Ravi K. Chandran

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Ravi K. Chandran
Ravi k. chandran.jpg
Chandran in November 2012
Born1960
Nationality Indian
Occupation(s) Director of Photography, Film Director
Years active1992 - present
Relatives Ramachandra Babu (brother)

Ravi K. Chandran is an Indian cinematographer and film director who predominantly works in Hindi, Malayalam, and Tamil-language cinema. [1] [2] His career began in 1991 with the Malayalam film Kilukkampetti. He is the founding member of the Indian Society of Cinematographers (ISC) and has won two Filmfare Awards and one Southern Filmfare Award. [3] [4]

Contents

Early life

Ravi was born as the 7th child in a Malayali family to Kunjan Pillai and Padmini Amma and was brought up in Maduranthakam. His eldest brother, cinematographer Ramachandra Babu, who went to the Pune Film Institute in the seventies was the major influence and inspiration for Ravi. Growing up in the 70s, amidst the new wave of French cinema, names like Truffaut and Gordard became familiar to Ravi when he was very young. Latter part time closet painter, Ravi joined his brother as an assistant cinematographer, learning the technical aspects of the job. [5]

Career

In 1984, Ravi started his career working in Malayalam films as an assistant to his brother, cinematographer, Ramachandra Babu ISC and later with his friend Rajiv Menon. He got his first break as a cinematographer in a Malayalam film Kilukkampetti and worked his way up until he shot the legendary Virasat which won many awards for Ravi. Since then there has been no looking back. He is a pioneer in using new equipment and cameras in the Indian film industry like the akila crane, kino flo lights, mole beams, hawk lenses, sky panels, celeb lights, and space lights. His “BLACK" movie was featured in an American cinematographer's magazine. Kodak international cinematographer calendar, and the cover of the ALEXA camera brochure.[ citation needed ]

His best-known works are Virasat , Dil Chahta Hai , Kannathil Muthamittal , Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu, Black , Fanaa , and Saawariya . [6] [7] Ravi is also an ambassador for the Canon Cinema EOS. [8]

Ravi's first Telugu film was with the Mahesh Babu starrer Bharat Ane Nenu . He later worked on Bheemla Nayak. [4]

He has collaborated with director Mani Ratnam for the films like Kannathil Muthamittal , Aayutha Ezhuthu , Yuva and now is working on Thug Life (2024 film). [8]

Directorial debut

Ravi's directorial debut was the 2014 Tamil film Yaan. [9]

Personal life

Ravi is the younger brother of K. Ramachandra Babu, who himself is a noted cinematographer. [10] He is married to Hemalata and currently resides in Mumbai with his two sons. One of his sons, Santhana Krishnan, also followed his father's footsteps as a cinematographer. [11]

Filmography

As cinematographer

YearFilmLanguageNotes
1991 Kilukkampetti Malayalam [4]
1992 Thalasthanam
Manthrikacheppu
Priyapetta Kukku
Welcome to Kodaikanal
Kallan Kappalil Thanne
1993 Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans
Ekalavyan
Mafia
Arthana
Injakkadan Mathai & Sons
Customs Diary
1994 Chukkan
Honest Raj TamilDebut in Tamil cinema
The City Malayalam
1995 Aksharam Malayalam
The King Malayalam
1997 Virasat Hindi Filmfare Award for Best Cinematographer; Debut in Hindi cinema
Minsaara Kanavu TamilCo-cinematographer
1998 Kabhi Na Kabhi Hindi
Major Saab
1999 Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu Malayalam
2000Snip!Hindi
Kandukondain Kandukondain Tamil
Raja Ko Rani Se Pyar Ho Gaya Hindi
Citizen Tamil
Punaradhivasam Malayalam
2001 Dil Chahta Hai HindiNominated - Star Screen Award for Best Cinematography
2002 Kannathil Muthamittal Tamil Filmfare Award for Best Cinematographer – Tamil
ITFA Best Cinematographer Award
Mujhse Dosti Karoge! Hindi
2003 Calcutta Mail Nominated - Zee Cine Award for Best Cinematography
Koi... Mil Gaya
Boys Tamil
2004 Aayutha Ezhuthu
Yuva
Tamil
Hindi
2005 Black Hindi Filmfare Award for Best Cinematographer
Paheli
2006 Fanaa
2007 Saawariya
2008 Firaaq
Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi German Public Bollywood Award for Best Cinematography
Ghajini
2010 My Name Is Khan
Anjaana Anjaani
2011 Ladies vs Ricky Bahl For One Song
7aum Arivu Tamil
2012 Agneepath Hindi
2016 Baar Baar Dekho
2017 Ok Jaanu
2018 Bharat Ane Nenu TeluguDebut in Telugu cinema
2019 Student of the Year 2 Hindi
Adithya Varma Tamil
2020 Mrs. Serial Killer Hindi
Coolie No. 1
2021 Bhramam Malayalam
2022 Bheemla Nayak Telugu
TBA They Call Him OG Telugu
Thug Life Tamil

As director

FilmYearLanguageNotes
Yaan 2014TamilDirectorial debut
Bhramam 2021MalayalamRemake of Andhadhun

Awards and nominations

Filmfare Awards/Filmfare Awards South
Star Screen Awards
Zee Cine Awards
Vijay Awards

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References

  1. "Ravi K Chandran's Moroccan dreams". The Times of India . 6 October 2012. Archived from the original on 30 October 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
  2. "Direction has been on my mind for long: Ravi K. Chandran". The Indian Express. 29 September 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  3. "Creativity is a key for innovative cinema – Ravi K Chandran". opinionexpress.in. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 Dundoo, Sangeetha Devi (3 March 2022). "Ravi K Chandran discusses the visual style of 'Bheemla Nayak' and how he tries to bring something new to a remake" via www.thehindu.com.
  5. Team, AnimationXpress (21 July 2020). "Ravi K. Chandran on films, crew and the journey so far at AMS 2020 -" . Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  6. "Ravi K. Chandran". www.sify.com. Archived from the original on 24 October 2003. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  7. "Why ace cinematographer Ravi K Chandran turned director". rediff.com. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
  8. 1 2 V, Harshini S. (21 June 2024). "I Can't Even Drive A Car, But I Know How To Shoot Films: Ravi K Chandran". www.filmcompanion.in. Archived from the original on 6 July 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  9. "Ravi K Chandran Interview: The Master Of Light". Silverscreen India. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  10. Subramanian, Karthik (29 October 2011). "Fame by frame". The Hindu. Chennai, India.
  11. "A notable debut by Santhana Krishnan Ravichandran". The New Indian Express.