A winner with the lens
MALATHI RANGARAJAN
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Ratnavelu has made a mark as a cinematographer in a short span.
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LIGHTING IS A STRONG POINT: A scene from `Maayavi'
Eight hits in a row is no mean achievement. And cinematographer R. Ratnavelu, Randy to friends, has accomplished just that. Barring his first film "Aravindan," from the path-breaking "Sethu" every film including "Bhagavathy," "Jayam," "Thirumalai," "Arya" in Telugu and "Paerazhagan" have had a successful run. "Maayavi" is his recent project. The Coke commercial that he shot with Vikram is drawing a lot of attention. Randy feels that cinematographers in particular don't get their due in the media. "We are not mere technicians cranking the camera mechanically and pushing off ... Our job calls for imaginative use of colour, tone, lighting and angles," he contends.
If director Bala struck a stark contrast between the happy-go-lucky scenes of the hero and the complete change in the man later, and created a jolt in the viewer's mind in `Sethu,' the credit goes to Ratnavelu also.
"I played on colour psychology ... I tried green. None had tried green till then ... do you remember the camera moving through the dark passages of the asylum before stopping on the completely changed countenance of Vikram? The hyper-realistic tone worked wonders ... " Ilaiyaraja, a skilled still photographer himself, was so taken in by the camera work that he sent for Ratnavelu. " I was thrilled,"smiles Randy. About Vikram he says: "Kenny loves to experiment. He starved himself for the role. After the segment was completed, both of us hogged a chicken each!" Randy laughs.
In a spot
"I used a lot of wide-angle lens for `Nanda.'" Generally it is only used for shooting fights and violence because it can distort the face. For the first time, it was used for romance when the lovers were in focus.I felt the story should be told through the lens, and the idea clicked."
They were shooting for `Nanda' in Dhanushkodi. The spot they had selected for shooting had been washed away so they chose another location and unwittingly wandered a little farther. "Later we got to know thatSri Lanka was just 12 km. away! I put myself on a boat to shoot with a zoom. Before I realised what was happening I saw armed coast guards above my head on a helicopter aiming their guns at me. I thought that was the end ... " Randy's voice quivers with excitement. But the diligence and risk earned him a great name and awards too.
"Shooting a song in candlelight is easy, but recreating the effect of having shot in candle light with the shadows looking natural is a tough proposition... we did it in Maayavi." Randy goes on.
Aiming high
That song in `Jayam,' with dancers atop a train was a challenge. "We had to shoot with a trolley and crane on a moving train... I did get hurt but I'm never reckless," he laughs.
Working with Vijay for `Thirumalai' was again a fulfilling experience for Randy.
"When Vijay thanked me for accepting the project, I was bowled over by his humility," he says. Randy vibes well with all the heroes he works with.
His work in the Telugu `Arya,' has also earned him accolades. At the moment Ratnavelu is working in the Bharat starrer, `February 14,' being directed by Shankar's assistant Hosimin.
"A fantasy this time ... with more of gloss," he smiles. A cameraman should go beyond lighting, is his view.
" I always aim for perfection, thanks to my guru Rajeev Menon, " he says.
Sure. When Janusz Kaminski, the man who filmed `Schindler's List,' is his inspiration, his aspiration has got to be in the picture perfect zone ...
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