An Eye for Detail

Ravi K Chandran; A still from the Tamil film Yaan

About five years ago, when cinematographer Ravi K Chandran was approaching Hindi film actors with his first script, the reaction was that of surprise. For the past two decades, Chandran has been one of the country’s most accomplished cinematographers with a body of work that ranges from the visually stunning Black and Saawariya, the textured and gritty Yuva and Firaaq to the seminal Dil Chahta Hai.

So, when he decided to direct a film, everyone expected him to come up with something “arty, poetic with scope for a lot of photography.” Contrary to their expectations, Chandran’s script was as an actor called, “playing to the gallery.” An action-packed-romantic drama, Chandran’s directorial debut, a Tamil film Yaan, is the kind of movie he enjoys watching himself. What became clear is, Chandran, the filmmaker isn’t exactly the same as the DOP.

“I am not making a path-breaking film. It’s a romantic film with a small message. I like watching films that make you feel good. I have grown up on MGR and Rajini movies. In that sense, I am normal,” says Chandran, over the phone from Chennai, amid the maddening pre-release rush.

The film, that stars Tamil actors Jiiva and Thulasi Nair as the lead pair, releases today. The ace cinematographer conceived the idea of making “a love story with a message based on a newspaper report”, while shooting for Black. He approached Abhishek Bachchan then, and later Ranbir Kapoor. But Chandran was so immersed in his projects that he couldn’t give the time to do the necessary rounds of sitting with the actors. “When you work as a cinematographer, you forget being a director,” says the veteran, who between 2005 and 2010 did films such as Rab Ne Bana di Jodi, My Name is Khan, Ghajini, Fanaa, Black and Saawariya. “Every film is big,” he says, adding, “Each took at least a year to complete.”

It was perhaps meant to be a wild goose chase. Chandran’s film was ideal for Tamil, advised Yash Raj head Aditya Chopra when he read the script during Rab Ne… Not only was Chandran more comfortable in his mother tongue, the script suited the Tamil movie landscape better. A much more sure-footed Chandran took a break as a cinematographer — his last hindi film being Agneepath (2012) — to cast Jiiva in the lead.

Once, the actor signed in, the rest fell in place. His vast experience and reputation enabled him to get the best support in cast and crew. Everyone, including artistes such as editor Sreekar Prasad, sound designer Resul Pookutty or Production Designer Saby Cyril, went out of their way to make the film possible. For the photography of his directorial debut, Chandran entrusted into the hands of his assistant Manush Nandan, who has also shot the upcoming Happy New Year. For his his next, which he plans to make in Hindi, he is still in talks with production houses. But he is counting on Yaan for things to move forward. As for helming the camera again, Chandran has only one film, “a small and gritty,” film by Sonam Nair. “It’s the first time I will shoot entirely in digital. I am excited about learning new tricks of the trade and want to test where I can take my skills to,” he says.