Cinematographer M. J. Radhakrishnan doesn’t talk much, letting his camera speak for him. With seven state awards and three international awards, the lens indeed speak volumes.
This year’s Kerala state award for best cinematography is his seventh for Malayalam film Kaadu Pookunnu Neram, directed by Bijukumar Damodaran, who is popularly known as Dr Biju. His sixth state award was also for another Dr Biju film, Veettilekulla Vazhi.
Kaadu Pookunnu Neram was shot inside the forests of Achankovil (Kollam district) and Konni Pathanamitta.
“We lived for 17 days with the constant dread of [an] elephant attack,” recalled Radhakrishnan, whose love affair with the lens began at 17, when he was gifted a Yashica camera by his uncle. From still photography to event cameraman and then television, cinema followed. His first award was for Malayalam director Jayaraj’s Deshadanam.
Radhakrishnan’s frames are marked with natural lighting and Kaadu Pookunnu Neram is no different.
One of the delightful and unplanned visuals of Kaadu Pookunnu Neram was capturing a kaleidoscopic swarm of butterflies in flight.
“It was one of those rare euphoric moments with butterflies forming a geometric pattern,” added Radhakrishnan, who is next working with Shaji Karun.
