Theni Eswar (cinematographer)

Eswar grew up in Theni completing his schooling and he graduated in diploma in automobile engineering. In his college days he took up photography and was always fascinated and dreamt of becoming a cinematographer in movies. The scenic beauty in his hometown inspired him to start his career in photography. He went on to receive accolades and awards for his photography, mainly “Kodak Award” for street photography at an all India Level. He spent most of his early life in Theni before moving to Chennai.

Eswar was always interested in cinematography and thus moved to Chennai to start his career as a cinematographer. He won several awards for his photography and that time director Balumahendra came to know about him and priced his works and he speaks about his works in several interviews and functions.

He also collaborated with people like Bharathiraja for several works and he closely travelled with him for some projects which are yet to start and he also shot the photographs for Vairamuthu iconic novels like kallikattu ithigasam, Karuvaachi kaaviyam, Tamizhatrupadai etc..

During his search for a job as an assistant cinematographer he collaborated with his friend Baskar Sakthi a prominent writer in Ananda Vikatan who was at that time writing a series called “Route Bus” and was given the role of photographing the Scenic routes of travel, places and the locals.

He shot the first look as a photographer for some films like Sivappathigaram, Kattradhu Thamizh, Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu and more. During the photoshoot of Vennila Kabadi Kuzhu, director Suseenthiran was mesmerised with his work and gave him an opportunity as a cinematographer for his next film Azhagarsamiyin Kuthirai. The film released in May 2011 and received couple of National Film Awards too. Then he collaborated with some of the leading directors like Bala, Ram and Gowtham Menon. He worked with director Ram in the film Taramani which was his second venture and he is credited as an additional cinematographer in Gowtham Menon's movie Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada.

He also shot Bala’s movie Naachiyaar which released in 2018. Another film in which he worked with debutant director Lenin Bharathi titled Merku Thodarchi Malai which released in the same year and the film was critically acclaimed and screened in many international and national film festivals. He won the Best Cinematographer Award in Norway Tamil Film Festival Awards and Bioscope film festival held in Punjab for that movie. He again collaborated with Ram in the movie Peranbu with actor Mammootty as the lead. The film was released in February 2019.

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