When India’s second-largest marathon returned to Hyderabad with IDFC First Bank as title sponsor, it wasn’t just a test of endurance for the 22,000+ runners — it was a high-stakes creative challenge for the team tasked with capturing it all. At the heart of that challenge was Navjyoth Kumar, who led the direction, strategy, and full-scale coordination for the brand’s official event film. What resulted wasn’t just a recap — it was a 3-minute cinematic brand expression that spanned over 42 kilometers, covered four major checkpoints, and captured the pulse of an entire city on the move.
Pre-Production
Before a single runner crossed the start line, weeks of planning had already gone into motion.
The creative brief from IDFC First Bank emphasized energy, emotion, scale, and inclusivity — core values of their brand. The ask was clear: showcase the magnitude of the event while subtly weaving in brand visibility across flags, banners, and checkpoints — all without making the content feel promotional.
To achieve this, I structured a lean but powerful plan:
- Crew Strategy: A 16-person crew including photographers, handheld cinematographers, drone pilots, runners with GoPros, and a dedicated BTS team.
- Location Coordination: People’s Plaza (Start), Biodiversity Flyover (Midpoint), University of Hyderabad (Endurance phase), and Gachibowli Stadium (Finish).
- Shot Map: Developed zone-wise to ensure brand coverage, crowd energy, volunteer effort, and scenic city visuals — all in sync with the route’s timeline.
- Logistics: Camera relay points were planned to ensure smooth transitions without overlap. Gear included drones, mirrorless systems, gimbals, and on-run action cams.
Production
Race day began well before dawn. My role combined the intensity of an event coordinator with the eye of a film director.
- Multiple Units: Split teams were deployed across key points, each with clear direction and frame priorities — crowd anticipation, runners’ determination, cheering zones, hydration stops, medical support, and brand presence.
- Brand Visibility: IDFC First Bank’s red palette was integrated through signage, cheer zones, and T-shirt kits — ensuring visual recall throughout the footage.
- Emotional Beats: From pre-race jitters to the joy of the finish line, the focus was on humanizing the race — capturing not just the run, but the runners.
- Drone Coordination: Airspace and drone schedules were pre-cleared with the stadium and security teams to avoid flight overlaps.
The result: over 8 hours of raw footage, captured in every terrain — cityscapes, flyovers, wooded trails, and stadium interiors — all under chaotic, fast-changing conditions.
“The scale of the event meant no reshoots. Everything had to be airtight — from crew call times to lens choices. We were directing in motion, capturing emotion on the go.”
Navjyoth Kumar
Post Production
Back at the editing suite, I led the post-production process to sculpt a coherent, emotional, and branded narrative.
- Narrative Arc: Opening with the quiet energy of pre-dawn prep, rising through the chaos of the run, and ending with euphoria at the finish line.
- Music Selection: An energetic, percussive score kept the pacing sharp, with audio dips for spoken crowd moments and ambient cheers.
- Color Grading: Focused on warmth, vibrancy, and clarity — highlighting the festive spirit while keeping brand tones consistent.
- Delivery Timeline: Edited, graded, and mastered in under 30 days. Made possible by structured shooting, and real-time direction.
Reflection
This project wasn’t just about putting together a highlight reel — it became a learning experience in managing large-scale creative operations. Coordinating a team of over a dozen photographers and cinematographers across a 42km route came with its own set of challenges, from logistics to last-minute improvisations.
Looking back, what stands out most to me isn’t just the final video, but how each decision — from creative framing to team deployment — contributed to telling a story that felt both personal and collective. The final piece was picked up by IDFC First Bank and shared widely by runners and partners, which made the effort feel genuinely worthwhile.