Putting together a show to remember

Creative director

Bharat Bala has packaged patriotism into slick music albums for a long time,but Games ceremony put him in a completely new light. The man pulled off a cultural extravaganza that headlined internationally. “The choreography of drummers from different regions of India was beautiful. I am glad people loved it,” said Bala. After a slew of issues with the Aerostat and numerous other problems,Bala did his best to put together a great show.Bala is now looking at a grand closing ceremony. “While the opening ceremony was based on traditional Indian culture,the closing ceremony will be an entirely different show based on the universal theme of love,” he said.

Bansi Kaul

Show director,ceremonies

After over 7,000 performers took centerstage on Sunday and wowed the world,former National School of Drama professor Bansi Kaul (61) is finally a relieved man. “I am glad it was loved and welcomed by the whole world,” says Kaul. When Kaul was roped in by the OC four months ago,he had no idea what he was getting into. “The scale of the show was mind-boggling. They wanted a mix of rhythms,folk,tribal and Indian classical music,” says Kaul. “The trick lay in knitting it all together.” Kaul travelled to get folk artistes from all over India for the ‘Rhythms of India’ segment. But he is miffed at the way these artistes were treated. “These people,who not only saved the ceremony but got the OC so much of positive publicity,were treated so badly. The villages saved India yet again and credit was usurped by people like Prasoon Joshi,Javed Akhtar and Shyam Benegal who did not do much. Except for Shovanaji (Narayan),nobody was involved much with the ceremony.”

ANA SINGH

Costume designer ‘Rhythm of India’,‘Yoga’,‘Great Indian Journey’ segments

There is one element in costuming that Mumbai-based designer Ana Singh will not forget for a long time — the turban. “For the past three months,I have been singularly focussed on the costuming for the Games. Even at 4 am,I was up thinking about the 200-odd trunks of turbans,around 2,000 in all,” sighed Singh,better known for churning out opulent costumes for Bollywood films. Singh is no stranger to numbers.

SEERAT NARINDRA

Costume designer for ‘Tree of Knowledge’ segment

The 50-year-old,who designed 600 costumes for the segment,has had many trysts with major festivals. In 1982,Narindra produced and designed the costumes and sets for Panorama India,a show for the Asian Games. “We had 40-odd artistes showcasing the various dance forms,music,bridal costumes and even the sarees of India,” said Narindra. During the opening ceremony,‘The Tree of Knowledge’,one of the most appreciated segments,showcased six classical dance forms. “For me,it was more important to showcase the image of India in a classy,dignified manner,” said Narindra.

ASHIMA-LEENA

Costume designer for ‘Swagatham’

They are known for their splendid Indo-western designs,but this time the respected designer duo created a remarkable international outfit with an “Indian soul”. The cape with an empire line in a muted beige was sported by 1,150 children. It was topped by a Nehru cap. “The toughest task was changing the palette from the skin colour to the Tiranga,” said Leena Singh. She confessed she had been working on an 18 hour/day schedule since July.

Viraf Sarkari

Ceremonies’ Producer and director

Bringing together 7,000 performers under one roof and ensuring all designs,props,and graphic installations work in harmony is no mean feat. And no one realises that better than Viraf Sarkari,Director,Wizcraft International Entertainment. Armed with the experience of hosting the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards for a decade,Sarkari understands how to put together a spectacle. “We wanted to showcase 5,000 years of India’s culture and history and package it in a modern manner using technology to make it appealing to an international audience,” says Sarkari,who feels relieved that all went as per plan. Sarkari’s job was to coordinate with his three art directors: Dan Potra,Ric Birch and Indian set designer Omung Kumar. “All I needed to was step back a bit and let the teams work their magic.”

Omung Kumar

Art designer

When the portrait of Gandhi was lowered from the Aerostat in the second segment of the Opening Ceremony,everyone,except art director Omung Kumar,was surprised. “It was a last-minute addition to the proceedings,” says Kumar,one of the three art directors for the Opening Ceremony. That is Kumar for you. Unpredictable,spontaneous,and very-last-minute. “For a year I was trying to fill the gap in the Gandhi segment,but was unable to. At 5 pm on October 2,post the shutdown,the idea of a sketch of Gandhi came to me and I was able to convince the Aerostat handlers that I will complete the design overnight,” he gushes. To his surprise the Gandhi element worked seamlessly.

Ranjit Barot

Drummer and composer

Ace drummer Ranjit Barot has always been known for embracing every sound that he has ever come across. On Sunday,the world embraced every note of sound it heard in the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. “I am glad all went smoothly and sonically perfect,” says Barot. Barring AR Rahman’s segment,all music was composed and arranged by Barot. A lot of work went into organising ‘Rhythms of India’ and the ‘Great Indian Journey’ segments.

“These were extremely intricate pieces with so many different sounds. I had to make sure that all of them are clearly audible,” says Barot. He was helped by singer Hariharan in composing ‘Suswagatham’.

Ola Melzig

Technical Director

Swedish national Ola Melzig was a last-minute entry in the ceremonies after the previous technical director,Piers Shepperd,quit. Melzig landed in India on August 17. His credits include working as a technical director for the Nobel Prize ceremony. His career started at a fishing store,followed by jobs at Saab car factory and a window manufacturing unit in Stockholm. It was there that he took up a supplementary job as a stage hand for Swedish concert promoter EMA Tellstar.