Arunim Das Purkayastha
Audio Visual Faculty, Amity University Kolkata | Film Maker | Sonic Artist | Musician
Pic Courtesy: Arunim Das Purkayastha
When you’re on a film set, surrounded by cables, chaos, and creative minds, something magical happens. It's a moment when your theoretical knowledge collides with the unpredictability of the real world. And recently, I experienced that magic again in Goa.
I directed two music videos from the 17th of May to the 21st of May 2025, that stretched not just my creative boundaries, but also my understanding of visual storytelling in a fast-moving, high-stakes environment.
The first track, “One More Round”, is a cheeky, unpredictable dance between love and lust, a visually quirky narrative starring Neel Bhattacharya a famous tollywood actor and Anna, a Russian actress who brought both mischief and magnetism to the frame. The second, “Zamaana”, hits deeper. It’s an anthem for women who navigate the relentless tides of societal expectation. And leading that wave was the powerhouse, Manasi Scott.
Some of the glimpses from the set / Behind the scenes
The songs have been composed and produced by eminent Bollywood music composer "Groove Bhai"
Translating Vision into Reality
Every project begins in your head. One More Round was built to feel breezy, flirty and free-spirited like a jam session that turns into a party. Zamaana, though, came from a more visceral space. It’s a story told through fierce eyes, broken silences, and powerful body language.
And Manasi? She was electric. In one scene, she breaks down raw, restrained, and breathtakingly human. Minutes later, she’s transformed: headstrong, fully armored, stepping into an MMA ring with the fire of a warrior. That’s what true performance is commanding elegance and fearless strength, coexisting.
An Unscripted Surprise: Run-and-Gun Magic
But what wasn’t on the schedule and ended up being one of the most fulfilling moments was an impromptu third shoot. A raw, run-and-gun-style video about friendship, madness and fulfillment ideated by Neel Bhattacharya himself.
It was spontaneous and built around moments that were unplanned but honest. For me, this was personal. Neel and I go back 20 years,first as friends, now as artists collaborating professionally. That blend of history, trust, and comfort gave the video a soul.
There was laughter, chaos, camera shakes, and real-time improvisations. But underneath all that was a rare, pure mix — fun, frolic, and fiercely focused art. Sometimes, the unscripted moments are the ones that capture the most truth.
The Tech That Told the Story
Let’s be honest: gear doesn’t make a film, but the right gear in the right hands can elevate it to cinematic poetry.
We shot on the Sony Venice, a beast when it comes to capturing rich dynamic range and true-to-life skin tones. It gave us the freedom to play with low-light interiors, the glowing Goan skies, and dramatic performance shots without ever losing detail.
Paired with Cooke lenses, everything came alive. Soft highlights, creamy focus falloff, and that every shot had intent, weight, and motion. The camera didn’t just capture the moment it moved with it.
Directing a Global Crew
Working with Anna and our team of international dancers and actors was an exercise in energy and empathy. Language barriers? Sure. But on set, emotion takes over. Direction became a mix of gestures, references, and shared instinct, and a masterclass in communication skills. Some of the best improvisations happened when we stopped “explaining” and started “feeling.”
Setbacks Are Stepping Stones
Nothing ever goes 100% to plan. We lost light. We fought the rain. One location bailed on us last minute. But that's the truth of filmmaking, it's a dance between the precise and the unpredictable. The real trick is in how you pivot. How you adapt. That’s where you earn your stripes.
Advice to My Students
To all my film, television and audio visual media students, listen closely!
Gear is cool. Scripts are important. But the set? That’s your real school.
Observe. Listen. Offer help. Watch how DOPs shape light. Watch how performers hold stillness. Learn the rhythm of the crew. It’s not just about shouting “Action!” It's about understanding timing, tone, and trust.
Never underestimate the power of patience. Or prep. Or presence.
Because sometimes, the shot that makes the edit is the one that happened after 14 retakes and a team-wide meltdown. And that one shot? It’ll be magic.
Final Take
Goa gave me more than two (well, three!) music videos. It gave me moments: sharp, fleeting, transformative. It gave me collaborators who trusted my madness. And most importantly, it reminded me that the process is everything.
So whether you're in a classroom or on a chaotic marketplace with a Sony Venice, remember this: your best work will always lie just outside your comfort zone.
And that’s exactly where the story begins!
