How did you become part of the Nagabandham project?
DOP S. Soundar Rajan: I had earlier worked with Abhishek Nama garu on the film Devil. Since then, we have shared a very good professional bond. Abhishek garu started Nagabandham with a very big vision. I was involved in this project right from the script stage. The idea of Nagabandham excited all of us a lot. First, we locked the story. After that, we began planning how to present it visually in a grand and engaging way.
What was the most challenging part of your work in this film?
DOP S. Soundar Rajan: I have worked on fantasy films earlier, and I also have experience in glamorizing and elevating visuals. But this film is very special. We shot Nagabandham in a very natural style. I used natural lighting according to the mood of each scene so that the audience can get immersed in the story. We did not over-glamorize the visuals or create unnecessary drama. Everything was planned to look organic and believable.
Since Nagabandham is being made on a big budget with heavy VFX, what was the challenge for you as a DOP?
DOP S. Soundar Rajan: Visual effects are generally used in two ways. One is to create grandeur, and the other is to make something look real. But making that visualization appear natural is a very big task. It is not practically possible to take a large crew and shoot everything in the Himalayas. In such situations, VFX becomes very useful. But the real challenge is to make those VFX shots look natural and authentic. In Nagabandham, all the visual effects have been designed to look very real and natural.
The visuals in the film look very realistic. What kind of groundwork did you do?
DOP S. Soundar Rajan: The director, art director and I visited many temples for research. We went to the Sri Anantha Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram and photographed every detail carefully. Though the temple served as an inspiration, we named it “Srirangapuram” in the film. The name was chosen to reflect the grandeur of both Srirangam and Thiruvananthapuram. We did a lot of research on temple architecture and related details.
Art director Ashok garu created wonderful sets for the film. When you step into the Anantha Padmanabhaswamy temple set, it truly feels like entering a real temple. Every set was designed with great care and detail.
You have worked on big films earlier. How different was Nagabandham?
DOP S. Soundar Rajan: I have worked on big films before, but I had never worked on a film with sets of this scale. Lighting such huge sets and shooting high-speed sequences there was a very challenging task. The entire shoot happened on a grand scale.
What can you say about director Abhishek Nama?
DOP S. Soundar Rajan: Abhishek garu has written a wonderful story. The idea itself gave all of us a lot of excitement. As a director, he surprised everyone. His clarity, visual sense and coordination were excellent. He brought out the best output from every department.
We heard that one episode alone cost around Rs 10 crore. Is that true?
DOP S. Soundar Rajan: Yes. We kept improving every aspect as the film progressed. After designing a set, we would think about how to make it even grander. The team did not compromise on the budget anywhere. The film was made on a very grand scale.
Where was the film shot?
DOP S. Soundar Rajan: We shot key portions of Nagabandham in Hyderabad, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and some locations in the Himalayan region.
What can you say about the producers?
DOP S. Soundar Rajan: The producers gave strong support to Abhishek Nama garu’s vision. They did not compromise anywhere and produced the film on a grand scale according to the needs of the story. Our producers are very passionate about cinema. They made this film with the aim of giving audiences a great theatrical experience.
How was it working with hero Viraat Karrna?
DOP S. Soundar Rajan: Viraat Karrna is a very committed actor. He worked with great dedication for this film. During the months of November and December, he participated in underwater sequences despite extreme cold weather. Even when he had a fever, he came to the shoot. He was very flexible throughout the filming process. His commitment will clearly be visible on screen.
What is the major highlight of Nagabandham?
DOP S. Soundar Rajan: The major highlight of the film is the Anantha Padmanabhaswamy temple and the sequences that take place there. They have come out wonderfully. The climax will also mesmerize the audience. It has been designed on a very big scale. We also created a massive idol for the film, and some of the top experts in the country worked on it.
How authentic are the visuals and temple-related scenes?
DOP S. Soundar Rajan: The visuals in the film are very authentic. Even during the shoot, everyone on the set worked with a sense of devotion. People would leave their footwear outside before entering the temple sets. Before starting the shoot, a specially appointed priest used to perform puja, and only after that we would begin filming.
How did you balance mythology, fiction and drama in the visuals?
DOP S. Soundar Rajan: This film combines mythology, fiction and drama, and we shaped it like a visual feast. We also met the chief priest of Travancore and learned many details. We included several small but important elements in the film to make the world feel more authentic.
Did you use any new equipment for the camera work?
DOP S. Soundar Rajan: Since the film was shot on very large sets, showing the entire set in a single shot was a major challenge for me. For that, we used a very expensive drone. We shot one sequence from the temple entrance to the Padmanabhaswamy idol in a single shot. It required a lot of rehearsals and many takes. The final shot came out beautifully.
What can you say about the music of Nagabandham?
DOP S. Soundar Rajan: The music of this film will also feel very divine. During the shoot, we used to film with music references. For every important sequence, we already had a music reference. That helped enhance the camera work and the mood of the scenes.
What kind of visual experience will Nagabandham offer audiences?
DOP S. Soundar Rajan: Nagabandham will engage and entertain audiences while also giving them a divine experience. It will definitely offer a wonderful visual experience. The film has been designed as a grand theatrical experience, and I believe audiences will be mesmerized by its visuals.
