Does anybody have any insight as to why the sharpness
of shots in current Indian films seems to be a random process?
A close look at NTJNH shows that maybe 50% of the shots
have 35mm sharpness, the others look like a filter was used
to soften faces or add mood and some are simply not properly
focused, at times very much out of focus. There seems to
be no logic as to if a filter is used or not and when it's focused
or not. It changes in the same scene from cut to cut. And
it will so on a good DVD as well.
???
Michel

I won't be surprised if the print is already that way. Though I don't know if the lab is at fault or the focus puller. I have encounter this in cinema even in Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham...

Welcome,MHAFNER! Good to see u after long time!!


It is true!! and blame goes to dvd authoring companies..Worst I have seen is HBBPK..it was terrible film in sharpness category!! :vangry:

Sometimes the fault lies in the post-prodcution work of the films. As they are rushed till the last mintute and on a tight bugdet sub-standard avid equipments are used which does affect the output quality of a 35mm film.

I think most of the problems are already in the negative.
Sometimes it's optical work that reduces sharpness (sfx and
credits). Don't know why they use filters all the time.
Avid should have no influence since this is only for cutting
decisions but the negative is still cut afterwards and not some
video master used for film prints.
Watched "The Warrior" today. Not a single fuzzy shot in it.
A low budget Indian art house film but looking better than
almost all Bollywood films. Crew was mostly non Indian...
Hm.
MH

That is because post production was also done by non indians. Watch out for Kaante, maybe that movie will make a difference since everything was done in Hollywood.

Watched "Company" yesterday. The one song is among the
best I have seen so far. Excellent cienmatography and editing.
The film also has the poor shots syndrome. Mostly it looks
(very) good, but some shots are again out of focus and one
scene is very underexposed and was pushed to a grainy
hell. Looks like VHS. A pity. One of the best Bollywood films
of this year, no doubt.
Michel Hafner

There are some shots in the feature itself, such as Ajay Devgan sitting and thinking in the dark, where you can't see him at all. But they show the same scene in the making of featurette and it looks better. I think the film would look good if a better print was used and more care was taken in making a transfer.