--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ashok Mehta was the man who brought…" description: "\"Ashok Mehta was the man who brought contrast and lighting back to mainstream Hindi film cinematography.\" — Rajiv Menon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/rajiv-menon-12811_bollywood_ashok-mehta-was-the-man-who-brought-cont_325531.jpg" --- # Ashok Mehta was the man who brought contrast and lighting… ![“Ashok Mehta was the man who brought contrast and lighting back to mainstream Hindi film cinematography.” quote by Rajiv Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/rajiv-menon-12811_bollywood_ashok-mehta-was-the-man-who-brought-cont_325531.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/rajiv-menon-12811_bollywood_ashok-mehta-was-the-man-who-brought-cont_325531.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/rajiv-menon-12811_bollywood_ashok-mehta-was-the-man-who-brought-cont_325531.jpg) > “Ashok Mehta was the man who brought contrast and lighting back to mainstream Hindi film cinematography.” [Rajiv Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajiv-menon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He revitalized visual storytelling in Hindi cinema by reintroducing dynamic contrast and lighting. **In simple terms:** He improved Hindi film visuals. Key Takeaway Study his techniques for modern cinematography. Themes cinematography art culture innovation legacy Mood inspirational educational Type historical technical When to use this quote - film school curricula - director workshops - retro film festivals - cinema studies Key Concepts visual storytelling contrast lighting film aesthetics Questions to Reflect On - What can contemporary filmmakers learn? - How does lighting shape narrative? A Different Perspective His style may not suit all genres. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bollywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bollywood/) [Cinematography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cinematography/) [Film](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/film/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) ## Related quotes > [I think people just see cinematography as being about photography and innovative shots and beautiful lighting. We all want our movies to look great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seamus-mcgarvey/i-think-people-just-see-cinematography-as-being-about-photography-and/) [Seamus McGarvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seamus-mcgarvey/) > [I like to say that lighting is about taking the light away. I often like to use the shadows more than the light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilmos-zsigmond/i-like-to-say-that-lighting-is-about-taking-the-light-away-i-often/) [Vilmos Zsigmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilmos-zsigmond/) > [I am very much open to doing cinematography for any talented filmmaker, if the script is good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajiv-menon/i-am-very-much-open-to-doing-cinematography-for-any-talented/) [Rajiv Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajiv-menon/) > [When '36 Chowringhee Lane' was released in 1981, I was a student of the Film and Television Institute of Tamil Nadu. Everyone who had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajiv-menon/when-36-chowringhee-lane-was-released-in-1981-i-was-a-student-of-the/) [Rajiv Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajiv-menon/) > [I do not want to be a part of Hindi cinema's rat race. But yes, if I get offers and characters which I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prosenjit-chatterjee/i-do-not-want-to-be-a-part-of-hindi-cinema-s-rat-race-but-yes-if-i/) [Prosenjit Chatterjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prosenjit-chatterjee/) > [We're making a commercial Hindi film catering to all types of audiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjay-dutt/we-re-making-a-commercial-hindi-film-catering-to-all-types-of/) [Sanjay Dutt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjay-dutt/) > [There is nothing wrong with commercial cinema if it is made well. In fact, if you ask me, the Hindi film industry has also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tabu/there-is-nothing-wrong-with-commercial-cinema-if-it-is-made-well-in/) [Tabu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tabu/) > [Hindi film and southern film industries are doing well when it comes to technical know how. By and large, they are pretty similar and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakul-preet-singh/hindi-film-and-southern-film-industries-are-doing-well-when-it-comes/) [Rakul Preet Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakul-preet-singh/) > [I am a movie buff - I even claim I am a Hindi film encyclopedia post 1988(only because that was the year I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saqib-saleem/i-am-a-movie-buff-i-even-claim-i-am-a-hindi-film-encyclopedia-post/) [Saqib Saleem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saqib-saleem/) > [Bollywood is not a stepping stone to the West. I am extremely picky and in no hurry to sign a Hollywood film. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyanka-chopra/bollywood-is-not-a-stepping-stone-to-the-west-i-am-extremely-picky/) [Priyanka Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyanka-chopra/) > [My dream is to become a director. I want to direct a Hindi film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dhanush/my-dream-is-to-become-a-director-i-want-to-direct-a-hindi-film/) [Dhanush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dhanush/) > [In 2003, when I wrote the first 'Dhoom,' we were at the end of the curve of a certain kind of Hindi film, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-krishna-acharya/in-2003-when-i-wrote-the-first-dhoom-we-were-at-the-end-of-the-curve/) [Vijay Krishna Acharya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-krishna-acharya/) > [Isn't nearly every Hindi film a rehash of some movie or the other?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-deol/isn-t-nearly-every-hindi-film-a-rehash-of-some-movie-or-the-other/) [Bobby Deol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-deol/) > [You see, I have many friends in the Hindi film industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir-bedi/you-see-i-have-many-friends-in-the-hindi-film-industry/) [Kabir Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir-bedi/) > [Hindi film music has always been completely driven by the plot. We singers never had any say in compositions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asha-bhosle/hindi-film-music-has-always-been-completely-driven-by-the-plot-we/) [Asha Bhosle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asha-bhosle/) ## More by Rajiv Menon > [Ashok Mehta did not go to any institute. He did not carry the baggage of formal education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajiv-menon/ashok-mehta-did-not-go-to-any-institute-he-did-not-carry-the-baggage/) [Rajiv Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajiv-menon/) > [When '36 Chowringhee Lane' was released in 1981, I was a student of the Film and Television Institute of Tamil Nadu. Everyone who had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajiv-menon/when-36-chowringhee-lane-was-released-in-1981-i-was-a-student-of-the/) [Rajiv Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajiv-menon/) > [Looks are not important when it comes to acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajiv-menon/looks-are-not-important-when-it-comes-to-acting/) [Rajiv Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajiv-menon/) > [I used to be a reasonably good student.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajiv-menon/i-used-to-be-a-reasonably-good-student/) [Rajiv Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajiv-menon/) > [In Berkley, they have academic studies on all genres of music including rock and jazz, but in India, we don't have serious academic research…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajiv-menon/in-berkley-they-have-academic-studies-on-all-genres-of-music/) [Rajiv Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajiv-menon/) > [I'm usually known for films that look beautiful and attractive, probably because I am a cinematographer too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajiv-menon/i-m-usually-known-for-films-that-look-beautiful-and-attractive/) [Rajiv Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajiv-menon/) > [Sarvam'... has no gloss that you associate with my earlier work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajiv-menon/sarvam-has-no-gloss-that-you-associate-with-my-earlier-work/) [Rajiv Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajiv-menon/) > [Three years at the institute had not taught me as much as two weeks on the sets of 'Susman.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajiv-menon/three-years-at-the-institute-had-not-taught-me-as-much-as-two-weeks/) [Rajiv Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajiv-menon/) > [Nothing prepares you for shooting in the sea. Some days the sea is choppy, some days the waves are long. When there is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajiv-menon/nothing-prepares-you-for-shooting-in-the-sea-some-days-the-sea-is/) [Rajiv Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajiv-menon/) > [Music is one field where your caste and religion is not important. People accept you so long as you can move them. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajiv-menon/music-is-one-field-where-your-caste-and-religion-is-not-important/) [Rajiv Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajiv-menon/) > [If the human story in 'STM' is relatable, it will work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajiv-menon/if-the-human-story-in-stm-is-relatable-it-will-work/) [Rajiv Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajiv-menon/) > [You know, writing isn't easy. It's tedious. Ideas have a gestation period, and after a while, it becomes difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajiv-menon/you-know-writing-isn-t-easy-it-s-tedious-ideas-have-a-gestation/) [Rajiv Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajiv-menon/) > [Good acting is confused with good dialogue delivery. Acting is about all about performance, and the way we interpret and understand the character that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajiv-menon/good-acting-is-confused-with-good-dialogue-delivery-acting-is-about/) [Rajiv Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajiv-menon/) > [When an actor constructs reality, it has to be riveting and entertaining. There has to be an emotional connect with the audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajiv-menon/when-an-actor-constructs-reality-it-has-to-be-riveting-and/) [Rajiv Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajiv-menon/) > [I make my living by shooting ad-films, and, in fact, that's how I began my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajiv-menon/i-make-my-living-by-shooting-ad-films-and-in-fact-that-s-how-i-began/) [Rajiv Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajiv-menon/) [Explore all 53 Rajiv Menon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajiv-menon/) ## More Bollywood quotes > [I met Rajini sir after 'Jigarthanda,' and he said he liked my film. 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We singers never had any say in compositions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asha-bhosle/hindi-film-music-has-always-been-completely-driven-by-the-plot-we/) [Asha Bhosle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asha-bhosle/) > [I would love 'Aankhen 2' to happen. I would have Govinda and I play these two brothers and having kids who can take it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chunky-pandey/i-would-love-aankhen-2-to-happen-i-would-have-govinda-and-i-play/) [Chunky Pandey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chunky-pandey/) > [I have to mention that Taapsee and Ayushmann are my favorite actors - or stars, whatever you call them. I love them. Our thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anubhav-sinha/i-have-to-mention-that-taapsee-and-ayushmann-are-my-favorite-actors/) [Anubhav Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anubhav-sinha/) > [My characters in both 'Pyaar Ka Punchnama' films were so relatable that every other guy connects with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kartik-aaryan/my-characters-in-both-pyaar-ka-punchnama-films-were-so-relatable-that/) [Kartik Aaryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kartik-aaryan/) > [I learnt a lot from the directors with whom I have worked like Sudhir Mishra in 'Daas Dev,' Prawaal Raman in 'Main Aur Charles.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richa-chadha/i-learnt-a-lot-from-the-directors-with-whom-i-have-worked-like-sudhir/) [Richa Chadha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richa-chadha/) > [It was my dream to work with Badshah and Diljit from the Punjabi industry. I had asked for these two wishes from God and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shehnaaz-gill/it-was-my-dream-to-work-with-badshah-and-diljit-from-the-punjabi/) [Shehnaaz Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shehnaaz-gill/) > [With 'Aurangzeb,' I just knew that the film wasn't going to work, though I think it was one of my most underrated performances. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-kapoor/with-aurangzeb-i-just-knew-that-the-film-wasn-t-going-to-work-though/) [Arjun Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-kapoor/) > [I wish to contribute more to south Indian music, especially Tamil music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-honey-singh/i-wish-to-contribute-more-to-south-indian-music-especially-tamil-music/) [Yo Yo Honey Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-honey-singh/) > [Many of the heroines from outside Karnataka have worked in my films, but the attitude and adjusting nature of top South Indian actress Nayantara…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rockline-venkatesh/many-of-the-heroines-from-outside-karnataka-have-worked-in-my-films/) [Rockline Venkatesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rockline-venkatesh/) > [It is great to see Bollywood celebrities contributing to so many different trends in so many different ways. 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He is perfect in everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nayantara/learnt-a-lot-like-timing-voice-modulation-from-mohanlal-sir-he-is/) Nayantara [Browse all 4,174 Bollywood quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bollywood/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Ashok Mehta was the man who brought contrast and lighting back to mainstream Hindi film cinematography.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rajiv Menon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajiv-menon/ashok-mehta-was-the-man-who-brought-contrast-and-lighting-back-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bollywood" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajiv-menon/ashok-mehta-was-the-man-who-brought-contrast-and-lighting-back-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/rajiv-menon-12811_bollywood_ashok-mehta-was-the-man-who-brought-cont_325531.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/rajiv-menon-12811_bollywood_ashok-mehta-was-the-man-who-brought-cont_325531.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c16/rajiv-menon-12811_bollywood_ashok-mehta-was-the-man-who-brought-cont_325531.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Ashok Mehta was the man who brought contrast and lighting back to mainstream Hindi film cinematography.” — Rajiv Menon", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Rajiv Menon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajiv-menon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Ashok Mehta was the man who...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajiv-menon/ashok-mehta-was-the-man-who-brought-contrast-and-lighting-back-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajiv-menon/ashok-mehta-was-the-man-who-brought-contrast-and-lighting-back-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```