Venu (cinematographer)
Venugopal (born 26 August 1961), popularly known as Venu, is an Indian cinematographer and film director who works mainly in Malayalam cinema. An alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune and CMS college kottayam. He has been the recipient of four National Film Awards, including three for Best Cinematography, and four Kerala State Film Awards. He is a founding member of the Indian Society of Cinematographers (ISC). Venu is married to Beena Paul, a film editor who works predominantly in Malayalam films.
Venu | |
---|---|
Born | Venugopal 26 August 1961 |
Alma mater | FTII |
Occupation | Cinematographer Film director |
Spouse(s) | |
Children | Malavika |
Relatives | Karur Neelakanta Pillai (Grandfather) |
Personal life
Venu is the grandson of Malayalam author Karur Neelakanta Pillai. His mother B. Saraswathi is also a writer. Venu is married to Indian film editor Beena Paul since 26 August 1983.The couple has a daughter Malavika who is married to an Englishman, is an Outreach Programme Manager at Cambridge University.[1][2]
Career
Venu graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, with a diploma in motion picture photography in 1982. He has worked as cinematographer in over 80 feature films with directors like Mani Kaul, John Abraham, Buddhadeb Dasgupta, Pamela Rooks, Padmarajan, Bharathan and M. T. Vasudevan Nair.
In 1987, Venu received his first National Film Award (jointly for Amma Ariyan and Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal).[3] He went onto receive two more awards for Miss Beatty's Children (1993) and Ponthan Mada (1994).[4][5] In 1998, he made his directorial debut with Daya, a period fiction written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair.[1] The film won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Debut Director and Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director. In 2014, he directed his second film, Munnariyippu, starring Mammootty.[1] His latest work is Carbon, starring Fahadh Faasil.
Partial filmography
Malayalam
- Prem Nazirine Kanmanilla (1983)
- Irakal (1985)
- Sister Alphonsa of Bharananganam (1986)
- Desatanakkili Karayarilla (1986)
- Kariyilakkattu Pole (1986)
- Arappatta Kettiya Gramathil (1986)
- Pranamam (1986)
- Namukku Parkkan Munthiri Thoppukal (1986)
- Amma Ariyan (1986)
- Kathakku Pinnil (1987)
- Aparan (1988)
- Moonnam Pakkam (1988)
- Dhwani (1988)
- Aranyakam (1988)
- Vadakkunokkiyantram (1989)
- Dasharatham (1989)
- Season (1989)
- Ramji Rao Speaking (1989)
- In Harihar Nagar (1990)
- Innale (1990)
- Thazhvaram (1990)
- Kadavu (1991)
- Keli (1991)
- Njan Gandharvan (1991)
- GodFather (1991)
- Vietnam Colony (1992)
- Aham (1992)
- Nakshthrakoodaram (1992)
- Malootty (1992)
- Maya Mayooram (1993)
- Chenkol (1993)
- Oru Kadankatha Pole (1993)
- Manichitrathazhu (1993)
- Ponthan Mada (1994)
- Thacholi Varghese Chekavar (1995)
- Sindoora Rekha (1995)
- Bhoothakkannadi (1997)
- Angene Oru Avadhikkalathu (1999)
- Chandamama (1999)
- Matrubhoomi: A Nation Without Women (2003)
- Margam (2003)
- 2 Harihar Nagar (2009)
- Bhagyadevatha (2009)
- In Ghost House Inn (2010)
- Kadha Thudarunnu (2010)
- Pranchiyettan & the Saint (2010)
- Tournament (2011)
- Snehaveedu (2011)
- Three Kings (2011)
- Puthiya Theerangal (2012)
- Cobra (2012)
- Spirit (2012)
- Celluloid (2013)
- Munnariyippu (2014)
Bengali
- Bagh Bahadur (1989)
- Tahader Katha (1992)
- Lal Darja (1997)
- Mondo Meyer Upakhyan (2002)
- Swapner Din (2004)
Tamil
- Guna (1991)
- Minsara Kanavu (1997)
- Anbe Aaruyire (2005)
- Thirumagan (2007)
English
- Miss Beatty's Children (1992)
- Taj Mahal: A Monument of Love (2003)
Telugu
- Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana (2005)
- Pournami (2006)
As director
- Daya (1998)
- Munnariyippu (2014)
- Carbon (2018)[6]
References
- Nagarajan, Saraswathy (5 June 2014). "Prisoners of circumstance". The Hindu. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
- https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/my-dad-my-hero/article7333538.ece
- "34th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals.
- "40th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals.
- "41st National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
- https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/venu-on-his-new-film-carbon-starring-fahadh-faasil/article22463673.ece