When did you realise cinema was your calling?
My fascination with the films began during my sixth and seventh grades. I would imagine myself in the shoes of the heroes. When I watched Rhythm, for example, I wanted to become a bomb disposal technician (laughs). Then, my English teacher told me how it was important to have a specific goal in life and I decided to make a career out of cinema.
What have you learned from your directors?
Ramesh Aravind sir, whom I’ve worked with the most, is my guru. He has played the lead in more than 100 films and has directed many films. When he is working as a director too, we have to control the crowd that wants to meet him. Despite this, he is extremely down-to-earth and easy to work with. Directors at sets are always under pressure, but he is very cool, even when working on a film like Uttama Villain starring Kamal sir, Balachander sir, and where even the junior artists are well-known stars. He also has a great sense of editing, so he shoots only what’s necessary. Shamdat sir was Uttama Villain’s cinematographer and when he directed the Mammootty starrer-Street Lights, I assisted him. He is known for his speed as a cameraman and that was true with direction too. And he wasn’t just quick, but had clarity as well, which is commendable. Dhilip Kumar too is very calm and cool. Even in his first film, he knew how to get the exact emotion from the artistes.