Ravi K. Chandran is an Indian cinematographer and film director who predominantly works in Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu-language cinema. His career began in 1991 with the Malayalam film Kilukkampetti. He is one of the founding members of the Indian Society of Cinematographers (ISC) and has won two Filmfare Awards and one Southern Filmfare Award.
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.
Career In 1984, Ravi started his career working in Malayalam films as an assistant to his brother and cinematographer, Ramachandra Babu, and later with his friend, Rajiv Menon. He got his first break as a cinematographer in the Malayalam film Kilukkampetti and worked his way up until he shot the legendary Virasat (1997), 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 work in Black (2005) was featured in an American cinematographer's magazine. Kodak international cinematographer calendar, and the cover of the ALEXA camera brochure.
His best-known works are Virasat, Dil Chahta Hai (2001), Kannathil Muthamittal (2002), Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu, Black, Fanaa (2006), and Saawariya (2007). Ravi is also an ambassador for the Canon Cinema EOS.
Ravi's first Telugu film was with the Mahesh Babu starrer Bharat Ane Nenu. He later worked on Bheemla Nayak.
He has collaborated with director Mani Ratnam for the films like Kannathil Muthamittal, Aayutha Ezhuthu / Yuva (2004), and Thug Life (2025).
Directorial debut Ravi's directorial debut was the 2014 Tamil film Yaan.
Personal life
Ravi is the younger brother of K. Ramachandra Babu, who himself is a noted cinematographer. 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.
Filmography
As cinematographer Year Title Language Notes1991KilukkampettiMalayalam1992Thalasthanam Manthrikacheppu Priyapetta Kukku Welcome to Kodaikanal Kallan Kappalil Thanne 1993Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans Ekalavyan Mafia Arthana Injakkadan Mathai & Sons Customs Diary 1994Chukkan Honest Raj Tamil Debut in Tamil cinema The City Malayalam 1995Aksharam The King 1997 Virasat Hindi Filmfare Award for Best Cinematographer; Debut in Hindi cinema Minsaara Kanavu Tamil Co-cinematographer 1998 Kabhi Na Kabhi Hindi Major Saab 1999 Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu Malayalam 2000 Snip! Hindi Kandukondain Kandukondain Tamil Raja Ko Rani Se Pyar Ho Gaya Hindi Citizen Tamil Punaradhivasam Malayalam 2001 Dil Chahta Hai Hindi Nominated - Star Screen Award for Best Cinematography 2002 Kannathil Muthamittal Tamil Filmfare Award for Best Cinematographer – TamilITFA Best Cinematographer Award 2003Calcutta Mail Hindi Nominated - Zee Cine Award for Best Cinematography Koi... Mil Gaya Boys Tamil 2004 Aayutha EzhuthuYuva TamilHindi 2005Black 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 2010My Name Is Khan Anjaana Anjaani 2011 Ladies vs Ricky Bahl For One Song 7 Aum Arivu Tamil 2012 Agneepath Hindi 2016 Baar Baar Dekho 2017 Ok Jaanu 2018 Bharat Ane Nenu Telugu Debut in Telugu cinema2019 Student of the Year 2Hindi Adithya VarmaTamil2020Mrs. Serial KillerHindiCoolie No. 1 2021 BhramamMalayalam 2022 Bheemla NayakTelugu 2025 Thug Life Tamil They Call Him OG Telugu 2026 ParasakthiTamil
As director Year Film Language Notes2014YaanTamilDirectorial debut2021BhramamMalayalamRemake of Andhadhun
Awards and nominations Filmfare Awards/Filmfare Awards South 1998: Best Cinematographer - Virasat 2002: Best Cinematographer – Tamil - Kannathil Muthamittal 2006: Best Cinematographer - Black
Star Screen Awards 2002: Nominated, Star Screen Award for Best Cinematography - Dil Chahta Hai
Zee Cine Awards 2004: Nominated, Zee Cine Award for Best Cinematography - Yuva 2004: Nominated, Best Cinematography - Calcutta Mail
Vijay Awards 2011: Nominated, Vijay Award for Best Cinematography - 7 Aum Arivu
References
External links