Border 2 Director Addresses Climax Lighting Controversy and Production Hurdles
While the highly anticipated war film Border 2 has received widespread acclaim for its powerful performances and emotional depth, a section of viewers has raised concerns about the visual presentation of its climactic battle sequences. Specifically, audience members have expressed dissatisfaction with what they perceive as unusually dark lighting during these crucial scenes, suggesting it hampers the viewing experience.
Anurag Singh's Clarification on the Dark Climax
In response to this growing criticism, director Anurag Singh has come forward to provide a detailed explanation. During a recent interview with Bollywood Hungama, Singh clarified that the darkened images were not part of his original creative vision for the film's climax. He emphasized that the sequence is intentionally set during evening hours, but technical inconsistencies in theater projections have led to varying brightness levels across different screens.
"I did not intend for the climax to be dark; it is supposed to take place in the evening. However, because of projection issues, in some theatres it does appear darker than it does in other theatres," Singh stated, addressing the concerns directly.
The director further confirmed that his production team has already taken proactive measures to resolve this technical problem. "We have sent out a mail to all theatres explaining how to address this issue. Additionally, we are updating the print in theatres where the climax is appearing darker than intended," he revealed, ensuring audiences will experience the scene as originally designed.
The Immense Challenges of Shooting on Real Locations
Beyond addressing the lighting controversy, Anurag Singh opened up about the monumental production challenges faced while creating Border 2. He explained that executing massive, authentic action sequences without relying on visual shortcuts proved to be the most taxing aspect of the entire production. Shooting on actual locations rather than studio sets added significant authenticity but demanded extraordinary coordination and meticulous planning.
"The scale is so big. There are about 300 to 400 crew members on set at any given time. We were shooting on real locations, not green screens. We filmed in Dehradun and Jhansi, dealing with extreme cold in some schedules and harsh summer heat in others," Singh described, highlighting the environmental extremes the team endured.
Coordinating Chaos: The Complexity of War Scenes
According to the director, war sequences present far greater complexity than typical action set pieces due to the sheer volume of moving components involved. Unpredictable weather conditions and numerous logistical hurdles only intensified the pressure during production.
"The blasts have to go off at the exact time, actors need to be positioned at specific distances when flames erupt, and there are nearly 500 people fighting in the background. This isn't a one-on-one fight; it's a battlefield. Coordinating action on that scale is incredibly difficult," he elaborated, providing insight into the precision required for such large-scale sequences.
Balancing Practical Effects with Visual Enhancements
While the majority of Border 2 was filmed using practical effects and real environments, Anurag Singh acknowledged that certain sequences necessitated a different approach. Aerial combat scenes, in particular, had to be created using visual effects since filming real fighter jets was not feasible. Maintaining equilibrium between VFX-heavy moments and grounded realism became essential to preserve the film's raw, immersive tone.
Beyond the logistical obstacles, the director revealed that merging emotional storytelling with technical precision represented the most delicate aspect of the filmmaking process. "To get thrill, emotion, and action together in a single shot, with all the technicalities, was the trickiest part," he confessed.
He pointed to specific examples such as Varun Dhawan's trench sequence, which needed to convey suffocation and urgency, and Sunny Deol's tank scenes, designed to project strength and emotional depth without descending into visual excess.
About Border 2: The Epic Sequel
Directed by Anurag Singh, Border 2 serves as the follow-up to J.P. Dutta's iconic 1997 war epic Border. Set during the historic 1971 India-Pakistan war, the sequel expands its narrative scope to showcase coordinated operations by the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. The film features an impressive ensemble cast including Mona Singh, Sonam Bajwa, Anya Singh, and Medha Rana alongside the lead actors.
