From ‘Aranyer Din Ratri’ to ‘Raghu Dakat’, Tollywood faces heat challenge
Times of India | 12 June 2025
Kolkata: During the presentation of ‘Aranyer Din Ratri' at Cannes, Sharmila Tagore remembered how difficult it was to shoot for the film in May, 1969. It was so hot that the unit could shoot only between 5:30 am till 9 am and then between 3 am to 6 am. Tagore stayed in a chowkidar's (guard) room, while Samit Bhanja, Subhendu Chatterjee, and Rabi Ghosh stayed in a room with a tin roof. Cut to 2025, and the temperature this summer has not been kind either. Though no unit member will now stay in a room with a tin roof during shooting, Tollywood is still facing the heat. Shooting in summer has always been tough, and production houses keep an adequate supply of water, ORS and coconut water. "In this unbearable heat, I did fight scenes. That was excruciating. I sustained injuries too. We literally turned warriors while shooting this summer," said actor, Om Sahani, who was shooting for ‘Raghu Dakat' under extreme conditions.One of the biggest casualties for production designers this summer was when unannounced thunderstorms washed away huge sets. "Shooting in Bolpur and Purulia is about facing the dry heat. But shooting outdoors in Kolkata means battling heat and humidity. Earlier on, we knew that the thunderstorms would be part of the calendar between the end of April and May with few aberrations. Now, cyclones have become part of our lives. That has a severe impact while shooting outdoors, especially on sets," said ‘Raghu Dakat' director Dhrubo Banerjee.Director Raja Chanda has been shooting in a jungle in Ilambazar for some time now, where the temperature was bordering on 40°C. "We are shooting for 14 hours at a stretch with mashals (fire torches) without setting a single leaf on fire. It is difficult for artistes to not let their energy levels sag.," Chanda said.The cameras are heavy, and transporting them is a massive task for the unit. Though high-end cameras now have great sensors, the current weather conditions are still challenging. "These cameras have in-built fans. Yet, I prefer to keep them under shade once a shot is taken and the next one is being prepared. We turn on a pedestal fan," said cinematographer Soumik Halder, adding that cameras can't be kept in air-conditioned facilities due to lens fog issues.Unlike the times of ‘Aranyer Din Ratri', when the cast and crew would have to stay in rooms with tin shades, the production houses are now more vigilant about choosing an outdoor location. "During recce, no location is chosen that is more than 45 minutes away from where the unit stays," Halder added.