Written by new-contact on Oct 8, 2012. Posted in Production News

Ramesh Deo Production creates cricket celebration for Nike across India

Mumbai-based Ramesh Deo Production (RDP) has created a new spot celebrating India’s love of cricket for Nike, filming all over the country. Parallel Journeys shows young men and boys from all backgrounds across India setting out to play at all levels of the game.

The producers made a conscious decision early on to film across the country to get the all-encompassing feel they were looking for. They spent nine days filming in public spots in locations ranging from Ladakh to Chennai.

We shot in the extreme north in Ladakh, which has quite dry desert and mountains in the same place. Then we shot in New Delhi to show the city life.

Apurba Sengupta, Producer

Apurba Sengupta produced for RDP: “The topography and the culture both vary. We shot in the extreme north in Ladakh, which has quite dry desert and mountains in the same place. Then we shot in New Delhi to show the city life, as well as shooting the Indian national cricket team in an international stadium (Ferozshah Kotla)."

He adds: “We also shot in the western city of Jodhpur - where parts of The Dark Knight Rises were filmed - to show a different lifestyle with forts in the background.”

The sheer number of locations – more than 50 – that they were covering in the space of nine days was a major challenge, as was keeping some kind of order on set when they were filming in public spaces. Up to 70 actors were cast, while crew numbers reached triple figures, most hired from Delhi or Mumbai.

About 20% of the locations were filmed by a second unit, helping them to cover more ground more quickly.

Most of the time the crew operated as a single entity, but about 20% of the locations were filmed by a second unit, helping them to cover more ground more quickly.

Would Apurba do anything differently next time? “I think we had about two and a half weeks of prep time,” he replies, adding: “The first advice would be that one needs at least four weeks of prep. Otherwise the local production crew, along with key Indian crew from Mumbai need to be chosen carefully.”

Credits:
Client: Nike India
Agency: JWT India
National Creative Director/Writer: Senthil Kumar
Production Company: RDP Films, Mumbai
Producer: Apurba Sengupta
Director of Photography: Yakob Ihre
Director of Photography – 2nd Unit: Tapan Basu
Director: Abhinay Deo