While marriages are made in heaven, the magic of weddings captured on film and transformed into captivating love stories unfolds here on earth. Gone are the days of lengthy wedding videos filled with mundane moments. Enter Vishal Punjabi’s The Wedding Filmer, a pioneering venture launched in 2010. This innovative platform has crafted enchanting wedding films for Bollywood couples such as Kiara Advani and Siddharth Malhotra, Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh, Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli, among others. In an exclusive interview with currentMood Mag, Vishal Punjabi sheds light on the nuances of wedding cinematography, offering insight into his unique approach and the art of storytelling behind every frame.
currentMood Mag: Can you walk us through the genesis of The Wedding Filmer – what inspired you to start filming weddings with such a distinctive narrative style?
Vishal Punjabi: Nothing like this existed. Bollywood was getting tiring, boring, and uninspiring, advertising was too cutthroat, and my son was being born. I needed to create something special for him that would bring meaning and purpose back into my work. Weddings, with their deeply personal and joyous stories, provided the perfect canvas for storytelling through film.
I wanted to capture the love and human connections that make each celebration unique. My narrative style blends a “fly on the wall” approach with empathy to weave together the family dynamics and cultural nuances of each wedding. The result is a timeless heirloom that celebrates love in an authentic, unforgettable way.
cM: How do you balance the couple’s personal story and vision with your personal style?
VP: Balancing the couple’s personal story with my own style is a delicate dance, one that I approach by deeply understanding the people I work with. Growing up in multiple countries and working across films, commercials, and crews from all sorts of backgrounds has given me a unique insight into people and their stories. This experience has taught me to listen closely and understand people on a deeper level.I spend time with each couple, learning their journey, what makes them tick, and their vision for their special day. My goal is to create films that reflect who they are while also infusing my storytelling style.
cM: What’s the most challenging aspect of capturing live events like weddings, where there’s no scope for a retake?
VP: Wedding filmmaking is a backbreaking gig that requires you to be at the right place at the right time and smile even when you’re dying inside. It demands a tremendous amount of energy—I barely see my family on weekends or holidays, and my trusty suitcase has practically become my second home. Not to mention, my eardrums are still ringing from the DJ’s greatest hits. At least now I know the choreography to every Bollywood dance number by heart!
cM: Looking back, how do you think storytelling has evolved since your first wedding film?
VP: Over time, wedding film storytelling has evolved immensely since my first one. Initially, it was about capturing moments with fresh originality and respect for each love story. Despite copycats, my focus remains on authenticity and originality. Each film is a unique treasure reflecting the couple’s journey, ensuring it resonates deeply with them and their loved ones.
cM: Have you encountered any quirky or surprising wedding traditions while filming across different cultures?
VP: While filming weddings across different cultures, I’ve encountered a variety of quirky and unusual traditions, but some customs really stand out. For instance, I’m not a fan of using animals at weddings; it feels out of place to me. Similarly, patriarchal traditions that require the bride’s family to apologize to the groom’s family for any shortcomings leave me feeling uneasy. It’s a sad reminder of outdated norms that need to change.
On the flip side, there are many beautiful rituals that I cherish—the vibrant dancing, the glow of oil lamps, and the symbolic ceremonies that unite families in joy and love. These traditions embody the magic of weddings, where the diverse expressions of happiness and unity always shine through, creating a tapestry of moments that transcend differences and celebrate what truly matters.
cM: If you could choose any filmmaker, past or present, to collaborate with on a wedding film, who would it be and why?
VP: It would be Karan Johar, Aditya Chopra, or the legendary Yash Chopra if he were still with us. No one crafts romance quite like they do. Karan’s films have shaped weddings and Indian traditions, setting the bar for pop culture romance with his vibrant, heartfelt storytelling. The Sangeet as we know it today? It started as a figment of his imagination, inspiring couples to embrace the joy and drama of their love stories. Aditya Chopra’s ability to blend timeless romance with relatable characters, or Yash Chopra’s unparalleled knack for portraying emotions and relationships with unmatched depth, would bring an incredible, cinematic richness to a wedding film.
cM: What’s your take on the intimate wedding trend?
VP: I like the intimate wedding trend because it allows me to really sink my teeth into each story. With fewer people, the event becomes more personal, and each guest has a distinct role that adds to the narrative. Everyone becomes a character in this love story, and their unique personalities and connections to the couple shine through more clearly. It makes the storytelling feel richer, allowing us to capture the depth of relationships and the true essence of the celebration in a way that resonates with the couple and their loved ones.
cM: You get a bird’s-eye view of marriages across different cultures and traditions. What’s your take on the universal elements that make a wedding day special, regardless of cultural or regional differences?
VP: No matter the culture or tradition, weddings universally celebrate love, joy, and unity. The rituals may differ, but the shared emotions of nervous excitement, heartfelt laughter, and tearful blessings are constants that make a wedding day truly special. It’s the coming together of families and the blending of stories that transcends differences, reminding us that love, at its core, is a beautifully universal language.
All image and video courtesy: Vishal Punjabi