Art on camera

Cinematographer Girish Gangadharan, who has been roped in for the Vijay-Murugadoss project, talks about his craft.
Art on camera

Cinematographer Girish Gangadharan's viewfinder seems to have a mind of its own, one that is bent on creating layers to the story.  But, that doesn't come easy, Girish says. Every single frame that was borne out of his camera is a result of hard work. "I read a script well before heading to a location. I seek suggestions from the director about the light, colour and tone, refer study materials and watch movies. I am well prepared that way," says Girish.Well, that isn't surprising, for his career graph speaks volumes. While he won the Kerala State Film Awards for his work in Guppy, Girish's realistic and rustic images in 
Angamaly Diaries established him as a talent to reckon with. 

And, now Girish has signed a Vijay-Murugadoss project that will go on the floors next January. He agrees that 2017 is indeed a milestone.

"Angamaly Diaries definitely earned me acclaim. It was what Lijo wanted, a rustic and realistic tale. Most of the shots were unplanned. We would come up with an idea spontaneously and the climax shot was the same, the decision to go for the single  long shot happened at the last minute," says Girish, adding how the chemistry between the director and DOP is essential for a great result. 

Girish started his career as an independent DOP in Sameer Thahir's movie, Neelakasham Pachakadal Chuvanna Bhoomi (2013), where his camera captured stunning locales of myriad terrains in all its beauty. He followed this up with Maryam Mukku (2014) and Guppy (2016), which won him the award. In Guppy, his camera soaked up the beauty of the seaside, shedding light on the lives of the characters. Right now, he is busy with Tinu Pappachan's debut movie Swathantryam Ardharathriyil, the details of which he is tight-lipped about. By January, he hopes to start the work on the Vijay-Murugadoss project.

He adds that he is aware of the challenges, though this would be his first other-language movie. "I did a Telugu movie but dropped it mid-way after schedules clashed. So, this is my first other-language project. But then the language of cinema is the same everywhere, only the dialogues differ," he says.

Girish is prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.  "I know this will be a great exposure since this is my first time on such a big canvas. I am looking forward to it," he says. 

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com