In today’s evolving cinematic landscape, cinematography has become more than just a visual art—it’s a storytelling language that bridges emotion, atmosphere, and world-building. From Hollywood’s expansive sci-fi epics to India’s mythological dramas, the camera’s eye is shaping how audiences connect with a film’s world. Two prime examples that reflect this trend are Dune and Kesariveer: Legends of Somnath, both of which showcase innovative visual craftsmanship.
Learning from the West: Dune and Oppenheimer
Greig Fraser’s work in Dune stands out for its bold use of natural lighting and sweeping wide-angle compositions. The barren, yet majestic landscape of Arrakis is captured with a muted color palette, blending harsh sunlight with subtle flares. The visuals make this futuristic world feel both otherworldly and deeply human. Fraser’s reliance on sunlight as the main light source lends the film a grounded authenticity that balances its grand scale.
Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, shot by Hoyte van Hoytema, took a different but equally powerful approach. Using IMAX film cameras and a unique mix of color and black-and-white formats, the visuals are immersive and intimate. Even the infamous nuclear explosion was captured using practical effects instead of CGI, making the impact feel all the more visceral. These films are not just visually striking—they demonstrate how format, lighting, and camera movement create emotional texture and thematic resonance.
A Cinematic Language for Kesariveer
For Kesariveer: Legends of Somnath, the visual aim was to craft a cinematic world that honored Indian tradition while embracing contemporary filmmaking tools. Rooted in mythology and history, the film required a timeless and epic aesthetic that could carry the weight of its storytelling.
The team used the ARRI Alexa Super35 camera combined with ARRI Master Anamorphic lenses—offering a true 2x de-squeeze anamorphic image. This lens choice resulted in soft fall-offs, organic flares, and a distinctly cinematic look. The expanded frame allowed for powerful compositions during war sequences and large-scale environments, immersing the audience in the film’s world of valor and sacrifice.
Fire and Sunlight: Lighting the World of Kesariveer
Lighting played a crucial role in shaping the emotional tone of Kesariveer. For battle scenes and expansive daytime shots, the crew embraced natural sunlight—often filming during golden hour to capture dramatic contrasts and authentic textures. The heat and grit of the landscape came alive through the interplay of light on skin, armor, and stone.
By contrast, night scenes leaned on fire as the primary light source—torches, oil lamps, and bonfires. This choice added warmth, intimacy, and authenticity. The flickering firelight created shadows with depth and symbolism, connecting the audience to the ancient, almost sacred atmosphere of the narrative.
Capturing Action: The Phantom Comes into Play
Action is central to Kesariveer, and high-speed cinematography was key to elevating critical moments. The Phantom Flex4K camera—with its ability to shoot at 1,000 fps using a global shutter—was used for these sequences. From the kick of dust under a warrior’s feet to the moment a sword slices through the air, these slow-motion shots captured fleeting details that added intensity and grace to the action.
Importantly, these high-frame-rate visuals were carefully integrated with footage from the ARRI Alexa to maintain visual continuity. This balance of speed and texture gave the film its rhythmic visual language—dynamic yet grounded.
A Blended Cinematic Approach
What makes Kesariveer visually special is its seamless fusion of old-world emotion with cutting-edge digital tools. The cinematography doesn’t just support the story—it enhances its heartbeat. With the anamorphic format providing grandeur, sunlight offering realism, and fire imbuing spirituality, the film achieves a layered visual style that honors both its mythological roots and modern cinematic expectations.
This blended technique is reflective of a broader global trend—filmmakers using technology thoughtfully, not just for spectacle, but to deepen narrative impact. Whether it’s in futuristic epics like Dune or Indian historical dramas like Kesariveer, the focus is shifting back to intention-driven cinematography.
Final Thoughts: Cinematography as Storytelling
The tools of cinematography continue to evolve—but its essence remains unchanged: it’s about how visuals serve the story. In Kesariveer, the integration of modern lenses, natural light, practical fire sources, and high-speed action shots reveals a visual philosophy rooted in emotion, history, and cultural depth.
As filmmakers across the world experiment with new formats and techniques, what stands out is a return to thoughtful, emotionally rich storytelling through the camera. In that sense, Kesariveer isn’t just a film about legends—it’s part of a larger cinematic movement that honors the past while embracing the future.
(Vikas Joshi is an Indian cinematographer and camera department professional known for his work on films such as Drishyam 2 (2022), Section 375 (2019), and Pyaar Ka Punchnama (2011). He has contributed to various projects in roles ranging from associate cameraman to director of photography. Vikas is also a contributor to Planetoffilms.com )
