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Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s 2002 magnum opus Devdas, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Madhuri Dixit, is remembered as one of the most visually breathtaking films in Indian cinema. Known for its elaborate sets, intricate costumes and stunning lighting design, the film continues to be a reference point for grandeur in Bollywood. As reported by the Indian Express, in a conversation with Shemaroo Lifestyle, ace cinematographer Binod Pradhan reflected on the extraordinary effort that went into capturing the film’s spectacular visuals. He revealed that for one particular sequence, every generator in Mumbai was used to create the desired lighting effect — an anecdote that perfectly captures Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s pursuit of perfection. The Challenge of Lighting Up Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Grand Vision Recounting the moment he first saw the massive set designed by the late art director Nitin Chandrakant Desai, Binod Pradhan said he was overwhelmed by its sheer size and scale. The set, built around an artificial lake, stretched far beyond what he had imagined. “That was not my fault. That set was made and then I went there with my assistants. I had to go all around the lake to see the set because it wasn’t in just one space. If I am sitting over here, I could see the set right across. So, my assistant and I just took a round and came back. I didn’t know where to start.” The vastness of the location meant that traditional lighting setups simply wouldn’t suffice. What began as a simple experiment soon spiraled into one of the most ambitious lighting designs ever executed on an Indian film set. Sharing how the lighting process began, Binod recalled a small yet significant moment of improvisation. He recalled, “So, I said that let’s put a 100-watt bulb inside that tower. That lighting started with that bulb and from there it kept on multiplying until I used all the generators in Bombay. I am not sure if it was wedding season or not.” What began as a 100-watt idea literally illuminated one of the most iconic cinematic scenes ever shot. The lighting setup grew so massive that it reportedly required more than 120 generators, all sourced from across Mumbai. Nitin Chandrakant Desai Had to Acquire Extra Land for Generators The scale of the lighting operation created an unexpected problem, there simply wasn’t enough room to place the equipment. Binod explained that the production team had to find creative solutions to manage the logistical nightmare. “I don’t remember the number of generators, maybe 120. Now, the problem was not just getting the generators, but where do you put them? You need a place to put those generators out of sight, at a place where it’s not part of the set,” he said. To make it possible, the late Nitin Chandrakant Desai, known for his dedication to detail, went to extraordinary lengths. “Nitin had to actually take another land in other places, take the excavators, and level those places so that all the generators could be parked. It wasn’t just getting the generators, but putting them up was a logistical problem,” Binod concluded. The Magic of Devdas: When Art, Light and Vision Aligned This behind-the-scenes story sheds light on the kind of scale and craftsmanship that defined Devdas. Every frame of the film shimmered with opulence , a testament to the vision of Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the creativity of Binod Pradhan and the unmatched artistry of Nitin Chandrakant Desai. Even decades after its release, Devdas continues to inspire filmmakers and cinematographers worldwide, proving that cinema’s magic often lies in the lengths artists go to for a single perfect shot.
