Manoj Paramahamsa is an Indian cinematographer, who has worked in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films.He have done 25 films cinematography. His notable works include Eeram (2009), Ye Maaya Chesave (2010), Nanban (2012), Race Gurram (2014), Radhe Shyam (2022), and Leo (2023).
Career He was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. His father U. V. Babu, has directed more than half-a-dozen films in Telugu and Paramahamsa has said that "he was the one who wanted me to become a cinematographer". He would accompany his father to shoots and said that he was "fascinated by cinematography, the mystery of the camera and lights".
Educated at the M.G.R. Government Film and Television Training Institute of Tamil Nadu in Chennai, he received his early training from the cinematographer S. Saravanan. Paramahamsa started his career by assisting in films such as Pammal K. Sambandam, Arasatchi, Priyamana Thozhi, Madhurey, Thirupaachi and Thirupathi, as well as other films in Telugu, Malayalam and Tamil, before becoming independent. He assisted him for seven years.
Paramahamsa's debut film was Eeram directed by Arivazhagan, and produced by noted director S. Shankar under his banner S Pictures. He received wide critical praise for his work in the film. Sify wrote, "it is Manoj Paramahamsa's camera which is the real hero of the film. As a cameraman he is able to give the entire film the hazy blue look using Cyan color by the removal of red from white light for the first time in Tamil cinema, creating the eerie atmosphere and stillness against the continuous beating of the rains". Similarly, Rediff wrote, "Manoj Paramahamsa's camerawork is refreshing: somber and serious, with rain always threatening in some form in the present; normal and sunny in the Trichy flashback sequences".
In 2010, he worked on Gautham Vasudev Menon's romance film Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa and its Telugu remake Ye Maaya Chesave, winning the Filmfare Award for Best Cinematographer - South for the latter. He also handled cinematography for Menon's psychological thriller, Nadunisi Naaygal starring Sameera Reddy. He worked in the remake of 3 Idiots in Tamil, Nanban, which was directed by S. Shankar.
He turned producer with the adventure film Poovarasam Peepee. He has worked with Vijay on Leo, after their collaboration in Nanban and Beast. In 2026 he became the head of the M.G.R. Government Film and Television Training Institute.
Filmography Year Film Language Notes2008 Lungiman Takes a Ride Tamil Short film2009 Eeram Vijay Award for Best CinematographerSouth Scope Cine Award for Best Cinematography2010 Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa Cinema Award For Best Cinematographer Ye Maaya Chesave Telugu Filmfare Award for Best Cinematographer - Telugu Nayakan Malayalam Chutti Chathan Tamil Additional photography Nisabhdha Nilai Short film2011 Nadunissi Naaygal Collector Malayalam 2012 Nanban Tamil Replaced Nirav Shah2014 Poovarasam Peepee Also producer Race Gurram Telugu 2015 Kick 2 Bruce Lee 2016 Jaguar KannadaTelugu 2017 Villain Malayalam 2019 Enai Noki Paayum Thota Tamil Auto Shankar TV show; Also producer Sillu Karuppatti 2021 Kutty Story Segment: Edhirpaara Muththam Tughlaq Durbar Chithirai Sevvaanam 2022 Radhe Shyam TeluguHindi Beast Tamil Replaced Vijay Kartik KannanAlso made a cameo appearance in the song Jolly O GymkhanaPrince 2023 Leo Dhruva Natchathiram Unreleased Film 2024 Guntur Kaaram Telugu Replaced P. S. Vinod more than 50% into the filmingMinmini Tamil Also co-producer2025 Hari Hara Veera Mallu Telugu They Call Him OG 2026 Idhayam Murali Tamil
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