Manoj Paramahamsa is an Indian cinematographer, who has worked in Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films.He have done 25 films cinematography. His notable works include Eeram (2009), Ye Maaya Chesave (2010), Nanban (2012), Race Gurram (2014), and Radhe Shyam (2022) Leo (2023).

Manoj Paramahamsa
Born
Occupation(s)Cinematographer, Film producer
Years active2008–present

Career

edit

He was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. His father UV Babu, has directed more than half-a-dozen films in Telugu and Manoj has said that "he was the one who wanted me to become a cinematographer".[1] He would accompany his father to shoots and said that he was "fascinated by cinematography, the mystery of the camera and lights".[2] Educated at the M.G.R. Government Film and Television Training Institute of Tamil Nadu in Chennai, he received his early training from the cinematographer S. Saravanan. Manoj started his career by assisting in films such as Pammal K. Sambandam, Arasatchi, Priyamana Thozhi, Madhurey, Thirupaachi and Thirupathi, as well as other films in Telugu, Malayalam and Tamil, before becoming independent.[2] He assisted him for seven years.[1]

Manoj's debut film was Eeram directed by Arivazhagan, and produced by noted director S. Shankar under his banner S Pictures. He received wide critical praise for his work in the film. Sify wrote, "it is Manoj Paramahamsa’s camera which is the real hero of the film. As a cameraman he is able to give the entire film the hazy blue look using Cyan color by the removal of red from white light for the first time in Tamil cinema, creating the eerie atmosphere and stillness against the continuous beating of the rains".[3] Similarly, Rediff wrote, "Manoj Paramahamsa's camerawork is refreshing: somber and serious, with rain always threatening in some form in the present; normal and sunny in the Trichy flashback sequences".[4]

In 2010, he worked on Gautham Vasudev Menon's romance film Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa and its Telugu remake Ye Maaya Chesave, winning the Filmfare Award for Best Cinematographer - South for the latter. He also handled cinematography for Menon's psychological thriller, Nadunisi Naaygal starring Sameera Reddy.[5] He worked in the remake of 3 Idiots in Tamil, Nanban, which was directed by S. Shankar.

He turned producer with the adventure film Poovarasam Peepee.[6] He is currently working with Vijay on Leo, after Nanban and Beast.[7]

Filmography

edit
Year Film Language Notes
2008 Lungiman Takes a Ride Tamil Short film
2009 Eeram Tamil Vijay Award for Best Cinematographer
South Scope Cine Award for Best Cinematography
2010 Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa Tamil Cinema Award For Best Cinematographer
Ye Maaya Chesave Telugu Filmfare Award for Best Cinematographer - Telugu
Nayakan Malayalam
Chutti Chathan Tamil Additional photography
Nisabhdha Nilai Tamil Short film
2011 Nadunissi Naaygal Tamil
Collector Malayalam
2012 Nanban Tamil Replaced Nirav Shah
2014 Poovarasam Peepee Tamil Also producer
Race Gurram Telugu
2015 Kick 2 Telugu
Bruce Lee Telugu
2016 Jaguar Kannada
Telugu
2017 Villain Malayalam
2019 Enai Noki Paayum Thota Tamil
Auto Shankar Tamil Web series; Also producer
Sillu Karuppatti Tamil
2021 Kutty Story Tamil Segment: Edhirpaara Muththam
Tughlaq Durbar Tamil
Chithirai Sevvaanam Tamil
2022 Radhe Shyam Telugu
Hindi
Beast Tamil Replaced Vijay Kartik Kannan
Also made a cameo appearance in the song Jolly O Gymkhana
Prince Tamil
2023 Leo Tamil
2024 Guntur Kaaram Telugu Replaced P. S. Vinod more than 50% into the filming
Minmini Tamil Also co-producer[8]
2025 Hari Hara Veera Mallu: Part 1 – Sword vs Spirit Telugu
TBA Dhruva Natchathiram Tamil

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "My entry into films was scheduled: Manoj". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Manoj Paramahamsa - Master of Shades!". Behindwoods.com.
  3. ^ "Sify Movies - Review listing". Sify. Archived from the original on 24 March 2013.
  4. ^ "Review: Eeram is brilliant".
  5. ^ "Gautham's title tales!". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013.
  6. ^ "Manoj Paramahamasa turns producer". Sify. Archived from the original on 29 April 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  7. ^ Banerjee, Urmimala (21 June 2021). "#HBDNelson: Fans shower love on Thalapathy 65 director Nelson Dilip Kumar on his birthday — view tweets". Bollywood Life. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  8. ^ "Minmini: Teenagers go on a journey of self-discovery looking for transformation". Cinema Express. 24 July 2024. Archived from the original on 24 July 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
edit