Anshuman Jha’s Lord Curzon Ki Haveli starring Rasika Dugal, Arjun Mathur to be entirely shot on single lens 35mm camera

Anshuman Jha, the actor, is known for his artistic/thought provoking choices. But with Arjun Mathur & Rasika Dugal in the leads along with Marvel Girl Zoha Rahman, Paresh Pahuja, Tanmay Dhanania & Star Wars actor Garrick Hagon – he already has a dream cast of artists for his Directorial Debut “Lord Curzon Ki Haveli”. But now as the film, which was shot in the UK last year, is nearing completion – a rare and interesting fact about the film maker has come to the fore – Jha has shot his entire debut film on a single lens (of 35mm). A feat no other Hindi mainstream film maker has ever even attempted.

Cult classics like Hitchcock’s “Psycho” & Kurosawa’s “Rushmore” are films which used the single lens minimalist formula in the last century. In a time when many filmmakers today are obsessed with amassing gear and stocking up on the latest toys, Jha is setting a reminder on how much can be done with so little, out of choice.

The Award-Winning writer Bikas Mishra who has written the script of Jha’s debut says “Anshuman had made the choice on the writing table itself that he will shoot the film on a single lens.’ The two cinematographers on Jha’s debut Directorial – French DOP Jean Marc Selva (AFC) & Indian DOP Ramanuj Dutta – call it a ‘brave & ballsy choice’ by the first-time film maker. ‘He had a very clear vision on the film & is not afraid to take risks as an artist’ – Says Jean Marc.

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‘While I had lens options at my disposal – I chose a single lens narrative as I wanted it to be as close to the human vision as possible-consistently-35mm gave me that. A single lens film has a subconscious viewing affect. And I wanted the film to not just look but feel cohesive, a consistent point of view driving the finished piece. ‘Lord Curzon Ki Haveli’ is a contemporary homage to my favourite film maker – Alfred Hitchcock & his classic film The Rope’ – Says Anshuman.

‘Lord Curzon Ki Haveli’ produced by Golden Ratio Films & Jha’s First Ray Films, will be the first Indian film with this rare quality & is scheduled for a release later this year.