Unveiling the Art and Science of Visual Storytelling: Lessons from the Bollywood Classic "Sholay"

Introduction:

Recently, I had the opportunity to view a Bollywood film that continues to captivate audiences even today - "Sholay". This movie, much like Akira Kurosawa's "The Seven Samurai," revolves around the protagonist enlisting the help of two goons to combat a gang of bandits tormenting a village.

The Art of Visual Storytelling:

What struck me this time, however, was an observation that eluded me in the past. Despite having watched "Sholay" multiple times, I discovered something new. While the story, dialogues, and sequence of events were familiar, I delved deeper into the film, moving beyond the narrative and the actors' performances, and stumbled upon a revelation that left me amazed.

During my childhood, I recall coming across a poster of the movie which boasted the phrase, "- the greatest story ever told." Intrigued, I pondered over the significance of these words and uncovered the essence of storytelling, particularly visual storytelling.

Captivating Audiences without Inducing Boredom:

To me, storytelling is both an art and a science. In the case of this film, the "art" lies in seamlessly presenting the story. The director skillfully establishes the events and develops the characters simultaneously, a formidable task indeed. Consider, for instance, the sentence, "The city of Gotham was protected by a masked entity who assumes the persona of a bat and experienced the loss of his parents during his childhood." Readers will create a mental image that, I believe, would closely resemble one another. However, when portraying this on screen, one must demonstrate: 1. Gotham City and its inhabitants, 2. External threats to the city, 3. The arrival of the savior, and 4. The savior's backstory - all in a single stroke. This artful character development, which forms the foundation of any storytelling endeavor, exemplifies how visual storytelling can captivate an audience without inducing boredom.

Throughout this film, the director maintains this storytelling tone, making sure it never fails to engage the audience, despite its runtime. Noteworthy is the melodramatic delivery of dialogues by the villain, which contributes to the storytelling by evoking the desired emotions from the viewers. It's akin to an old-school concept of pouring out genuine emotions melodramatically, ensuring that the actor's sentiment resonates with the audience. Additionally, to strike a balance, the director skillfully incorporated subtle undertones in the performances of the protagonists, allowing the audience to distinguish between good and evil through their voices.

The Science of Visual Storytelling:

From a scientific standpoint, the movie employs three extensive flashbacks to clarify certain confusions for the audience. The director cleverly utilizes mathematical principles to achieve two essential goals: 1. Variation, so the audience does not grow weary of a linear narrative, and 2. Conciseness, delivering significant revelations in shorter durations.

Infusing Humor to Counteract Darkness:

Furthermore, I noticed the seamless infusion of humor in the script, counteracting the dark narrative promised by the story. This ensures that the film does not become oppressively dark for the audience and maintains their interest.

Conclusion - The True Art of Storytelling:

As a project manager or a senior leader, it becomes our responsibility to convey our own stories effectively. The question then arises of how to execute a brilliant idea in the form of a narrative. In my opinion, the "how" component represents the true art of storytelling, requiring an understanding of the stakeholders' psyche. Thus, it is our prerogative to choose how we wish to narrate our own stories - whether in the style of the aforementioned film or in a monotonous and uninspiring manner.