Udta Punjab: calmness in deep waters

Udta Punjab, a movie based on drug abuse in the affluent North Indian state of Punjab & how youth there have succumbed to it en-masse resulting in a socio-economic decline. A star-studded cast of Kareena Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Shahid Kapoor & Diljut Dosanjh had a great performance on screen. However, two deep under water sequence depicting Alia Bhatt character was a treat to watch yet it had it owns significance in the story line.

The deep drowning sequence, feeling hopeless and deeply diving into water, then suddenly watching a ray of light of light and a hope and swimming towards the ray of light. As beautiful as this scene may look like the trickier was to shoot the sequence. To shoot this beautiful sequence, a weight belt was added in the costume that would drag you down into deep water. Then comes the beauty part of the sequence staying calm in the in the deep water, swimming with the weight calmly while you run of breath to same level and then rising up with the weight belt towards the light.

The challenging part about underwater sequence is you are up against breadth all the time. The longer you can hold it, the more comfortable you are in performing the stunt. Staying fit helps you work around weight belts that are essential part of these sequence, and having a calm mind comes out of experience. As the sequence was shot in peak winters of December and numerous retakes to take perfect shot it was ultimate test of being calm in deep in waters and delivering beautiful scene that adds to story and character.

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