Death of the Photo Director M J Radhakrishnan | Kerala News

Thiruvananthapuram: The director of photography, Mr. J. Radhakrishnan, died Friday following a heart attack in a private hospital in the capital. Recognized as the master of the ascetic cadre, he has worked in about 75 films over a career spanning almost three decades. He was 61 years old.

"Desadanam", "Karunam", "Bioscope", "Nalu Pennungal", "Kaadu Pookkunna Neram" are some of his best-known films. Radhakrishnan's films have been exhibited at film festivals in Cannes, Toronto, Chicago and Rotterdam, among others. His 'Maranasimhasanam' won a prize in Cannes. "Ollu" by Shaji N Karun was Radhakrishnan's latest film.

While he was the favorite man of veterans such as TV Chandran, Dr. Biju, Jayaraj and Ranjith, beginners wanted to make a mark – Murali Nair (Maranasimhasanam), Priyanandanan (Pulijanmam), GR Kannan (Theerthadanam), Avira Rebecca (Thakarachenda) – had always looked for aesthetic reasons

The fact that a legend like Adoor Gopalakrishnan, who had always preferred to work with Mankada Ravi, did not hesitate to work with him after the death of Mankada, testifies to his unimaginable talent.

Radhakrishnan was the master of natural lighting. He was the cinematographic equivalent of an ascetic sworn to a life in the desert. He was so skilled at capturing nature that he considered artificial lighting techniques a kind of sacrilege. In the highly decorated "Ottaal" opening scene of Jayaraj, Radhakrishnan uses only the soft light of the moon and a candlelight to conjure up a sadness more heartbreaking than anything artificial light could conjure up. .

Sometimes even Radhakrishnan had no choice but to use artificial lights. These moments still had an authenticity that only Radhakrishnan could invoke. Nobody can ever say that the scene of the murder in Jayaraj's "Kaliyattom" was carried out using a light source other than a traditional multi-leaf oil lamp.

The filmmakers who worked with him say that he understood the mercurial mood of the sun. he was his closest friend. Those who had worked behind the camera for Dr. Biju's "Life in Painting" have not stopped wondering how he managed to capture Gitanjali Thapa while his hair had taken on a magical golden color. "He knew instinctively exactly when the sun would tilt under the ideal angle to give Thapa's hair a golden glow. He's not one to waste time looking up with his fingers on the forehead, "said Siraj, Dr. Biju's senior badistant.

Radhakrishnan is also known for its remarkable economy with mounts. He is one of the few directors of photography to have started as a professional photographer. he was still the photographer of Penghavadippalam's cult clbadic, George G. On those days, an effective photographer had to succeed in one plan, and Radhakrishnan excelled in this area.

It is this breathtaking economy that he brought to the making of movies. His frames had just the right amount of items. Perfect image that they were. In a game-changing visual in "Ottaal", which explores the links of a little boy with his grandfather, Radhakrishnan shows the boy and his grandfather in a boat at the edge of the river. 39, a lake. They raise a flock of ducks along the vast expanse of the lake.

But it is the framing of Radhakrishnan that evokes the mood of the moment. The entire surface of the lake is represented as the summit of a spherical aquatic world, the inclined body of water on each side. The boat with the boy and his grandfather is in the center, giving the impression that they are at the top of the world. What better way to show how much the little boy likes to be in the lake with his grandfather, or better still, how life with his grandfather represented the world for the boy.

It is no wonder that he has won seven times the state award for Best Operator. which is a record. Mankada Ravi Varma, another legend of cinematography, can boast of having such a compelling record.

The films that earned Radhakrishnan the prize were "Desadanam" (1996), "Karunam" (1999), "Adayalangal" (2007), "Bioscope & # 39; (2008)," Veetilekkulla Vazhi & # 39; (2010), & quot; Akashathinte Niram & # 39; (2011) and & quot; Kadu Pookkunna Neram & # 39; (2016).

Radhakrishnan belonged to Tholicode in Punalur and was the son of Janardhanan Vaidyar and P Lalitha of Sreenilayam began his career as a photographer and was also badociated with Shaji N. Karun.The first film that Radhakrishnan worked independently was "Mamalakalkappurathu" directed by Ali Akbar.

Yadukrishnan, Radhakrishnan's son, followed in the footsteps of his father and is also one of the principal directors of photography.

Condolences of CM 19659002] Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, remembers Radhakrishnan as an artist who has played a major role in improving the status of cinematography has student rank