Ramachandra Babu


K. Ramachandra Babu was an Indian cinematographer of over 125 films, out of which most are Malayalam films. He also worked for films in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Arabic and English languages. He served as the cinematographer for several documentaries and advertisement films as well. He was the founder of the Indian Society of Cinematographers.

Early life and career

Ramachandra Babu was born on 15 December 1947 in Maduranthakam at Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu, as the eldest son of Malayali parents, Kunjan Pillai and Padmini Amma, both from Alappuzha, Kerala. After obtaining his B.Sc. degree from Loyola College, Madras in 1966, he went on to join the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune to study cinematography. In the Institute, he made friends with Balu Mahendra, John Abraham and K.G. George, who would go on to become noted film directors.
He made his feature film debut in 1971 as a cinematographer even before completing his FTII course, for Vidyarthikale Ithile Ithile.

Later career

Ramachandra Babu's first colour film was Dweepu, directed by Ramu Kariat, and it won him his first Kerala State [Film Award for Best Cinematography]. He went on to win 3 more State Awards for [Rathinirvedam (1978 film)|Rathinirvedam] and Chamaram, directed by Bharathan, and Oru Vadakkan Veeragadha, directed by Hariharan.
He played a prominent role in ushering in the technical advancements in cinematography into Malayalam cinema. The transition from Black & White to colour aside, he served as the cinematographer for the first CinemaScope film to be shot in South India, Alavuddinum Athbutha Vilakkum, directed by I. V. Sasi. Despite featuring major stars like Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth and Jayabharathi, the film was delayed and another CinemaScope film Thacholi Ambu was released ahead of it, leaving the latter to be considered as the first CinemaScope film in South India. He was the cinematographer of the first film to be released with 70 mm film in Malayalam. The film, Padayottam, directed by Jijo Punnoose, was from the production house of Thacholi Ambu, Navodaya. The film was photographed in CinemaScope format and was converted to 70 mm blow-up prints with 6-track magnetic stereo sound during post-production.
His noted films include Nirmalyam, Swapnadanam, Bandhanam, Agraharathil Kazhuthai, Patita, Yavanika & Marmaram, both Kerala State Best Film Award – 1982, Padayottam, Pagal Nilavu, Oru Vadakkan Veera Gaadha, Aadhaaram, Sallapam, Ghazal, Kanmadam, Beyond the Soul and Al-Boom.

Awards

Filmography

The list of films for which Ramachandra Babu served as the director of cinematography:

Unreleased films

  1. Professor Dingan - Died during the production

Other works

His memoir is entitled Celluloid Swapnadakan.