors there was an inset for a sign language host. It signaled a first for a privately owned GEC to telecast the Republic Day Parade; and also to think of a physically challenged section of society. The feed was courtesy Doordarshan, the national broadcaster. The Parade was telecast to other countries too.
While New Delhi was spruced up to welcome President Barack Obama and the First Lady Michelle Obama as chief guests for the Republic Day Parade;the national broadcaster spared no effort in making the parade coverage a first rate production. As a CNN-IBN commentator mentioned, in its endeavorsto produce international level quality of programming, for the first time, DDused 24 high definition cameras to cover the grandeur of the parade. Two cameras were set up at India Gate to provide a panoramic view of the parade.The camerawork was superlative, offering not just panoramic views, but also zooming into the midst of the marching regiments. Last year, DD had deployed 18 cameras, but this year, a new opportunity had posed new challenges for the broadcaster.The said new opportunity being the presence of the Obamas.
The multi-camera set up helped enhance the quality of the commentary, wherein the English commentary overlapped that in Hindi, which was muted. In the past, both tracks had been known to vie with each other, till someone rectified it in the studio. The only blooper was by a CNN-IBN voice over who slipped, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi was approaching India Gate, he was referred to as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh! The strategically placed cameras caught the PM and the Obamas wave out to the crowds and indirectly to the viewers. It was a far far cry from earlier Republic Day telecasts, which started in the 1960s, where sometimes the sound and image on screen would be out of sync. DD has been telecasting the Republic Day Parade LIVE since the early sixties, but at what cost? Cameras and equipment had to be taken out of the existing studio for this event!DD did India proud on her 66th Republic Day.
On Republic Day Eve, LifeOK showed a recorded telecast of the 21st Annual Screen Awards. Each year, this awards night opens the film awards season, and actually sets the pace, for the ones to follow.This year?s event was a spectacle, with most of Bollywood?s A listers in attendance. Deft camerawork is always a prerequisite. The roving camera caught a few great candid moments. Like when JacquelineFernandez cart wheeled across the stage,a camera panned faces in the audience, especially those of Akshay Kumar, TusharKapoor andAyushman Khurana; each of them expressed their appreciationwith their facial expressions.

For the DOP and the camera crew, the Screen Awards must have posed a challenge. Usually, such events have a lot of regular dance extravaganzas; however what we saw on Sunday, it had about three acrobatic-aerial sequences. Siddharth Malhotra, one of the anchors descended in a spaceship, well earlier editions of this award has had someone descend from a helicopter. The challenge we are really referring to was the Dare to Dance stars who were balancing themselves precariously mid-air and Tiger Shroff?s aerial acrobatic dance. A smart camera man frequently zoomed on Ayesha Shroff?s expressions as her son toppled around. Not once did we miss a heart-beat skipping moment; not even when Hema Malini?s sandal slipped off her feet and SRK quickly retrieved it. Strategically placed cameras helped capture the fun moments.
There are no second takes with live events ? they require alert, precision and deft camerawork, so as to capture not just the event, but also the audience participation at the venue. Bet you television viewers of the awards night aren?t interested in the presentations, but in the stage extravaganzas and which star was sitting with whom and what did she wear, etc. With such a fine show put up by the Screen and their event team, the videography was all set to match it.
Ironically, the big screen awards nites vie for top honors at the Television Awards Nights! This year DD should also be a contender in the Live Events category,as January 26 was their day out.