Chandan Singh - Session 01

AR-020-3-1

(00: 00:00 – 00:01:03) A brief introduction to the conversation. (00:01:04 – 00:02:17) Chandan explains that his entry into the field was not initially by choice but a necessity for a job in 1989. His father's friend, Sujit Chatterjee, took him to the Centre for Development of Instructional Technology (CENDIT). Chandan, who is from Uttarakhand, didn't have a specific initial interest in technical work. (00:02:18 – 00:07:24) Chandan began in the maintenance department at CENDIT, working alongside ‘Kailash Bhai’ and ‘Raju Bhaiyya’. His job was to open and check machines for faults, which led him into the technical line. He attended workshops, mostly at the CENDIT unit in Sultanpur, where Ranjan Ji and Gargi Ji were the main instructors. He learned audio dubbing and editing and was responsible for setting up tools and managing equipment like batteries for students. He recounts two significant field experiences: covering the Mandal Commission events in Delhi, where the police briefly captured their cassette; and the Narmada Bachao Andolan, a 15-day foot journey where he worked as an assistant to Amar Sharma and was responsible for field tasks like recharging batteries at night.

(00:07:25 – 00:09:02) A brief pause in the conversation.

(00:09:03 – 00:10:45) Chandan elaborates on the 15-day Narmada journey, confirming the travel was entirely on foot. He was part of the crew that included K. P. Sasi, Ratna Mathur, and Amar Sharma. Chandan was the sound person and was responsible for physically carrying heavy equipment, including a 10 kg VCR, throughout the trip.

(00:10:47 – 00:17:10) The team discusses the challenges of field maintenance amid dust and extreme weather. Chandan personally handled the cleaning process. Before any shoot, the camera lens (using a specific leather) and the VCR's audio and video heads were meticulously cleaned by hand with a brush. He recounts two equipment failure incidents: once in Rajasthan, where a forgotten camera was completely damaged and needed replacement (which took a day or two); and another instance where a VTR failed to show the meter or a machine's display went off while still recording, leading to issues later. (00:17:11 – 00:18:09) Chandan addresses the question of whether the working module or crew size changed when machines transitioned from large to small. He notes that CENDIT largely maintained its work module, with most projects done on the Beta format.

(00:18:10 – 00:19:00) A brief pause and clarification with Ranjan De. (00:19:01 – 00:24:45) CENDIT utilized various formats, including U-matic, and would occasionally hire High Band equipment for specific projects, also using S-VHS and VHS. Chandan's primary job in this period involved cassette making and duplication. Film segments were done in 30-minute parts. He would create a VHS "master" copy, which was the final product after mixing and adding audio. Due to the fragility of cassettes, a copy of the master was always made and stored safely as a backup. The duplication process could take up to 20 hours. (00:24:46 – 00:28:36) After leaving CENDIT, Chandan worked for a company called J Com, doing multi-camera, multi-setup work. He then did freelancing and now works for NewsClick. He highlights learning about connectors (like those from Radio Corporation), which proved valuable in his subsequent career. Ranjan De adds information about different world formats, specifically long play. (00:28:37 – 29:20 Addressing the issue of different world formats, Chandan confirms that when external footage needed to be integrated into a film, it always required conversion. Many organizations specialized solely in this conversion process. (00:29:21 – 00:33:55) Chandan details his career path after CENDIT: at J Com, he did multi-setup work, including adjusting CCUs (camera controller units) to match colors; at Ramoji Film City (Hyderabad), he worked as an Editing Supervisor using the Divisi Pro system but left due to a salary disparity; he worked at Wiggan and Leigh College in technical documentation and editing; then at White Walls Media (Gurgaon) on editing videos; and finally joined NewsClick in 2017 as a cameraman. (00:33:56 – 00:37:20) Despite his wide-ranging experience, Chandan prefers camera work over editing, which he finds too intensive, even with small details. He acknowledges that camera work, especially outdoors, is physically labor-intensive. He recalls one incident of standing for eight hours to record the exhibition of Sitaram Yechury's body.

(00:37:21 – 00:38:45) A short pause in the conversation.

(00: 38:46 – 00: 46:33) Chandan was at CENDIT until 1998, primarily engaged in the technical field. His responsibilities included checking equipment, performing voice-over and audio recording, and managing connections. He details the studio environment, using a gun mic in the field and a lapel mic 77B for multi-setup studio work. Working hours were typically eight hours, with extra pay for overtime, although initial shifts were based on the requirements to finish the work.

(00:46:34 – 00:54:04) Chandan worked at CENDIT for nine years (1989-1998). Although his work profile (technical and camera assistant) remained consistent, his projects varied. He left CENDIT due to payment issues and subsequently held multiple roles: Technical and Camera Assistant at CENDIT, Technician at Jaycom, Editing Supervisor at Ramoji Film City, Machine Maintenance Technician at Bin Channel (Madras), Technical Supervisor and Instructor at Wiggan and Leigh College, Cameraman at White Walls Media, and Freelance Cameraman since 2011.

(00: 54:05 – 00:59:48) Chandan notes that many people graduating from major colleges often have strong theoretical knowledge but lack practical, hands-on experience. These newcomers often need to be taught basic field concepts like lighting and camera settings, which can only be fully mastered through real-world experience.

(00:59:49 – 01:12:23) He left CENDIT due to issues with payment, as he was the only earning member in his family. He immediately began working as a camera assistant at Dilli City Cable from 1999 to 2001. A camera assistant's duties involved much more than cleaning; they included audio checking, roll checking, and managing battery changes. Maintaining equipment mainly involved fault checking, cable connections, and head cleaning.

(01:12:24 – 01:13:08) A brief pause in the conversation.

(01:13:09 – 01:16:40) Chandan clarifies that a technician's job requires comprehensive knowledge of all connected machines. This included setting up and connecting two VCRs to each other, managing all cable output, and operating a special effects generator. (01:16:41 – 01:26:59) Learning was hands-on: if a machine faulted, they would go to a senior to help diagnose it, learning whether the issue was with a cable or a chip. While machines were generally reliable, cameras often faced issues in extremely hot places, such as Rajasthan. To combat the heat, the cameras had to be wrapped in cold or wet clothes during shooting. Earlier, mechanical machines were prone to wear and tear, and continuous use was avoided in the field, unlike modern digital equipment. (01:27:00 – 01:35:53) Chandan provides a brief chronology of camera technology: VTRs were used until around 2005, followed by the emergence of the DVCPRO camcorder, Digi-Beta, and Beta formats. He details the differences that came with each update. He began using the contemporary, digital, card-based cameras in the late 2000s. (01:35:54 – 01:39:04) The interview concludes with an inquiry about whether Chandan has any photos, notes, or diary entries from his early days in the field.

12 March 2025

Oral histories of technical personnel in Broadcast and Community Video

Chandan Singh