Ponniyin Selvan and Tamasha cinematographer Ravi Varman joins American Society of Cinematographers (ASC), the second Indian cinematographer to receive this prestigious honour after Santosh Sivan

The National Award-winning cinematographer Ravi Varman is invited to be the new member of American Society of Cinematographers (ASC), the world’s leading cinematographers’ organisation. Ravi Varman becomes the second Indian cinematographer to receive this prestigious recognition after Santosh Sivan.

The induction process of American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) is quite rigorous. The board members and Oscar winner Cinematographers watch and discuss the body of work of new members rigorously before conferring the honour.

Ravi Varman is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) since 2024.

Sharing his joy about receiving a huge honour, the self taught cinematographer Ravi Varman says, “I would like to convey my heartfelt gratitude to the board of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) for inducting me as a member. Cinematographers from all over the world dream of joining this association. It gives me great joy and pride to be included in a platform where the world’s leading cinematographers who have won awards including Oscars are members. I wholeheartedly thank those who made me realise this dream.”

In a career spanning over 25 years, Ravi Varman has shot films in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi and English. He has collaborated with noted Indian filmmakers such as Mani Rathnam, Shankar, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Raj Kumar Hirani, Anurag Basu, Imtiaz Ali and American filmmaker Dune Adler and shot films like Ponniyin Selvan, Dasavatharam, Vettaiyaadu Vaidyaadu, Barfi, Sanju, Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela, Tamasha etc.

About Ravi Varman

Ravi Varman is a self-taught cinematographer, whose journey into the world of visual storytelling began, not in a classroom, but in the humble surroundings of a remote village in South of India. Orphaned at the age of 13 and forced to discontinue his formal education, he moved to Madras city out of necessity, taking on various odd jobs and often sleeping on street pavements.During these challenges, he found solace and inspiration in an unexpected source:an out-of-focus photograph of his late mother, the only image he had of hers. This single photograph sparked his fascination for photography.

At 14, when he was toiling as a cleaner in a hotel and with his first income, purchased a camera—a Zenith TTL 35 mm film-SLR —without even knowing how to use it.

Driven by curiosity and determination, he entered the film industry at the age of 16 as an office boy, gradually working his way up through various roles and eventually ended up as an assistant cinematographer. Over the years, he discovered the works of legendary film-makers like Satyajit Ray, Federico Fellini, Akira Kurosawa, David Lean, Ingmar Bergman, and Alfred Hitchcock, which subconsciously groomed his visual sense.

Ravi became an independent cinematographer in 1999, and over the past 25 years, has shot more than 35 films, and has worked with 30 directors. He has collaborated with many of India’s top directors Iike Mani Rathnam, Shankar, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Raj Kumar Hirani, Anurag Basu, Imtiaz Ali, and American Filmmaker Dune Adler. His work, known for its framing and use of glares, flares, and vibrant colors, has been recognized both in India and abroad. He strives to capture the sense of surrealism and romanticism in his frames, often drawing inspiration from the world of painting. He was heavily influenced by the colors of Salvador Dali, creativity-and simplicity of Van Gogh and realism of Raja Ravi Varma.

His journey has also taken him into the world of advertising, where he has shot a number of commercials for brands like Coke, Nestle, Lux, and more.Whether it’s the grand scale of a feature film or the precision of a commercial, his goal remains the same: to capture the essence of the story and to create relevant images that leave a lasting impact.For him, the primary motive of cinematography is to present reality in a different perspective and to explore the novelty of ever changing nature’s lights and colors. He strongly feels art is nothing but the closest replication or imitation of nature.

Ravi Varman’s chequered life proves that, working against all odds, with nothing in favour or no Godfather, if one persistently strives with hope, one can reach immeasurable heights.

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