Three
different
wooden
bridges
for
the
same
sequence
had
to
be
built
for
the
climactic
fight
between
Vikram
and
Abhishek
Bachchan
in
Mani
Ratnam"s
Raavan.
This
monument
of
cinematic
architecture
between
two
mountains
in
a
road-less
stretch
at
Malshej
Ghat
was
constructed
by
the
famed
production
designer
Samir
Chanda
and
not
by
the
distinguished
bridge-architect
Sheshadri
Srinivasan,
as
rumoured.
What
we
would
see
as
one
mammoth
wooden
bridge
in
Raavan
is
actually
three
bridges
constructed
by
Samir
Chandra
who
reveals,
“I
had
to
build
three
bridges,
one
for
the
actors" long
shots
which
was
210
feet
long,
another
for
their
close-ups
which
was
70
feet
long
and
the
third
for
just
the
actors"s
leg
work
(running
falling
,
etc)
which
was
30
feet
long."
Taking
a
deep
breath,
production
designer
Samir
Chanda
who
has
worked
closely
on
several
films
with
Mani
Ratnam,
Shyam
Benegal
and
Vishal
Bhardwaj
and
has
an
experience
of
26
years
behind
him,
takes
deep
offense
at
the
rumour
floating
around
that
the
Raavan
bridge
was
built
by
Sheshadri
Srinivasan,
though
Samir
Chandra
does
admit
that
'others' had
been
consulted
initially.
“But
the
bridge
that
you
see
in
Raavan
has
been
designed
and
constructed
by
me
and
my
forty
brothers
from
Kulu
Manali."
Forty
artisans
from
Himachal
Pradesh
were
flown
to
Malshej
Ghat
to
build
this
3-avatar
wooden
bridge..Mani
Ratnam
would
personally
stand
at
the
construction
site
from
early
morning
till
late
evening,
refusing
to
budge
from
the
bridge-building
venue.
Says
art
director
Samir
Chanda,
“Mani"s
enthusiasm
was
like
that
of
a
child.
We
had
first
thought
of
building
this
bridge
in
Sri
Lanka
because
they
have
the
infrastructure
and
the
experience
of
working
with
Hollywood
units
which
required
wooden
bridges.
Then
we
thought
of
building
the
bridge
in
Australia,
and
then
South
Africa.
Finally
I
suggested
we
do
it
near
Mumbai.
Why
spend
crores
when
the
same
quality
of
construction
is
possible
at
a
fraction
of
that
cost?"
And
to
get
to
the
bridges,
Abhishek,
Vikram
and
Aishwarya
Bachchan
and
the
rest
of
the
cast
had
to
wade
through
slush
and
mud
infested
with
crabs.
Abhishek
would
carry
his
wife
in
his
arms
to
the
bridge.
But
who
would
carry
the
others?
Distinguished
art
director
Samir
Chanda
takes
deep
offense
to
the
suggestion
that
Sheshadri
Srinivasan
the
architect
who
designed
the
Bandra-Worli
Sea
Link
has
designed
the
bridge
on
which
the
climactic
fight
between
'Rama" Vikram
and
'Raavan"
Abhishek
Bachchan
is
fought.
“How
can
anyone
take
away
from
credit
from
us?
How
can
Mr
Sheshadri
build
a
bridge
that
had
to
be
designed
according
to
cinematic
specifications?
It
wasn"t
only
about
safety
and
architectural
correctness
but
camera
angles
and
actors" manoeuvering
power.
Also,
the
bridge
had
to
look
convincing
as
the
actors
fought
on
it.
And
then
it
had
to
look
equally
convincing
being
blown
up,"
reasons
Samir
Chanda.