[Paul Bunyan]

if i have to put my finger on 1 fav cameramen from these great pool, it would be Rajeev Menon - the colour tones and the background colors are truly breathtaking in his works....

[Lt_Apple]

continuing on Venki's post on PC..he is director's dream..the above video is an classic example of using shadows..in this case it is used to depict thiruttu kalyanam. Don't think Mani would have had this in the script.


compare this to Shaad Ali's Saathiya where it gets lost in translation. DOP(Anil Mehta) opts for a typical milieu for the wedding which completely misses the point.

[softy54534]

rajeev menon.
manoj parahamsa

[Drugmachine]

Among the new guys, Kathir has been really impressive. His selection of shots and lighting style are very interesting. The long takes in Subramaniapuram (the establishing shot shown with Ganjakaruppu walking the streets of the town, and the scene involving Sasi’s murder) are beautifully conceived and executed. Katradhu Thamizh, too, had some brilliant camera work.

[doctorzlo]

படைப்பிற்கு ஒளிப்பதிவு என்பது இயக்குனரின் கண்கள் எனச் சொல்வர். இத்திரியில் ஒப்பற்ற ஒளிப்பதிவாளர்களை பற்றியும், அவர்கள் வடித்திருந்த காட்சிகளின் அழகுணர்ச்சிகளையும் உரையாடலாம்.

என் மனதை கவர்ந்தவர்களின் (நீண்ட) பட்டியல்.

பாலுமகேந்திரா, கண்ணன், அசோக் குமார், நிவாஸ், பிசிஸ்ரீராம், மது அம்பாட், வின்சென்ட், சந்தோஷ் சிவன், ராஜீவ் மேனன், கே வி ஆனந்த், தங்கர் பச்சன், வேணு, விஜய் மில்டன், ரவி கே சந்திரன், திரு, ஜீவா, ரவி வர்மன், நிரவ் ஷா, ராம்ஜி, மணி கண்டன்.

[Ifroham4]

Santhosh Sivan

[NeroASERCH]

Not to forget the newbie. I donno his name(If i am not wrong manoj pra.....). But his work in Eeram. The shots were excellent! I still remember the big screen impact on me of those shots! He worths a big applause.

[brraverishhh]

^^ Manoj Paramahamsa. Good choice

[Beerinkol]

^^ Manoj Paramahamsa. Good choice

Yeah! I forgot second part of his name! His work in VTV was also good!

[HedgeYourBets]

I think one of the best cinematographer is the one that's not screaming for attention. Shekar Kapur's Elizabeth got this criticism when it came out. The lighter cameras the easier lighting made any other films that came these days to be commented, "Awesome cinematography". I am thinking the days of yore, when camera was cumbersome heavy. Watch Tappu Talanggal, poor K.B,, couldn't afford the steadicam, and you can actually see the gigantic b/w cam lugged by the cameraman captured on shadow during one of its "gritty life on street" scenes.

Likewise, the POV shoot in Gouvaram, at one point I think the camera actually fell sideways . I bow to these early pioneers.

[HedgeYourBets]

Ones missed out:
Rathnavel (Endhiran, Varanam Ayiram)
Manikandan (Initial portions of Ravanan, Om Shanti Om)
Praveen-Srikanth (Venkatprabhu movies)
Madhie (Naan Mahaan Alla, Paiya)

[brraverishhh]

Not to forget JEEVA . His works were also the best in his time!

[Slonopotam845]

Praveen-Srikanth (Venkatprabhu movies)

Isn't Sakthi Saravanan who shot all VP movies? Praveen-Srikanth are his editors, I guess.

[PhillipHer]

Good thread... According to me The Cinematographer is the main person for Cinema... These guys help us to enjoy the movie with their quality camerawork and lighting..

Here is the list of Cinematographers who have helped me enjoying the movies

Ravi K chandran -- Awesome (Kannatthil mutthamittAl, Minsara Kanavu)
Rajeev Menon - Excellent, colourful - (Bombay & Guru)
Ravi Varman - Superb n Sandaikozhi, Villu, Vettaiyadu Vilayadu, and Dasa were excellent..

[LottiFurmann]

Among the new guys, Kathir has been really impressive. His selection of shots and lighting style are very interesting. The long takes in Subramaniapuram (the establishing shot shown with Ganjakaruppu walking the streets of the town, and the scene involving Sasi’s murder) are beautifully conceived and executed. Katradhu Thamizh, too, had some brilliant camera work.

I would say Kattradhu tamizh was even better considering his debut. But i felt he overused the long shot and was beginning to get repetitive especially in nadodigal. In any case a promising cinematographer to look forward to.

[tgs]

some more..

Mahesh Muthuswamy all Myskin films
Balasubramaniam - 180, pithamagan
Chezhian - Kalloori, thenmerku paruvakaatru
Arthur Wilson - Rhythm till Naan Kadavul

[Raj_Copi_Jin]

has to be Balu Mahendra...Moondram pirai,mullum malarum,moodu pani etc...not screaming for attention..just the mood it creates is tremendous..the bonding between the characters can be felt through his camera..and the way he picturises the songs..amazing

[Lillie_Steins]

Arthur Wilson - Rhythm till Naan Kadavul

Arthur Wilson is credited for additional cinematography in Rhythm. Not sure how much he filled in for P.S.Vinod.

[Drugmachine]

Madhu Ambat..highly underrated because of his non-glossy framing..sample this composition from G.V.Iyer's Adi Shankaracharya

[tgs]

Nitpick - cinematography is not a performing art. Andha meaning use pannalai, Performance appraisal mAdhiri meaningla "perform"ngara word-ai use paNNi irundhaalum, it sounds odd.