Oscar-Nominated Cinematographer Máté Herbai Joins Amit Rai For Dharma Starring Pankaj Tripathi

News18

5 days ago

Máté Herbai collaborates with OMG 2 director Amit Rai for Dharma starring Pankaj Tripathi. The film explores morality and nature through visual poetry.
Celebrated Hungarian cinematographer Máté Herbai, known globally for his hauntingly lyrical work on the Oscar-nominated and Berlinale Golden Bear-winning On Body and Soul, has collaborated with Indian filmmaker Amit Rai for Dharma, an emotionally charged drama that recently wrapped shooting in Bihar. Headlined by the ever-versatile Pankaj Tripathi, the film marks Rai's directorial return after the massive critical and commercial success of OMG 2 in 2023.
An original tale rooted in environmental consciousness and moral inquiry, Dharma brings together an eclectic ensemble cast including Pawan Malhotra, Geeta Agrawal, Rajesh Kumar, and several actors from the Bhojpuri film industry. But what truly elevates the cinematic promise of Dharma is the visual craftsmanship of Máté Herbai, whose work is renowned for its sensitivity, poetic realism, and atmospheric depth.
Speaking about how the collaboration came to be, Herbai shared, 'Arindra, the producer, had reached out to me with a few scripts before, but we never managed to match my schedule with the shoot. This time, there was a slight delay, but it finally worked out — and I was happy to say yes, especially because I really liked the script. And maybe most importantly, as a cinematographer, I found Amit (the director) super interesting just from our initial talks."
That early instinct proved right. Herbai and Amit Rai struck a creative rapport quickly once filming began. 'Working with Amit was great — we clicked right away. He's full of creative ideas, and his directing style, the way he guides scenes and works with actors, is often actually fun. That's something I really appreciate — he doesn't take everything too seriously, which brings a good vibe to the scenes. Also, as a cinematographer, it's a huge plus when the director thinks in visuals — and Amit definitely does," he added.
Having worked across a range of international productions in countries including the UK, Turkey, Japan, and the US, Herbai also praised the Indian crew for their professionalism and spirit. 'I had everything I'm used to, maybe even more. Here, the 1st AD takes on way more than usual, which really lightens the load for the DP. And our crew was fantastic — just a bunch of awesome people and top-notch pros. Couldn't have asked for better!" he said with enthusiasm.
There was, however, one cultural curveball: 'Honestly, the only challenge was the spicy food — but even with that, the production really tried to help me out," Herbai quipped.
As anticipation builds for Dharma, which promises to be as thought-provoking as it is visually rich, a release date is expected to be announced soon. With Amit Rai's storytelling prowess, Pankaj Tripathi's gravitas, and Máté Herbai's lens weaving visual poetry, Dharma is poised to be one of the most compelling Indian films of the year.
First Published:
July 25, 2025, 19:13 IST
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