Raajaratnam
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Raajaratnam | |
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| Born | 15 July 1963 Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Other names | R. Raja Ratnam, Rajarathinam |
| Occupation | Director of photography |
| Years active | 1994—present |
| Spouse(s) | Kantha Raajaratnam |
Raajaratnam was born in Dindigul district in Tamil Nadu, India to a teacher father, Rathnapandiyan, and home-maker, Valliammal. He was the artistic one in the family of 6 children of which he was the second eldest.
At a very young age, he had aspirations to pursue a career in the film industry. With the disapproval of his father, he moved to Chennai in search of a mentor in cinematography. He has two daughters Preethi and Pooja both work in the IT industry.
Career
Raajaratnam at the young age of 18 joined industry veteran cinematographer Raja Rajan. He worked as an assistant cinematographer in many blockbuster movies like Vaidehi Kaathirundhaal, Mella Thirandhathu Kadhavu, Rajadhi Raja, Pulan Visaranai, Captain Prabhakaran.
He made his debut as cinematographer in the 1994 movie Chinna Madam. His ability to create captivating visuals and effectively translate the director's vision onto the screen garnered attention. He followed that with a massive hit Raasaiyya where he forged a friendship with actor, dancer and director Prabhudeva.
He would follow that with another successful movie with "Thalapathy" Vijay in Coimbatore Mappillai. In this movie he captured the infamous "Shroov" scene.[1]
In 2002, Raajaratnam ventured beyond the Indian film industry and contributed to the Sri Lankan film In the Name of Buddha solidifying his reputation as a cinematographer with international appeal. The movie garnered critical acclaim as it discussed controversial political topics.[2]
Early 2000s was also the time Raajaratnam had the privilege of collaborating with the highly acclaimed cinematographer Ravi K. Chandran on several notable projects. These include director Saravana Subbiah's Citizen starring "AK" Ajith Kumar, director Rajiv Menon's Kandukondain Kandukondain, Mani Ratnam's Kannathil Muthamittal" and Aayutha Ezhuthu, director Shankar's Boys and hit Hindi movies like Koi... Mil Gaya and Dil Chahta Hai.
In mid 2000s thanks to a glowing recommendation from long-term friend and well wisher cinematographer Ravi Varman, Raajaratnam got an opportunity to debut in Malayalam film industry with the box-office smashing Malayalam action thriller Chinthamani Kolacase and in Kannada with Durgi. He went on to work in multiple movies in Mollywood throughout the latter 2000s.
Raajaratnam's cinematographic expertise extended to various languages, including Punjabi, Hindi, and Kannada, as he worked on films like Yaara O Dildaara, I Am Singh, and Vishnuvardhana.
After a string of movies throughout the late 2010s, Raajaratnam got another opportunity to work as an associate cinematographer with long-term well wisher Ravi Varman in projects like the director Mani Ratnam's Kaatru Veliyidai, Ponniyin Selvan: I and Ponniyin Selvan: II and director Shankar's Indian 2 .
His most recent projects are as associate cinematographer in OG and Kamal Haasan's 234th project with director Mani Ratnam.
Throughout his career, Raajaratnam has demonstrated his ability to collaborate effectively with renowned cinematographers and contribute to the visual storytelling of a wide array of films, making him a respected figure in the Indian film industry. Being up-to-date with latest techniques and technology in the movie making space has ensured this cinematographer's long and flourishing career.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Language | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Chinna Madam | Tamil | |
| 1995 | Raasaiyya | Tamil | |
| 1996 | Coimbatore Mappillai | Tamil | |
| 1997 | Aahaa Enna Porutham | Tamil | |
| 1998 | Bhagavath Singh | Tamil | |
| 1998 | Kalyana Galatta | Tamil | |
| 1999 | Housefull | Tamil | Cinematographer M. V. Panneerselvam also worked on parts of this movie. |
| 2002 | In the Name of Buddha | Sri Lankan | |
| 2004 | Durgi | Kannada | |
| 2005 | ABCD | Tamil | |
| 2005 | Vennela | Telugu | |
| 2005 | Alex | Telugu | |
| 2006 | Chinthamani Kolacase | Malayalam | |
| 2006 | Chakkaramuthu | Malayalam | |
| 2007 | Time | Malayalam | |
| 2007 | Chandrahas | Telugu | |
| 2007 | Athisayan | Malayalam | |
| 2008 | Sound of Boot | Malayalam | |
| 2009 | Samastha Keralam PO | Malayalam | |
| 2009 | Naalai Namadhe | Tamil | Dubbed in Malayalam as "India Today" |
| 2010 | Pulliman | Malayalam | |
| 2011 | Yaara O Dildaara | Punjabi | |
| 2011 | I Am Singh | Hindi | |
| 2011 | Vishnuvardhana | Kannada | |
| 2012 | Thappana | Malayalam | |
| 2013 | Ginger | Malayalam | |
| 2014 | Kathai Thiraikathai Vasanam Iyakkam | Tamil | |
| 2015 | John Honai | Malayalam | |
| 2015 | En Vazhi Thani Vazhi | Tamil | |
| 2016 | Iyer in pakistan | Malayalam | |
| 2016 | Kotigobba 2 | Kannada |
As associate cinematographer
| Year | Title | Language | Director of Photography |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Naan Paadum Paadal | Tamil | Raja Rajan |
| 1984 | Vaidehi Kathirunthal | Tamil | Raja Rajan |
| 1985 | Sugamana Raagangal | Tamil | Raja Rajan |
| 1985 | Kunguma Chimil | Tamil | Raja Rajan |
| 1986 | Thazhuvatha Kaigal | Tamil | Raja Rajan |
| 1986 | Amman Kovil Kizhakale | Tamil | Raja Rajan |
| 1986 | Mella Thirandhathu Kadhavu | Tamil | Raja Rajan |
| 1988 | En Jeevan Paduthu | Tamil | Raja Rajan |
| 1989 | Rajadhi Raja | Tamil | Raja Rajan |
| 1990 | Pulan Visaranai | Tamil | Raja Rajan |
| 1990 | Enkitta Mothathe | Tamil | Raja Rajan |
| 1991 | Captain Prabhakaran | Tamil | Raja Rajan |
| 1992 | Thirumathi Palanisamy | Tamil | Raja Rajan |
| 1993 | Kattalai | Tamil | Raja Rajan |
| 1993 | Ezhai Jaathi | Tamil | Raja Rajan |
| 1994 | En Aasai Machan | Tamil | Raja Rajan |
| 1994 | Mettupatti Mirasu | Tamil | Raja Rajan |
| 1995 | Seethanam | Tamil | Raja Rajan |
| 2000 | Kandukondain Kandukondain | Tamil | Ravi K. Chandran |
| 2000 | Snip | Hindi | Ravi K. Chandran |
| 2001 | Citizen | Tamil | Ravi K. Chandran |
| 2002 | Kannathil Muthamittal | Tamil | Ravi K. Chandran |
| 2003 | Boys | Tamil | Ravi K. Chandran |
| 2003 | Koi... Mil Gaya | Hindi | Ravi K. Chandran |
| 2004 | Aayutha Ezhuthu | Tamil | Ravi K. Chandran |
| 2004 | Yuva | Hindi | Ravi K. Chandran |
| 2004 | Dil Chahta Hai | Hindi | Ravi K. Chandran |
| 2011 | Badrinath | Telugu | Ravi Varman |
| 2017 | Kaatru Veliyidai | Tamil | Ravi Varman |
| 2021 | Bhramam | Malayalam | Ravi K. Chandran |
| 2022 | Bheemla Nayak | Telugu | Ravi K. Chandran |
| 2022 | Ponniyin Selvan: I | Tamil | Ravi Varman |
| 2023 | Ponniyin Selvan: II | Tamil | Ravi Varman |
| 2024 | OG | Telugu | Ravi K. Chandran |
| TBA | Indian 2 | Tamil | Ravi Varman |
| TBA | KH 234 † | Tamil | Ravi K. Chandran |
References
- ↑ "'Wherever I go, people say, Shroov, Shroov'". The Hindu. 2018-10-04. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
- ↑ Harding, Luke (2003-05-09). "Trouble in paradise". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
External links
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