[Peptobismol]

During late 70's Balu Mahendra was recognized as an ace camera man. He did work in a number of south languages (I think he got award for a Malayalam movie, then worked with Mahendran for his first directorial venture, the successful and acclaimed 'muLLum malarum'. Maniratnam too had him as camera man for his first film, a Kannada one, IIRC).

I'm not sure whether he did a lot simply as a camera man for other directors after his directorial ventures became huge successes. If any, those must be very few. He did camera work for all his big movies I think - Kokila, OLangaL, yAthrA, azhiyAdha kOlangaL, moondRam piRai, neengaL kEttavai, veedu, maRupadiyum, sathi leelAvathi...

Ashok Kumar was recognized much as well, as an ace camera man. He worked with Mahendran for most movies of the acclaimed director and won NA as well I think. (கொசுறு தகவல் - சுஹாசினி அசோக் குமார் கிட்ட உதவியாளரா இருந்தாங்க. அப்போ தான் அவரை மகேந்திரன் பிடிச்சு நெஞ்சத்தைக்கிள்ள வைத்தார்னு நினைக்கிறேன்). He too tried his hand in direction but wasn't very successful. Unfortunately, his photography profession also diminished.