Directors with a ‘different’ vision

If there was a special tone and look in KV Anand’s recent flick, ‘Ayan’, it’s reason hasn’t gone unnoticed. That the film was directed by a cinematographer turned director which gave it that different look. K V Anand is no exception. The Tamil film industry has seen many cinematographers with a directorial vision and they have made a successful foray into direction after being popular cinematographers. Balu Mahendra, who became a trendsetter with the genre of films he handled, was originally a cinematographer. The gloomy overcast sky or the serene waters in his films were trademark shots of his. Despite being very successful as a director, his deftness with the camera was one of the biggest reasons for his films to carry that different look. Who hasn’t noticed the refreshingly surreal settings that came with Jeeva’s films, from ‘12B’ to ‘Dhaam Dhoom’? Jeeva, originally a cinematographer, was also bitten by the direction bug and his films came to be known for its peppy songs and staggering cinematography. The success of the films of these directors is often attributed to their knowledge of what looks good on the large screen. As those who are the first audience to see the film the way the audience later will, they are trusted with better knowledge of a film’s reception with the masses. But KV Anand or Jeeva and Balu Mahendra are no exceptions. PC Sreeram directed 'Meera', 'Kurudipunal' and 'Vaanam Vasappadum', while Santhosh Sivan has directed award-winning flicks like 'Navarasa' and 'Ashoka'. Rajiv Menon has directed two highly acclaimed films, 'Kandukondein Kandukondein' and 'Minsara Kanavu' Yet another cinematographer to have made the shift is Ravivarman of 'Varanam Aayiram' fame. He has directed his first film, 'Moscowin Cauveri'. Cinematographer Saravanan also launched himself as a director with 'Silambattam'. Another cameraman awaiting the release of his first directorial venture is MS Guhan, who is working on 'Inidhu Inidhu', a remake of 'Happy Days'. With so many directors hailing from a cinematographic background, and most of them being successful too, it looks like Kollywood is all set to ‘look’ better in times to come.