Tirru
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

S. Thirunavukarasu (born 21 July 1966), better known mononymously as Tirru, is an Indian cinematographer and
screenwriter A screenwriter (also called scriptwriter, scribe, or scenarist) is a person who practices the craft of writing for visual mass media, known as screenwriting. These can include short films, feature-length films, television programs, television ...
who has worked in multiple languages across India. Born in Mullukuruchi village, Tirru became interested in photography when he was in college. He gained recognition through collaborations with
Kamal Haasan Parthasarathy Srinivasan (born 7 November 1954), known professionally as Kamal Haasan, is an Indian actor, filmmaker and politician who predominantly works in Tamil cinema. Considered as one of the most accomplished actors of Indian Cinema, Haas ...
, contributing pioneering techniques in Indian cinema. His cinematography on ''24'' (2016), won the
National Film Award for Best Cinematography The National Film Award for Best Cinematography is one of the National Film Awards presented annually by the National Film Development Corporation of India. It is one of several awards presented for feature films and awarded with Rajat Kamal (S ...
.


Personal life

Tirru was born on 21 July 1966 in Mullukuruchi village, Namakkal. He became interested in photography while studying science in college. He assisted by his cousin, a dentist by profession, in the latter's passion for
nature photography Nature photography encompasses a wide range of photography taken outdoors and devoted to displaying natural elements such as landscapes, wildlife, plants, and close-ups of natural scenes and textures. Nature photography tends to place a stronger ...
.


Film career

He co-wrote the screenplay of the Malayalam film '' Mission 90 Days'' with director Major Ravi. He is also known for television
commercials A television advertisement (also called a commercial, spot, break, advert, or ad) is a span of television programming produced and paid for by an organization. It conveys a message promoting, and aiming to market, a product, service or idea. ...
.


Debut as cinematographer (1993)

Tirru began his career by assisting cinematographer P.C. Sreeram, working on four films during this period. Tirru's last project as an assistant was the film ''
Thevar Magan ''Thevar Magan'' ( or ) is a 1992 Indian Tamil language, Tamil-language Drama (film and television), drama film directed by Bharathan, and written and produced by Kamal Haasan. It stars Sivaji Ganesan, Haasan, Revathi, Gautami and Nassar (acto ...
'' (1992), which caught the attention of
Kamal Haasan Parthasarathy Srinivasan (born 7 November 1954), known professionally as Kamal Haasan, is an Indian actor, filmmaker and politician who predominantly works in Tamil cinema. Considered as one of the most accomplished actors of Indian Cinema, Haas ...
. This led to Tirru's first project as a cinematographer for '' Magalir Mattum'' (1994), directed by
Singeetam Srinivasa Rao Singeetam Srinivasa Rao (born 21 September 1931) is an Indian film director, screenwriter, producer, composer, and actor. He is widely regarded as one of India's most versatile and innovative filmmakers. He has directed around sixty films across ...
and produced by
Kamal Haasan Parthasarathy Srinivasan (born 7 November 1954), known professionally as Kamal Haasan, is an Indian actor, filmmaker and politician who predominantly works in Tamil cinema. Considered as one of the most accomplished actors of Indian Cinema, Haas ...
. Srinivasa Rao wasn't used to working with newcomers and had doubts at first but Tirru convinced him with his technical skills in the opening shots. Kamal Haasan's faith in Tirru played a big role during his debut. During the filming of KT Kunjumon's Tamil movie Sakthi in 1997, the shoot was set in
Pollachi Pollachi is a town and municipality in Coimbatore district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the administrative headquarters of Pollachi taluk. It is situated near the center of the South Indian Peninsula, surrounded by Western Gha ...
. In one particular scene featuring charging wild elephants, Tirru and his assistant were on a 45-foot-high crane to shoot a scene. Unfortunately, the situation took a dangerous turn as still photographer Rajesh recounts, "Somehow, the
mahout A mahout is an elephant rider, trainer, or keeper. Mahouts were used since antiquity for both civilian and military use. Traditionally, mahouts came from ethnic groups with generations of elephant keeping experience, with a mahout retainin ...
s lost control of the elephants, and they came charging towards the crane. We knew that if they hit the crane, we would fall to our deaths." to
Cinema Express ''Cinema Express'' was an Indian Tamil language, Tamil-language entertainment fortnightly magazine published from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It was a part of The New Indian Express, The New Indian Express Group, which also publishes ''Samakalika Mal ...
.


Collaboration with Kamal Haasan (1993–2001)

Early in his career, Tirru and
Kamal Haasan Parthasarathy Srinivasan (born 7 November 1954), known professionally as Kamal Haasan, is an Indian actor, filmmaker and politician who predominantly works in Tamil cinema. Considered as one of the most accomplished actors of Indian Cinema, Haas ...
has collaborated on four films, '' Magalir Mattum'' (1994), '' Kaathala Kaathala'' (1998), '' Hey Ram'' (2000) and '' Aalavandhan'' (2001). '' Aalavandhan'' pioneered the use of a
motion control Motion control is a sub-field of automation, encompassing the systems or sub-systems involved in moving parts of machines in a controlled manner. Motion control systems are extensively used in a variety of fields for automation purposes, includi ...
rig in India for capturing picture movement and Tirru was the first cinematographer to introduce it. '' Aalavandhan'' was also the first film to use animation sequences in the Indian film industry.


Post national award (2018–present)

In 2018, Karthik Subbaraj reached out to Tirru for the silent film ''Mercury'' as he wanted an experienced cinematographer capable of conveying a narrative without relying on dialogue. They worked on the pre-production planning for three months to address the challenges posed by the film's silent nature and unconventional genre. In 2019, Tirru and Karthik Subbaraj collaborated again on the action-drama film ''Petta'' starring Rajinikanth. This was Tirru's first collaboration with Rajinikanth and it was a long-held dream of his as he had missed an opportunity previously to be the cinematographer of '' Enthiran'' (2010) directed by Shankar. Tirru debuted in
Kannada cinema Kannada cinema, also known as Sandalwood, or Chandanavana, is the segment of Indian cinema dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Kannada language widely spoken in the state of Karnataka. Kannada cinema is based in Gandhi Nagar ...
with the action thriller '' Twenty One Hours'' (2022) directed by debutant Jaishankar Pandit. Jai Sankar has worked with Tirru on multiple
television advertisement A television advertisement (also called a commercial, spot, break, advert, or ad) is a span of television programming produced and paid for by an organization. It conveys a message promoting, and aiming to market, a product, service or idea. ...
s.


Filmography


Awards


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Tirru Living people Tamil cinematographers 1968 births People from Namakkal district Malayalam film cinematographers Best Cinematography National Film Award winners Telugu film cinematographers 20th-century Indian photographers 21st-century Indian photographers Cinematographers from Tamil Nadu Screenwriters from Tamil Nadu