Gautam Rajadhyaksha-The man who bought motion in photography
Enkayaar, Glamsham Editorial
Ace photographer, Gautama Rajadhyaksha who was single handedly responsible for evolution of genre of glamour photography in India has left for the heavenly abode probably to infuse much needed glamour in the heavenly abode. It, however, needs to be underlined that there was no such urgency in the abode of gods to invite Gautam Rajadhyaksha, while his presence was still required to accord permanence to glamour in the world of cinema as also in general in the public as well.
Indeed, Gautam Rajadhayaksha's biggest contribution to the society has been to infuse awareness about presently oneself as glamorous in day-to-day conduct and it has been a by-product of his efforts to re-present the actors and actresses in a new light, which made them glamorous and adorable to the public. Indeed, light was the guiding tool for glamour to bring about light in the final impression of snaps that he clicked of the film stars. Gautam Rajadhyaksha was considered to be one of the finest exponents of intelligent usage of light to add a sense of warmth to the film stars.
It all had started way back in 1980 when Gautam Rajadhyaksha clicked Shabana Azmi, Tina Munim and Jackie Shroff, and from thereon he never looked back. One could say that the element of mystique that is associated with Rekha has much to do with the photography of Gautam Rajadhyaksha, who sort of gave a new avatar to Rekha. Same happened with the case of Asha Bhosle as well. In fact, the manner in which the magazines have undergone transformation and rely more on photographs to tell a story, has to do with the innovations that Gautam Rajadhyaksha introduced through photography. Many a magazines became a sellout owing to the kind of photographs that he clicked. His book 'Faces' that was a kaleidoscope of snaps of film stars was an instant sell out. Such was the goodwill associated with his name that he could get Big B and Kaka to share a frame after acrimonious relationship for a pretty long time.
Gautam Rajadhyaksha apart from being a photographer was also associated with two films, Kajol's first film BEKHUDI and Madhuri Dixit's ANJAAM. In fact these two stars were his favorite muses. As a matter of fact the manner in which Kajol was introduced in BEKHUDI could have been an idea that only a photographer of the stature of Gautam Rajadhyaksha could visualize. One needs to hark back to the opening shot where as Kajol washes her face after playing Holi the layers of color that are washed from her face reveal different aspects of her persona. This kind of introduction for a star was never repeated again in the history of cinema.
He was the photographer who launched many a careers of scores of film stars by doing their first portfolios and prominent luminaries include Raveena Tandon, Kajol, Raima Sen, Rimi Sen, Jackie Shroff and the list goes on and on.
The number of tweets that the film stars made after passing away of Gautam Rajadhyaksha in it is a pointer to the popularity and goodwill that he enjoyed in the world of cinema-
Big B wrote" ... u have left behind a legacy, pictures that u clicked would always be part of our lives, always".
Karan Johar twitted that with Gautam's death we have lost a man who captured the stars with their lens and also captured their heart.
Best tweet however was that made by Pooja Bhatt who said," Blessed are those that had the privilege of being photographed by Gautam in their lifetime. He ensured our immortality way before our time."
Indeed, by his magic work, Gautam would remain immortal till cinema is talked about and cameras continue to speak with the audience.
