Meet The Colourist
Nirmal Sharma
Senior Colourist, FutureWorks, India
Nirmal Sharma is a Senior Colourist at FutureWorks in India, an end-to-end media services company specialising in VFX, post-production, and camera rental services.
Sharma is best known for his work on Merry Christmas (2024), Babumoshai Bandookbaaz (2017) and Ek Love Ya (2022). With a background in editing, Sharma has explored a wide variety of technology solutions over the years, which has supported him in his passion to push his creative boundaries. He currently works on colour for a variety of content, including feature films, episodics, short films and more.
Tell us about your journey to becoming a successful colourist?
My journey began in 2009 as an editor and finishing artist. As I delved deeper into the post-production world, I discovered the creative potential of the DI process and decided to pursue it. Over the years, I have honed my skills using a wide variety of solutions, including Baselight. My background in editing has also allowed me to incorporate compositing into my grading, enhancing the visual storytelling of each project.
What sort of content do you work on?
As a colourist, I have worked on a diverse range of content, including feature films, episodics, short films, documentaries, and indie projects. Each project offers a unique opportunity to enhance the visual aesthetic, set the mood, and ensure consistency.
I have also worked on music videos, where colour grading plays a significant role in conveying the mood and strengthening the storytelling aspect of the song.
How do you think colour shapes the way audiences perceive TV?
Colour plays a pivotal role in influencing how audiences interpret the director's narrative. It sets the tone for the content, conveying emotions and creating atmosphere.
Colour has long been a powerful tool in shaping audience perceptions of film and television, with its impact continuously evolving in response to advancements in technology, shifts in storytelling techniques, and changing cultural dynamics.
Colours often carry cultural and symbolic meanings that can differ between regions. In Bollywood productions, specific colours are often used symbolically to express emotions, themes, or cultural values that strongly resonate with Indian audiences. For instance, vibrant and bold hues are frequently associated with celebrations, weddings, and festivals in Indian culture. Conversely, international productions may utilise colour differently, aligning their choices with the cultural context of the story being portrayed.
Join In
If you want to participate in our MTC programme, we'd love to hear from you. Contact:
Alexa Maza
e: [email protected]

“Master the tools, but also develop an eye for how colour influences emotion and narrative. Study films from various cultures to broaden your visual understanding.”
Details
Colourist: Nirmal Sharma
Role: Senior Colourist
Web: FutureWorks