designs
A Ray casting Long Shadows
This poster was created as an entry to the poster design contest organized by the National Film Development Corporation of India at the 53rd International Film Festival of India, Goa, as a tribute to the legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray.
Inspiration & Ideations
The movie ‘Hirak Rajar Deshe’ is a Bengali dystopian musical that follows the adventures of the pair of musician protagonists in the Land of the Diamond King, an evil tyrant. It is Satyajit Ray’s incredible storytelling and vision that makes this film truly iconic.
The story, at a one level, is a children’s film full of fun, humour and magic. But a deeper look will reveal the thought provoking social and political messages that remain relevant even today. The movie was a childhood favourite and I had overlooked the nuanced and sensitive side until I watched it again with the new-found maturity. I wished to celebrate that aspect of the storytelling in my poster.
Modelling & Composition
I selected key elements from the story that symbolised the entire narrative to an observant viewer: the book, representing knowledge; the diamonds, symbolising the King’s greed; and the catapult, standing for resistance.
These elements were individually modelled in Rhino 3D and composed in Adobe Substance Stager, allowing me to experiment with lighting, shadows, and composition to achieve a dramatic effect.
Rendering & Lighting
To emphasise the film’s darker and more mature undertones, the entire composition was dimly lit, with the focus directed toward the diamonds. The menacing shadow of the Diamond King, the titular character and antagonist, loomed over the three narrative elements.
I carefully adjusted the intensity and position of the light, textures, and layout of the poster to enhance the desired atmosphere.
Typography & final Design
For the typography of the film’s title, I chose to pay homage to the original posters and the vintage style of that era.
The final editing and refinement were done in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, ensuring the design retained its retro aesthetic while integrating modern techniques.
Final Note
This project provided an interesting opportunity to experiment with a mix of software and techniques to achieve the final outcome. The concept was more interpretive than direct, conveying a story at first glance but offering profound meaning to those familiar with the movie.
It was my tribute to the celebrated maestro, Satyajit Ray. I was honoured to have my design selected among the top entries for the “One and Only Ray” poster design contest, where it was exhibited to an international audience at the film festival.
