Interview – Taqi Raza

1. How is sports coverage different in terms of camera use?

Sports coverage is different since whatever movement we capture is telecasted live, and there is no option for a retake. If you make a mistake, then there’s no going back; for this reason, handling a sports camera is challenging. We can take multiple takes in films or advertisements until we find the right shot. But in sports, for example, cricket, if a batsman scores a six, he may not necessarily score it again the next ball. So that moment is gone. It’s all live, and you require the highest level of concentration. A one-day cricket match lasts around 8-9 hours, and we need around 15 hours to set up things, do a facts check, and post-match processing (3-4 hours in case of Doordarshan), in addition to covering the event live. In between, you get a 2-3 minute drinks break and 45 minutes break at half-time. So it helps if you have a high level of fitness and concentration for this job. 

I’ve done movies, documentaries, and fashion and realised that sports coverage is the toughest. But there’s a positive side – we know that the match will usually last for a fixed time only or even earlier. Films lack this advantage. I remember doing a serial ‘Tehkikaat’ for which we had to do a 15-hour straight shift. Sports coverage is live-action so that in itself is fun. You shoot movies, but it’s all stitched together at a later stage, so you don’t see the complete picture till then.

2. Do you sometimes miss enjoying the moment as you have a lens to focus on?

On the contrary, in any sports event, the cameramen enjoy the most compared to the viewer. We can move the camera around and see things not shown in the live broadcast. We are also more involved in the game and get to see things first. We also hear the little conversations that players are involved in courtesy of the stump mike. Every sport requires a specific format that also makes things interesting for us. So, unlike viewers who may watch one or more sports based on their interests, we enjoy many different sports. Sports coverage also means a lot of travelling, something I loved since childhood. I visited a lot of European countries to cover hockey matches. For WRC (World Rally Championship) coverage, I was in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, and Korea. I’ve been to all the cricket-playing nations. I was lucky to have been involved in the camera design of the Pro Kabaddi League from its first season and to cover Tiger Woods in Golf.

3.  Although earplugs cancel out the noise, there’s still so much distraction during sporting events. How do you manage?

We wear high-quality headsets and have access to the stump mike. So we can hear the sound of the ball quickly. Also, since we are so involved in the game, the surroundings don’t affect us. I remember covering the T20 World Cup 2022 in Melbourne and witnessing the biggest-ever crowd in an India versus Pakistan match. There was a lot of noise in the stadium, especially at every four or six the stadium shook, but we were not distracted. My favourite memory is of the T20 World Cup 2007 final, in which India won against Pakistan, but the match in Melbourne was even better. Generally, the India-Pakistan series is always memorable. 

So everything becomes secondary, and we only have good memories from such matches.

4. When did you discover your love for the video camera?

I have a strong attachment to my hometown, Amroha, and visit it frequently. Most people from my family were Urdu poets. My great-grandfather Shamim Amrohvi was a famous marsiya writer, my grandfather Sikandar Hussain Fahim was a marsiya writer (principal of a school in Hyderabad otherwise), and my uncle Nasim Amrohvi gained fame as a marsiya writer. But, from an early age, my interest was in everything technical. I discovered cameras through my uncle Riaz Shamim, who was a photographer. I remember him carrying two to three cameras around his neck as he moved between Delhi and Amroha for his photography assignments. It was his cameras that I took in my hands for the first time.

My first job was as an electronic engineer, but after working for two years, I moved into camera work. That was in 1999. I started with still cameras but gradually moved into video cameras, and that too in sports. I began with domestic cricket, working for the programme IDC on Star Sports. It was an hour-long capsule on domestic cricket in India. Then, I got the opportunity to cover an international series.

When working with sports cameras, you must stick to a specific format and assigned position. The position could be ball follow, slips camera, reverse slips camera, mid-wicket camera, reverse mid-wicket camera, and so on. I am currently working on spin vision, which tracks bowlers’ wrists. I was also lucky enough to start my career with a handheld camera.

5. How challenging is keeping abreast with new technology in your work area?

Technology changes very fast. When I started in 1999, tube cameras were around. Later, we shifted to 3CCD cameras. Then SD, HD, 4K, and 8K cameras followed. We now have a vertical shoot.

Four cameras initially covered domestic cricket, and eight were used for international matches. Now, 30-40 cameras are used. The camera zoom capability has improved drastically, so you must walk in tandem with technology.

6. Did you do any shoot in Amroha?

I produced and directed two documentaries on Muharram shot in Amroha. The first one, ‘Muharram’, was telecasted on DD National in 1997. The second one, ‘Gham-e-Hussain’, was telecasted on DD International. Both were of half-hour duration. 2004, I did the documentary ‘Sufi Darbar’ on Shah Wilayat of Amroha for DD Urdu again. (The dargah of Shah Wilayat is famous for scorpions not biting here.) While shooting for it, I realised that the size of the scorpions was small, so I returned to Delhi. I met a few snake charmers to get hold of the most poisonous scorpions in India. One of them told me that Rajasthan has this variety and quoted a price of Rs 2000 per scorpion.

I agreed, and he brought 15 of these for me in a box with holes. Before giving it to me, he inquired about its use. I told him that I wanted to do a shoot. He got agitated and said to me that any bite from them would result in instant death, and he wouldn’t let that happen. As a workaround, the guy agreed to accompany me to Amroha. We arrived at the dargah and released the scorpions there. The scorpions immediately folded their tails (hiding the stinger) into three layers as if ensuring that they didn’t end up harming anyone. I shot with small kids putting those scorpions on their palms, and they didn’t bite, in keeping with the miracle of the place. It was a very special moment for me.

7. What should be the starting point for young girls and boys from the city who may have similar interests?

There’s a lot of hard work, no family life and constant travelling. So be ready! 

Although it’s an exciting field, one must choose an area of interest wisely. These areas include documentaries, entertainment, fashion, news, music videos, and advertisements. Like I chose sports. So, one has to decide first whether to be a cameraman, director, producer, or editor and then move on to the second level, such as working with still cameras (photography) or video cameras (videography). You can also work with cameras, EVS (electronic video systems), graphics, or engineering in sports. Taking up a course in mass communication from a reputed institute could be a good start as it gives you practical insight into choosing your area of interest. The most essential thing in the end is talent. Things will work out if you’ve it in you. Finally, hard work and honesty will always pay you well.

8. It must be difficult for your family to cope with your work schedule. How do you make it up?

It has been the biggest drawback of my field. I can’t recall the number of marriages I’ve missed in the family. There’s little time that I’m able to spend with kids. My daughter is in college now, and the only quality time I spent with family was during the Covid-19 pandemic. I remember returning from Australia via Singapore after covering the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final in Melbourne. When I saw the empty Singapore airport, I realised something significant was happening. So, the next day, I landed in Delhi and took my family to Amroha. I had a memorable time with my family during the lockdown in Amroha.

I’ve also decided to cut down on my work from next year onwards to spend more time with family.