There are cameramen who make the stars shine on the screen, whose names the audience can't even remember! - Harish Patel (DOP)

It is really ironic that the audience does not even know the names of the cameramen who present the stars on screen. During a discussion, cameraman Harish Patel asked - "The most hit films of this era are 'Gadar 2' and 'Jawaan'. Ask the audience coming out of the talkies after watching the film - who was the cameraman of the film? Hardly anyone will be able to tell. And this is a truth. How many people work hard to bring out a product in Bollywood but only the star takes the credit?"

Young cameraman Harish Patel is from Damoh, Madhya Pradesh, and has been working in Bollywood for a long time. Says, "I have worked as an operative cameraman in the feature films 'Shirin Farhad Ki Nikal Padi' (Sanjay Leela Bhansali Production), 'Ek Villain' (Balaji Motion Pictures), 'Half Girl Friend' (Balaji Motion Pictures) and also Have done feature films like 'Coffee House', 'Run Bhola Run', 'Film City', 'Mirza' (Punjabi), 'Kajali' (Marathi), 'The Hitler' with National Award-winning cameraman Mahesh Ane Sahab. DOP Many Punjabi films like 'Hai Tujhe Salaam India', 'Nirvana 13', 'A Mistake', 'My Self Pendu', 'Ishq Between You Never Know', 'The Youth', 'Me and Mr. Canadian' I have done C films... Everyone's experience is the same - those whom we decorate become stars and later all the credit goes to them. None of us even remember our existence."

Harish Patel, who started his career as a lighting assistant, has a problem with his name. "People connect my work with actor Harish Patel. Harish laughs. "Apart from being the DOP, I have also directed some telefilms under my own banner (Om Shiv Shakti). Which people mistake as his work. These telefilms of mine are - 'Stop It', 'Killat of Water', 'Jaan Hai To Jahan Hai', 'Adhure Khwaab', etc. We have done this under social responsibility. The subject of these films is the star. 'A Gaon Mera' is also an award-winning documentary in which I have shown the basic problems of the village. I have done this work for my own satisfaction."

Harish says- "There should be such a system in Bollywood where everyone's work can be recognized. Even the smallest spot boy follows the mood of the star so that the boss does not lose his mind. A star should not talk.'' Producers and directors do this. Talks but doesn't even talk to the technicians. If a film becomes successful, everyone takes a car to the star's house, whereas cameramen or other technicians are unable to buy a car of their own even after doing ten films. I am saying general things so that people can think." Harish Patel says that these days he is trying to promote Bundeli language films. Only when regional cinema expands will people understand the value of a technician.

-Sharad Rai