Ravi Varman
| Ravi Varman | |
|---|---|
 Ravi Varman in 2011 | |
| Occupation | Cinematographer, film director |
| Title | ISC |
Ravi Varman, ISC, is an India Cinematographer, Film Maker,Producer and Writer. He has shot many award-winning films in Indian languages of Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and English. Known for his realistic picturization and poetic framing sense, Ravi Varman began his career in Malayalam films. A well-known writer in Tamil fiction and non fiction, he has also directed a romantic film in Tamil titled Moscowin Kavery. He also filmed the music video for the song "Bird Flu" by British Tamil songwriter M.I.A..
Early life
Ravi Varman was born in a village called Poyyoundarkudikkadu near Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India. Varman lost his mother at a young age. Just before she died there was a wedding in his neighborhood and his mother’s image was accidentally captured by the wedding photographer in one of the photos. Varman went to the studio and asked for a picture to be enlarged and learnt what "out of focus" meant. Thus, he developed an interest in photography and grew up with a passion for watching movies – though at the time, he never considered working in film as a possible career.[1]
Career
After working in Malayalam films since 1999 for three years, he worked in Bollywood for the film Yeh Dil in 2003. He later worked in the Telugu film Jai and received more offers in Hindi, such as Armaan, Bee Busthar, Ramji Londonwale, and Phir Milenge, as well as the Indian English film Five Five Four.[2]
Though a Tamilian, it was not until 2004 when he started to work in Tamil films, with his first one being the critically acclaimed film, Autograph, directed by Cheran. He continued to work with popular directors as cinematographer in Tamil films, including S. Shankar's Anniyan, Gautham Menon's Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu, K. S. Ravikumar's Dasavathaaram and Villu, which was directed by Prabhu Deva.Besides feature films, he has credit of working on more than 500 Television Commercials, Music Albums, Short Films and Documentary. Nonetheless, his flair for literature has led him to embark on writing for an on-line literary magazine 'Yavarum kelir' for Tamiz studio.
Awards and honours
- 23rd EME France Film Festival Best Cinematographer Award for Santham Malayalam(2000)
- Filmfare Best Cinematographer Award for Anniyan (2006)
- Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Cinematographer for Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu (2007)
- vikitan best cinematography award (south) for vettaiyaadu vilaiyaadu (2007)
- ITFA Best Cinematographer Award for Dasavathaaram (2009)
- zee cine awards for best cinematographer award for barfi (2012)
- apsara star guild award for best cinematography for barfi (2012)
- screen awards for best cinematography for barfi (2012)
- TOIFA awards for best cinematography for barfi (2012)
- IIFA award for best cinematography for barfi (2012)
Filmography
As director
- Moscowin Kavery (2010)
- Treasure Music Video (2011) Also as Cinematographer and Lyricist
As producer
- Azhagu (2010)
As cinematographer
Films
- Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela - Hindi (2013)
- Ugramm - Kannada (2014) (Post Production)
- Barfi! - Hindi (2012)
- Badrinath - Telugu (2011)
- Kandahar - Malayalam (2010)
- Villu - Tamil (2009)
- Dasavathaaram - Tamil (2008)
- Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu - Tamil (2006)
- Anniyan - Tamil (2005)
- Autograph - Tamil (2004)
- Phir Milenge - Hindi (2004)
- Ramji Londonwale - Hindi (2004)
- Five by Four - English (2004)
- Five Star - Tamil (2004)
- Bee Busthar - Malayalam (2003)
- Kilichundan Mampazham - Malayalam (2003)
- Armaan - Hindi (2003)
- Jai (2003)
- Yeh Dil - Hindi (2003)
- Vakkalathu Narayanankutty - Malayalam (2001)
- Valyettan - Malayalam (2001)
- Santham - Malayalam (2000)
- Sathyam Shivam Sundaram - Malayalam (1999)
- Jalamarmaram - Malayalam (1999)
Music videos
- "Bird Flu" by M.I.A. (2007)
Documentaries
- Child Environment