Soon after watching ‘Kunguma Poovum Konjum Puraavum’, if you were mesmerized with the stunning shots captured on the screens, the person you’ve got to sing appraisals of is none other than cameraman Siddarth. The film had the best exotic locations of Bharathiraja’s ‘Alaigal Oyvadhillai’ and ‘Kadolora Kavidhaigal’ and yet he didn’t get you the same nostalgic feel of these yesteryear films. Siddharth has earlier cranked camera for Kamal Haasan’s ‘Nala Damayanthi’, ‘Mumbai Express’, Dhanush starrer ‘Yaaradi Nee Mohini’.
Here’s his exclusive tête-à-tête with Kollywood Today….
About your entry into tinsel town…
My grandfather is none other than Vepatthur Kittu, a far-famed scriptwriter and dialogue writer of Gemini Productions. He has penned scripts for various top-charting films including ‘Chandraleka’, ‘Motor Sundaram Pillai’, ‘Vaazhkai Padagu’ and many more. Apart from silver screens, he was well renowned for series of weekly edition of ‘Ananda Vikatan’. My dad Ramse is a cinematographer and has delivered various good shows on Doordarshan. My mom Nalini too had worked for Doordarshan in Mumbai. Obviously, born and brought up in the family of media, my interests towards filmdom grew more and more right from 9th standard.
My dad appreciated and encouraged my interests and got me a Still Camera. Every month, he used to get one roll that has 36 frames with a strong condition that I shouldn’t waste even one. I used click pictures everyday at Sunrise, Sunset, interesting things on the roadside and more. Later, I assisted Govind Mihalani in various projects including Takshak that had A.R. Rahman scoring music.
Also I worked with Anil Mehta in various commercial advertisements. During that point of time, Director Mouli had made his way for the workshop and appreciated my work. After 6 months of time, he offered me to crank camera for Kamal Haasan’s ‘Nala Damayanthi’.
Your working experience with Kamal Haasan…
It was all like a dream working with the legend for couple of films. As Kamal Haasan sir was more impressed with my work in ‘Nala Damayanthi’, he offered me to crank camera for for his another film ‘Mumbai Express’. His insatiable passion for films is inevitable and learned whole lot of things from Kamal Haasan.
Born and brought up In City life, Kunguma Poovum Konjum Puraavum was a complete village subject. So, how did it happen with the village based story?
Of course, I had no connection with the crossroads, but then had made through tours to that place. Eventually, when Raj Mohan narrated the script to me, I could visualize everything perfectly. Both of us had headed to the village of Muttam and then observed the various happenings of the place including the sunset, people’s mannerisms and their lifestyles.
Your upcoming film…
Produced by Aascar Ravichandran, the film is directed by Socrates and star-casts are yet to be finalized. Sooner, official announcements would be made.
Your differentiation of Bollywood and Kollywood
Nothing big we do spot between Hindi and Tamil film industry… It’s easy for newcomers to make a good start herein Tamil and Hindi film industry. But then, Bollywood expects much more from the debutants. But they’ve got a great respect for all South Indian Technicians. Much more thing kicked-on high once Rahman and Resul fetched prestigious Academy Awards.
When everyone portrays Nayan so glamorously, you did depict her so homely in ‘Yaaradi Nee Mohini’?
It was a complete idea by Director Jawahar Mithran who remade his mentor Selvaraghavan’s Telugu movie.
Your inspiring cinematographers…
Victoria Storare, Christopher Toys have been my great inspiration and in fact Santhosh Sivan’s spellbinding works have been more commendable…
