Mahesh Muthuswami

Mahesh Muthuswami is an Indian cinematographer working in Tamil, Telugu and Hindi films.

Career

Upon his graduation from Film and Television Institute of India he started working with cinematographer P. C. Sreeram. With him he worked in features - Kushi (Telugu), Vaanam Vasappadum (Tamil) and a lot of ad films. He worked with ace cinematographer Ramji in Sandhya, a Hindi film. His diploma short film, Chaitra was the official student Oscar entry in the year 2002.

His first film was Rightaa Thappaa for director, producer Bhuvana. The film went on to win two State Awards. His second movie Chithiram Pesuthadi, Mysskin's directorial debut, became a hit owing to the unique style the film was written in. The camera work of Chithiram Pesuthadi also got accolades. Post Chithiram Pesuthadi, Mahesh shot the Hindi Film Risk starring Randeep Hooda, Vinod Khanna and Tanushree Dutta for director Vishram Sawant.

Then he teamed up with director Mysskin again and shot Anjaathey and Nandalala. Both films were critically well acclaimed. Anjathey was a big commercial success. Nandalala got him the Best Cinematographer award for the year 2010 from the reputed and popular Tamil weekly magazine Ananda Vikatan.

In 2009 he did camerawork for a Hindi 3D Animation Feature film, Alibaba & 41 Thieves, produced by UTV Motion Pictures and directed by Soumitra Ranade. Vamsam was the next Tamil film he shot for director Pandiraj, of Pasanga fame. The film was the launchpad for actor Arulnidhi paired with Sunaina. His next release was Mouna Guru which has Arulnidhi and Iniya in lead roles for debutant director Shantakumar. It was a brooding, crime thriller and went on to earn raving reviews.

His first Telugu film, Jabardasth, was with Director Nandini Reddy, one of the few successful female directors in the Telugu film industry. Jabardast starred Siddharth, Samantha and Nithya Menen. Kutti Puli directed by debutant director Muthaiah starring Director, Actor Sasikumar was his next release in Tamil. The film was commercially a huge success. Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara, was his next release in September 2013, produced by V S Rajkumar of Leo vision of Naduvula Konjam Pakkatha Kaanom fame and directed by Gokul whose debut film was Rowthiram. The film features Vijay Sethupathi, Ashwin Kakumanu, Swati Reddy and Nandita in the lead roles.

He has started work in Director Krishna's debut film Naalu Policeum Nall iruntha Oorum starring Arulnidhi and produced V S Rajkumar of Leo Vision, in the last quarter of 2013.

He has also joined as faculty for Cinematography course in BOFTA, Blue Ocean Film and Television Academy, a newly formed institute for film and television technology.

Filmography

Awards & Scholarships

• Best Cinematographer Award 2010 for the film Nandalala from the Tamil magazine Ananda Vikatan
• Jagdish Batra Memorial Scholarship for the year 2004 from FTII, Pune (Most deserving & best student in Final Diploma Exam in Cinematography)
• Phalke Memorial Honour 2nd Prize for the year 2004 from FTII, Pune (Second best student in Final Diploma Exam)

References

• Taking A Different Angle
• Anjaathey Review
• Vamsam Review
• Mounaguru Review
• Jabardasth Review
• Kutti Puli Review

Early life and family

Mahesh Muthuswami was born in Palani, Tamil Nadu, India. to R. Muthuswami and P. Vijayalakshmi, Rtd HOD of Government Arts College, Dindigul. His maternal uncle was his first inspiration for his visual media. He completed his schooling from MSP Solai Nadar Memorial Higher Secondary school, Dindigul and graduation in Mechanical Engineering from PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore. Then he got placed in Bajaj Auto, Pune. During his college days he further developed his interest in Photography from his close friend Muthuselvan. That passion made him to leave Bajaj and join FTII, Pune to pursue a course in Cinematography. He is married to Manimalar, multimedia professional who worked in Robert Bosch, Coimbatore. He has a daughter named Sanchita.

External links

• Mahesh Muthuswami at the Internet Movie Database