Art on camera

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

Girish Gangadharan's viewfinder seems to have a mind of its own, one that is bent on adding layers to the story. But, that doesn't come easy, Girish says. Every single frame that was born out of his camera is the 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," he says.

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. The climax shot was the same, the decision to go for the single  long shot happened at the last minute," says Girish, adding that the chemistry between the director and DOP is essential for a great result. 

Girish started his career as an independent DOP with Sameer Thahir's 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 film Swathantryam Ardharathriyil, the details of which he is tight-lipped about. By January, he hopes to start the work on the Vijay-Murugadoss project.

This will be his first other-language project, and he is aware of the challenges. "I started work on a Telugu film, 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. 

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