Banglan, the production designer, has mastered the art of making the past feel palpable. Hailing from Kerala, he catapulted into the limelight with (2018), a genre-bending historical film, for which he clinched the National Award for Best Production Design, becoming the youngest to earn the accolade. The seeds of his creativity were planted early—thanks to a love for drawing—and were later nurtured by films like ’s films, and production designer Dante Ferretti’s lavish collaborations with Martin Scorsese.
His inspirations pushed him to create worlds that don’t just look good but transform scripts into worlds rich in authentic detail. Currently, he is neck-deep in crafting Rishab Shetty’s , a project that is going to keep him busy for another year. Despite his packed schedule in Karnataka, Banglan paused to chat with us about building the world of , his creative processes, future projects, and more.
A production designer defines a film’s visual aesthetic, overseeing elements like sets, costumes, props, locations, and VFX while managing budgets and collaborating with key departments. Their role spans pre-production to post-production, often involving tasks like finalising VFX. For example, while working on , I was also coordinating with the VFX team and cinematographer of to ensure seamless integration across all elements.
An art director focuses on executing the production designer’s vision during the shoot, handling set construction and decoration, with their .