Saurabh Mahajan - Be Patient, Calm And Have Mutual Respect For Everyone Working Around Or With You (Freelance Cinematographer, Filmmaker)

One should be very receptive to all kind of things around him/her because you never know where you can get inspiration from. One must be disciplined and honest enough at least towards their own work.

1. Tell us about your background and journey.

Hi, I am Saurabh Mahajan, 25 years old, budding Cinematographer from Mumbai. 

The start of my journey goes back to my graduation days in Ramnarain Ruia College in Mumbai, where I just started exploring the world around me through my camera, through photography, I did a lot of experiments and later got into the motion photography. 

My friend Mayur Shinde and I made our first short film “KAASH”, which won the golden eye award, Since then I shot a lot of videos and short films for my own YouTube channel and kept practising and learning about cinematography, all of this happened between 2013 to 2015.

In 2015 I decided to pursue Cinematography after a thorough research about the field and the future prospect in it. After my graduation from Ruia in 2015, I came across Whistling Woods International Film Institute, I decided to take proper education and technical knowledge for the field of cinematography from there. 

I learnt a lot about film making and a brief history about the world cinema along with the required aesthetics and technical knowledge required for Cinematography from Whistling Woods International.


2. How and when did you realize your passion for creating films?

I discovered my love for film making while I was completing my graduation in Ramnarain Ruia College, I used to practice photography and I got a lot of positive feedback for the same in college. 

I made my first short film “KAASH” directed by my friend Mayur Shinde which was well received in the short film competition that it was made for and it gave me the necessary confidence and boost up for pursuing this passion as a career.


3. What are the important skills one should have to be a successful cinematographer?

For being a successful cinematographer according to me one should be very receptive to all kind of things around him/her because you never know where you can get inspiration from. One must be disciplined and honest enough at least towards their own work.

Should be constantly on the lookout for learning new things and should be wanting to do things in a different way or a new way. Should be well prepared aesthetically and Technically for the given job and should always keep on updating themselves and their skills.


4. Which film(s) do you appreciate the most for their cinematography?

There are a lot of films which are an inspiration for me to name a few: 

• Gravity
• Birdman
• The Revenant
• La La Land
• Sicario
• Blade Runner 2049
• 1917
• The Goldfinch
• The Shawshank Redemption
• Bajirao Mastani
• Rockstar
• Highway

And many more... 


5. What has been the biggest learning from your job?

To be patient, calm and to have mutual respect for everyone working around or with you.


6. Which is your favourite book and why?

I don’t have one as I am not an avid reader, but I am trying to inculcate and develop the habit, as reading also helps in broadening one’s imagination and vision both important for a filmmaker.

- Saurabh Mahajan (Freelance Cinematographer, Filmmaker)

I am Saurabh Mahajan, freelance Cinematographer and filmmaker from Mumbai, I am 25 years old and always on the lookout to learn and create. I believe that films take us on a journey which we never forget and from which we learn something so crucial that cannot be summarized in only words. 

Constructing visuals which accentuates the experience of the film and helps us understand and relate to the film in a personal way is something that loves to do and continually strive for as a cinematographer. My journey in the film industry has begun, with many experiences to create and many stories to visually narrate.


Interviewed By Pratibha Sahani