Bedabrata Pain is an enigma who has played an instrumental role in advancing our lives and changing the way the world captures moments just about anytime and anywhere.
Pain invented the CMOS digital camera technology used today in our cell phones, laptops and dozens of other devices.
He quit his prestigious job at NASA, to just be a director. Although he lost one of his dearest assets, his 16-year old son, he has not lost the courage to face life with all its challenges.
We caught up with this inspiring gentleman to take a glimpse through some pages of his life and career.
How would you encapsulate the journey from India to New York?
From the heady days of New York to the magic of movies and NASA in Los Angeles, and then survive a complete upheaval in life — excitement has never been in short supply.
But I do think those six years in New York were probably one of the most formative periods of my life. The people I met there and things I did shaped what I have become today. My research on image sensors (toward my PhD degree) and political/cultural activities proceeded with equal ardor. It was a time for romance, a time for social consciousness and dreams of a new world, and above all, a time to leave the comfort zone and explore all that I am capable of doing!
How life changing was working for NASA?
I think when people hear about NASA, they think of astronauts or are reminded of Patrick Stewart’s authoritative voice in Star Trek, The Next Generation, declaring “Space … the final frontier … To seek out new life and new civilizations. To boldly go where no one has gone before.” Honestly, the thrill of exploring the unknown is as old as human civilization itself. But for that you don’t really have to be an astronaut.
Exploration begins in your mind — in your imagination. As a kid, I wanted to be a coal-engine driver (don’t laugh). I did so primarily because in my mind I could travel all over India; I could imagine myself traveling through forests at night illuminated by the piercing headlights. The urge and romance of exploration still remains just as strong. Last year, when Curiosity touched down, I felt just as excited as ever — with the hope that we’ll learn more about the origin of life. I felt the same burst of excitement when I was working toward developing sensors for dark energy mapping. Dark energy is what propels the universe to expand at an ever increasing rate. Now, I did not have to jump into a space-ship to do so. I think your imagination, your theory and your computer can take you places which no star-ship enterprise can.
What made you quit NASA and take a plunge into a diverse profession like entertainment?
I would rather call it art because I think science can be just as entertaining. In fact, I want to do a TV show on science and technology. Well, perhaps your question is posed backwards. Perhaps, NASA itself was a diversion. Perhaps I was always destined to be in performing arts.
Jokes aside, I do not see a contradiction between being a scientist and a filmmaker (or in some other arts). Good science and good art is always driven by imagination, inventiveness and creativity. Besides, I think human beings are always multi-faceted. But one of the worst things about modern life is that you are almost forced to be a one-dimensional robotic person — feeling little, and thinking even less. One has to consciously rebel against it.
I grew up in a time when being multi-dimensional or embracing life to the fullest or having a social consciousness was considered very important. It is something I have ingrained in me — a notion that you might find in Nazrul Islam’s poem — Bidrohi.
But after being 15 odd years in NASA, I realized I was stealthily but surely falling into that one-dimensionality trap. We had invented CMOS digital camera technology, which after its initial rejection (as it always happens) enabled the digital camera revolution and opened up a $10 billion market. I got 87 patents out of it — and was inducted into the US Space Technology Hall of Fame. But as the technology got more and more into application, I realized that I was becoming more of a manager than an inventor. That was motivation enough to quit. On a sobering note, if I did not quit NASA when I did I would never have been able to figure out what else I could do — how far I could go. And my quest has just begun!
How easy or difficult is it to juggle the four hats you wear of Producer, Director, Screen Writer and most importantly a Father?
I was very close to my sons and very closely involved in their lives. Our best times together were the Sunday mornings when I would take them out for brunch and discuss all sorts of things from physics to politics; from history to philosophy. If they were doing school projects, I would stay up just to give them company. It was exhausting but rewarding. So I guess there’s something in that old saying — where there’s a will, there’s a way: as long as you are willing to survive on 4-5 hours of sleep.
I was still in JPL/NASA when I wrote the better part of Chittagong. Before that I was deeply involved in the previous film — AMU. In addition to my duties at JPL, I was teaching and consulting for a few companies. Before I made Chittagong, I had never been to a filmset. So directing the movie was tough enough. Everything was a learning experience — which made it both challenging and exciting. On top of that I had to endure a series of personal losses including the death of my son, Ishan. And my movie was stopped from being released in 2010. So, altogether it was nothing short of a hellish journey. And now I am really exhausted.
Chittagong is dedicated to Ishan. He was one of the biggest supporters of the movie and me. We had a pact that whatever we take up, we’ll give it 300 percent effort. That’s what I did with Chittagong, and will do with my future projects. I think Edison was wrong when he said — 1 percent inspiration, 99 percent perspiration. I think perspiration accounts for at least 999 percent! The only way to manage all these diverse roles is to jump right in — and never give up.
Your cinematic journey so far?
I am not quitting and going back to NASA — if that’s what you mean! Despite all the heart-breaks and seemingly insurmountable difficulties, I have enjoyed the whole process. I can’t wait to shoot my next film.
As I said earlier, I had absolutely no training or experience in directing a movie. Honestly, I was scared stiff. But fear lent him wings, as they say. I stayed up all night preparing. Just trying to figure out where I should place my camera, how it should move, how to block my actors and above all, what to tell them on the set! The only reason I think I pulled it off is because I could see the movie play in front of my eyes.
I had the fortune to work with some of the best talents in the industry from Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Prasoon Joshi to Resul and Samir-da, from Manoj and Barry John to Nawaz-Vega-Rajkumar-Debu-Jaideep. I remember when the song “Bolo Na” was being composed. It was during one of the worst moments of my life and the song really saw me through it. Indeed, Now that the movie has several national and some international awards it does feel great. But nothing compares with the appreciation and love I have got from the audience both in India and abroad. That is the most precious prize.
At the same time, there’s so much to learn, so much to explore, so many stories to tell, so much to experiment with, so many techniques to acquire and perfect. Hopefully, this is just the beginning!
If Bedabrata Pain were not working what would he be doing?
The biggest trouble is finding leisure. But my interests are really varied. I love to read — not just fiction but current affairs, economics, philosophy and yes, quantum mechanics (I, for one, have more faith in Einstein and do think that the conventional Bohr-Heisenberg interpretation of Quantum Mechanics is plain wrong!). And I love sports to play (when my knee cooperates) with my kids. Or catch some soccer or football (American football). Even now, there’s nothing that will keep me away from a Calcutta Soccer Derby! And of course, I love to watch good movies — not just the ‘arthouse’ movies but thrillers, rom-com, family-drama … you name it. Finally, there’s the music. There’s nothing like good old melodious music to calm my frayed nerves.
About your movie: Chittagong?
I am an optimistic person — I look at the world with the highest amount of optimism. That’s what drew me toward this story.
Chittagong is a story of victory by ordinary people. A school teacher, a few revolutionaries (including a few women almost unheard of in those times), and some 60 school children shook the foundation of the British Empire an empire on which the sun would never set, as the saying went. For the first time in the 20th century, the British were kicked out of a town — a town was liberated. I told the story from the point of the youngest participant in the uprising, Jhunku Roy. Jhunku himself was the most unlikely participant, being a frail, diffident boy who would not even play football.
How a boy of his upbringing became a revolutionary, and after becoming a revolutionary muster the courage to achieve a victory, is what Chittagong is all about.
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