The curse of our industry:
Mr.Ramachandra Babu wrote: But release prints are made in a matter of few days
only!

This happens only because it was allowed to happen and it is now beyond a habit,
rather it's become the 'norm' to strike prints Two days before release. Why do
we never compromise on exposing film to stray light- because it WILL fog, so
everybody from the Third Asst. to the Prod. Manager and even the Driver who
takes the film for processing most of the times knows it's film and do not
expose the cans to light. The only way we can get more time to strike prints is
when the Director insists that his work get the time it deserves. It's the
nature of the business- where payments for respective areas are received in the
last minute and deals stuck the night before release that dictates our timeframe
for the printing process. Unless the Producer/the Studio consider it important
and value their time and money spent on the film there's little hope. If at all
we still manage to see some decent work on screen in spite of this madness then
it's only du e to the sheer technical brillian
ce and experience of a few labs. Mr. Shivaraman and his team @ Prasad chennai
are simply outstanding under pressure.

The good news is that there is change, be it slow. Directors such as Mr. Bansali
has spared no effort in ensuring that the Prints of his current release 'BLACK'
are nothing but the best and has backed Mr. Ravi K. Chandran 100%. With Digital
Intermediate making significant inroads in our country all our shot-to-shot
corrections will be taken care of at least on films with a budget for DI. Let's
continue doing the good work and do our best.

Keshav Prakash.