Vikram Bawa had an epiphany about giving the studio a fresh new look, to revitalize the ENERGY FLOW in the studio and TEAM VB.
In reality, it was mostly energy getting out, raw muscle power used to lift up heavy tables, background rolls and the huge ‘casket’ that housed these rolls.
It was some day…where all of us wore our clean-up hats and started doing the assigned chores. Each and every person, big or small, was sweating it out. From nuts and bolts to shards of wood flying, it was chaos at its best.
It was like building a home to live together. We all took ownership for it, and the positive energy had already begun flowing in.
-Rahul Kamath, Team CGI.
Vikram’s recent shoot with Chetan Bhagat and his two adorable boys for Child Magazine, was one of the most fun and prestigious shoots we had in a long time. No makeup, no posing, no planning and no temporary set. This photoshoot was to capture fatherhood in all its glory – an absolutely natural picture where he would be enjoying and playing with his kids.
Chetan Bhagat, a well known author who enjoys the title of “The 100 most Influential people in the world” by Times, is the most grounded person one would ever come across. I would call him powerful. After all, how many people do have the power of being read and understood by millions of people worldwide?
Chetan has written five fiction novels and has recently launched his first work of non fiction – “What young India Wants”.
– Megha Dave, Accounts & Adminstrative Manager, Vikram Bawa Photography
Food! During our growth years, in our school days, we are often averse to consuming the food we have been given! We absolutely hate eating and avoid it for as many times as we can. And we usually find one of the most ridiculous of reasons for not eating what we have been given.
The sight of food often triggers a stomach ache or an upset stomach or even a feeling of nausea. And while we are down with temperature, we all know the pampering we get: we are allowed to eat all the things we absolutely love! And the best way to attract fever, or so we had heard in childhood, are onions, and you know where to place them! It doesn’t work! And all you are left with is a disgusting odour of stale onions! Of course, i couldn’t stand the smell and went in for a shower, post the incident! Thankfully, didn’t get caught! A mischief story that was untold till today!
I was a good kid when I was small! Or so my parents would tell you. But like any other child, I too had favourite food items and the not so favourite ones. And obviously, the favourite ones are the ones we don’t/can’t get at home. So obviously, a mere karela/bitter gourd was the most hateful vegetable for me as a kid (Still is!). Spinach was another hateful one. But apart from this I used to love any other vegetable or fruits, fruits being a favourite, even now. Though my current state of health may not be able to confirm that, but nevetheless!
Anyhow, we grow a little older, and come into college! My college was the time that my psychological health grew, and according to my parents, my physical health too! New hostel, new junk food categories and new nuns/sisters from the missionary were just a few new entrants into my life. What also entered my life was a new freedom, away from home, a search for my individual identity, new leaning experiences, a new way of looking at my own life, away from the family dominance. Worked well for me, but not so much for my family because if you go by their word, I got spoilt. But as any teenager would react to that, I strongly disagree!
An increased love for food was a big part of this segment of my life. Food turned into “junk food”. So, coffee with anda-pav, wada pav, omelette roti, anda bhurji became the highlight, along with double fried egg! Vegetables took a back seat, but fruits were still the life saving item from all the junk I was having back then.
This trend continued, with the addition of more coffee, alcohol (Of course), sandwiches and quiches, a definite dessert (better quality, more fattening), after every meal (a childhood habit).
For the other life segments that are still inexperienced, observation has helped me a lot! I see mothers/expecting mothers who have been banned from consuming outside food. A sudden brake from all the junk! How do temperamental and moody women do that? I bet their temperament and mood swings increase, multifold! I pity the husbands, but only for this segment of a woman’s life!
Anyways, this segment of life, with a settled family and children, sees an increased consumption of home made food as well as the junk. Cravings, is what we have termed it, and we follow it very religiously.
Our life expectancy and survival chances depend highly on how much we have abused our own bodies in the previous quarters and based on that, we get into the next segment, i.e. if at all we do.The last phase forces us to rely on as much medication as possible because our digestive system has given up on us. a realization dawns on us now, if not earlier, that we messed up our bodies so much in the last two quarters, that we are now forced to go back to square one: Only home made food, with less spices, boiled if possible, and a lot if medication, after every meal. We’ve come back an entire circle!
Life, in general, comes back an entire circle. We’ve always been told, “What you give, is what we get!” or even the most scientific of explanations says “Every action has an Equal and opposite reaction!” Some call it “Karma’ and some call it ‘”Destiny”. Either way, all these philosophies, point quite correctly. We need a doze of our own medicine sometimes.
Innumerable lessons later, I am coming to terms with life. Patience, Acceptance, Forgiveness, Love – These are easy to practice but we usually miss them or sideline them. The result, all these attributes sideline us. They are quite simple to follow, only if you have the realizeation and the willingness to follow.
Life teaches us lessons, one at a time. Every person comes into our lives for a reason, to teach us something we dont know we had to learn.
So appreciate, be patient, accept, forgive and love, just a little more, and see how life rewards you back withall of these and much more!
Have a happy weekend!!!
Life’s Lessons
– Surabhi Pratap, Sr. Manager – Marketing & Communication, Vikram Bawa
Curvaceous, more than any girl you have ever laid eyes on, the Beetle is everyone’s favourite little car… Its a delight to the eyes.
Vikram owns a Beetle and like any piece of vintage, it indeed is owner’s pride and neighbors’ envy!
This is a 3D image. You’ll need special red/cyan glasses to see the pic.
It is a sweetheart. Its mood resonates with ours. If she falls sick then we get upset. Like these days she is recuperating and we have ordered for its parts from Germany.
Vikram’s love for her reflects in his work also. He has shot 3D pictures and made a very romantic film around her (literally)!
Take a look..
– Megha Dave, Accounts & Adminstrative Manager, Vikram Bawa Photography
Music. Such an integral part of any film. You do realise it, if you are a movie buff or you love music. But when you are involved in making it or getting it composed, it’s a different ball game altogether.
Initially getting a music piece composed would be tricky. What we thought would go with the film, didn’t add any feelings to the film. So then we had to change it and look at it from a completely different perspective. A lot of times we would be stuck with the same film for weeks. We then used to take a break and come back to it after a few days!
The music composer, Gaurav Chatterji, would get a music composer’s block. But he never gave up! His passion and determination to make the best music for each and every film drove him till the end (and continues till now). Trust me when I say this, we have had him make no less than 8 to 10 completely new pieces for one of the films, before finalising anything. Our films being different from hardcore advertising, I think everyone involved needs to find their own muse from the film (or for the film) to make the best out of nothing.
I love all the films and the music in them. You would say that they are made by my company, so of course I will say that! But to prove myself, I am sharing with you the link of one of my favourite films – Krishnaveni.
You can see the other films on our website – www.vikrambawa.com or www.vikrambawafilms.com
– Aditi Sarda, Project Manager, Vikram Bawa Films.
Yesterday was like any other day.. a casual Sunday.
Lunch with the family, a little work at the studio, a cool movie in the evening with the boys.. a funday, like we call it in India.
Then comes the new of the death of one of the most iconic Indian photographers in modern times. Prabuddha Dasgupta. A photographer who was revered for his work.
Death does not wait for anyone they say. But death took away Prabuddha a little too early I think.
A sudden numbness of disbelief is what shrouds me right now and humbled I feel in the presence of a life cut so short.
RIP
Source: Uploaded by user via Vikram on Pinterest
Six Months! Six months is all I have spent in the company, but the experience I have gained has been immense. I am the one responsible for ensuring that all our official work is safely backed up after each and every shoot.
Things like renaming files (and when I say files, I mean hundreds of thousands of them) Initially I was completely baffled but slowly everything has been demystified.. Now I feel like I’m an absolute pro in my job.
So you need pictures shot ten years back?
No worries. Simply rub the lamp. The genie a.k.a. Kiran the ‘archiver’ will do the rest.
– Kiran Magare, Digital Asst. (Vikram Bawa Photography)
I had been staring at my laptop screen for about an hour, cupcakes and a glass of milk lying next to me, thinking of what to write. I guess I was going through a case of writer’s
block. There is so much to write about everyday things that happen at work,
that it’s difficult to pick out one. So, I decided to just go through our
website vikrambawa.com. What I will say now is not because I work here, but because I truly feel this way: “I LOVE THE WEBSITE”.
Browsing through the videos, I came across the one on Twilight Players.
For the uninformed, Twilight Players is a team of three men, all boys at heart
– Sinbad Phgura, Ammo ‘Too Sweet’ and Jimi ‘The Quiff’. I never call them
dancers as that would just narrow their capabilities so much. They are
world class entertainers. They appeared with a BANG on the Indian scene in the
song ‘Pardesi’ of the movie Dev.D. They danced like no one ever had in
Hindi cinema. They, for a fact, made me want to learn dancing, and I did.
Check out the video to feel their energy. Styled by Jiah, this was an
awesome shoot. These guys wear shirts, trousers and suspenders – and dance.
Watch them being supremely animated and even playing tug-of-war. The video ends
with them looking super dapper. Trust Vikram Bawa to capture all this madness
in all its glory. Vikram shot photos and also made a stop motion video to go
with their dance style I have watched this video countless times, and still
can’t get enough.
And yes, you are welcome!
– Esha Kak, Brand Manager, Vikram Bawa
Vikram Bawa 