Shanmugam Saravanan is an Indian cinematographer and film director who works mainly in the Indian film industry. He is an alumnus of the M.G.R. Government Film and Television Training Institute. He started his career with Poove Unakkaga, a Tamil romantic film starring Vijay and Sangita and was released in the year 1996. He debuted as a director by his directorial venture Silambattam. Saravanan is well known for his association with Directors Vikraman and Suresh Krissna. He has worked as a cinematographer in more than 25 films in Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam.
Early life and career
The son of poet Ulundurpettai Shanmugham, after completing the Diploma in cinematography from the M.G.R. Government Film and Television Training Institute, Chennai, he assisted senior cinematographer P. Selvakumar in the team of Aabavanan. Later, he made his cinematography debut in the film Amma Ponnu. After watching his work in that film Director Vikraman called and offered him to do cinematography for his next venture titled Pudhiya Mannargal. His work was well appreciated in that movie. He then continued to work with Director Vikraman in the films Poove Unakkaga and Suryavamsam. Both the films were a huge commercial success and was also remade in other Indian Languages.
In 1995, he did a Telugu drama film Stri, directed by K. S. Sethumadhavan. The film has garnered two National Film Awards and also showcased in the Indian Panorama section, International Film Festival of India and 2nd Prague International Film Festival.
He then teamed up with director Suresh Krissna and did films like Aahaa..!, Auto Driver, Sangamam.
In 2008, Saravanan made his directorial debut in the film Silambattam, a Tamil action comedy film. The film starred Silambarasan Rajendar in dual roles while Sneha, Sana Khan, Prabhu and Kishore also play lead roles. Yuvan Shankar Raja composed the film's background score and soundtrack. The film was a huge commercial success.Listen to fast-pace 'Silambattam' songs The film released on 19 December 2008.
Legacy Saravanan has mentored some of the prominent cinematographers in the South Indian film industry, who had all assisted him including Vijay Milton, R. Madhi, Vetri and Manoj Paramahamsa.
Filmography As cinematographer
Year Film Language 1993Amma Ponnu Tamil 1994Pudhiya Mannargal Tamil 1995Stri Telugu1996Poove Unakkaga TamilSelva Tamil1997Suryavamsam TamilAahaa..! Tamil1998Aahaa..! TeluguAuto Driver TeluguOruvan Tamil 1999Sangamam Tamil2000Vallarasu TamilMaayi Tamil2001Vaanchinathan Tamil Shahjahan Tamil 2002Pammal K. Sambandam Tamil2003Priyamana Thozhi TamilVishnu Telugu2004Madurey TamilArasatchi Tamil2005Thirupaachi TamilThe Tiger Malayalam2006Thirupathi TamilDharmapuri TamilSmart City Malayalam 2007Ali Bhai Malayalam 2008Vaitheeswaran Tamil 2010 Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Malayalam 2012The King & the CommissionerMalayalam 2013 Alex Pandian Tamil2017Pakka TamilDharmayuddhaya Sinhala 2026 Varavu Malayalam
As director Note: all films are in Tamil, unless otherwise noted. Year Film Notes 2008Silambattam SippaiUnreleased
References
External links