Ramachandra Babu


K. Ramachandra Babu was an Indian cinematographer of over 125 films, out of which most are Malayalam films. He also worked for films in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Arabic and English languages. He served as the cinematographer for several documentaries and advertisement films as well. He was the founder of the Indian Society of Cinematographers.

Early life and career

Ramachandra Babu was born on 15 December 1947 in Maduranthakam at Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu. After obtaining his B.Sc. degree from Loyola College, Madras in 1966, he went on to join the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune to study cinematography. In the Institute, he made friends with Balu Mahendra, John Abraham and K.G. George, who would go on to become noted film directors. He obtained his Diploma in Cinema in 1971.
He made his feature film debut in 1971 as a cinematographer even before completing his FTII course, for Vidyarthikale Ithile Ithile. It was also the debut film of director John Abraham and writer Azad. Ramachandra Babu became noted in the industry after he served as the cinematographer for Nirmalyam and Swapnadanam, which were directorial debuts of M.T. Vasudevan Nair and K.G. George, respectively. All these films were shot in Black & White.

Later career

Ramachandra Babu's first colour film was Dweepu, directed by Ramu Kariat, and it won him his first Kerala State Film Award for Best Cinematography. He went on to win 3 more State Awards for Rathinirvedam and Chamaram, directed by Bharathan, and Oru Vadakkan Veeragadha, directed by Hariharan.
He played a prominent role in ushering in the technical advancements in cinematography into Malayalam cinema. The transition from Black & White to colour aside, he served as the cinematographer for the first CinemaScope film to be shot in South India, Alavuddinum Athbutha Vilakkum, directed by I. V. Sasi. Despite featuring major stars like Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth and Jayabharathi, the film was delayed and another CinemaScope film Thacholi Ambu was released ahead of it, leaving the latter to be considered as the first CinemaScope film in South India. He was the cinematographer of the first film to be released with 70 mm film in Malayalam. The film, Padayottam, directed by Jijo Punnoose, was from the production house of Thacholi Ambu, Navodaya. The film was photographed in CinemaScope format and was converted to 70 mm blow-up prints with 6-track magnetic stereo sound during post-production.
His noted films include Nirmalyam, Swapnadanam, Bandhanam, Agraharathil Kazhuthai, Itha Ivide Vare, Patita, Yavanika & Marmaram, both Kerala State Best Film Award – 1982, Padayottam, Pagal Nilavu, Oru Vadakkan Veera Gaadha, Aadhaaram, Sallapam, Ghazal, Kanmadam, Beyond the Soul and Al-Boom.

Awards

The positions held by Ramachandra Babu in various organisations and award committees include:
The list of films for which Ramachandra Babu served as the director of cinematography:
  1. Vidhyarthikale Ithile Ithile – Dir: John Abraham
  2. Ragging – Dir: N.N.Pisharody
  3. Manassu – Dir: Hameed Kakkassery
  4. Nirmalyam – Dir: M.T.Vasudevan Nair
  5. Agnipushpam – Dir: Jesey
  6. Srishti – Dir: K.T.Muhammed
  7. Swapnadanam – Dir: K.G.George
  8. Rajankanam – Dir: Jesy
  9. Dweepu – Dir: Ramu Kariat
  10. Amme Anupame – Dir: K.S.Sethumadhavan
  11. Veedu Oru Swargam – Dir: Jesey
  12. Itha Ivide Vare – Dir: I.V.Sasi
  13. Sneha Yamuna – Dir: Balthazar
  14. Tholireyi Gadichinthi – Dir: K.S.Rami Reddy
  15. Randu Lokam – Dir: Sasi Kumar
  16. Rathinirvedam – Dir: Bharathan
  17. Agraharathil Kazhuthai – Dir: John Abraham
  18. Ekaakini – Dir: G.S.Pannikker
  19. Vadakakkuoru Hrudayam – Dir: I.V.Sasi
  20. Onappudava – Dir: K.G. George
  21. Mannu – Dir: K.G. George
  22. Bandhanam -Dir: M.T. Vasudevan Nair
  23. Udhayam Kizhakkuthanne – Dir: P.N. Menon
  24. Nakshatrangale Kaaval – Dir: K.S. Sethumadhavan
  25. Allavudeenum Albuthavilakkum – Dir: I.V. Sasi
  26. Allavudeenum Arputhavilakkum – Dir: I.V. Sasi
  27. Orey Vaanam Orey Bhoomi – Dir: I.V. Sasi
  28. Devathai – Dir: P.N.Menon
  29. Ezham Kadalin Akkare Dir: I.V. Sasi
  30. Vilkanundu Swapnangal Dir:- M Azad
  31. Chamaram – Dir: Bharathan
  32. Sisirathil Oru Vasantham – Dir: Keyar
  33. Patita – Dir: I.V. Sasi
  34. Mela – Dir: K.G. George
  35. Savithri – Dir: Bharathan
  36. Nidhra – Dir: Bharathan
  37. Manian Plilla Adhava Manian Pilla – Dir: Balachandra Menon
  38. Kolangal – Dir: K.G. George
  39. Yavanika – Dir: K.G. George
  40. Palangal – Dir: Bharathan
  41. Aalolam – Dir: Mohan
  42. Padayottam – Dir: Jijo
  43. Marmaram – Dir: Bharathan
  44. Vaarikkuzhi -Dir: M.T. Vasudevan Nair
  45. Innallengil Naale – Dir: I.V. Sasi
  46. Sandhyakku Virinja Poovu – Dir: P.G. Viswambharan
  47. Eettillam – Dir: Fazil
  48. Pin Nilavu – Dir: P.G.Viswambharan
  49. Sagaram Santham – Dir: P.G. Viswambharan
  50. Marakkukila Orikkalum – Dir: Fazil
  51. Onnu Chirikku – Dir: P.G. Viswambharan
  52. Onnanu Nammal – Dir: P.G. Viswambharan
  53. Aadaminte Variyellu – Dir: K.G. George
  54. Unaroo – Dir: Mani Rathnam
  55. Oru Kochu Katha Aarum Parayatha Katha – Dir: P.G. Viswambharan
  56. Vellarikka Pattanam – Dir: Thomas Berly
  57. Paadum Vanampadi – Dir: Jayakumar
  58. Pagal Nilavu – Dir: Mani Rathnam
  59. Ivvide Ee Theerathu – Dir: P.G.Viswambharan
  60. Ee Lokam Ivvide Kure Manushyar – Dir: P.G. Viswambharan
  61. Deivathayorthu – Dir: R. Gopi
  62. Ithile Iniyum Varu – Dir: P.G. Viswambharan
  63. Mandhira Punnagai – Dir: Tahmizh Azhagan
  64. Ennu Nathante Nimmi – Dir: Sajan
  65. Achuvettente Veedu – Dir: Balachandra Menon
  66. Kanakambarangal – Dir: N. Sankaran Nair
  67. Puravrutham – Dir: Lenin Rajendran
  68. Oozham – Dir: Harikumar
  69. Mattoral – Dir: K.G.George
  70. Kadhal Enum Nadhiyinile – Dir: M.K.I Sukumaran
  71. Oru Vadakkan Veera Gaadha – Dir: Hariharan
  72. Utharam – Dir: Pavithran
  73. Ashokante Aswathikuttikku – Dir: Vijayan Karot
  74. Brahma Rakshass – Dir: Vijayan Karot
  75. Ee Kannikoodi – Dir: K.G. George
  76. Radha Madhavam – Dir: Suresh Unnithan
  77. Manamadha Sarangal – Dir: Baby
  78. Mukha Chitram – Dir: Suresh Unnithan
  79. Kadinjool Kalyanam – Dir: Rajasenan
  80. Neelagiri – Dir: I.V. Sasi
  81. Irikku M.D. Akathundu Dir: P.G. Viswambharan
  82. Aadharam – Dir: George Kithu
  83. Ponnurukkum Pakshi – Dir: Vaisakan
  84. Ente Ponnu Thampuran – – Dir: A.T. Abu
  85. Mugamudra – Dir: Ali Akbar
  86. First Bell – Dir: P.G. Viswambharan
  87. Savidham – Dir: George Kithu
  88. Soorya Gayathri – Dir: Anil
  89. Venkalam – Dir: Bharathan
  90. Aalavattom – Dir: Raju Ambharan
  91. Pravachakan – Dir: P.G. Viswambharan
  92. Ghazal – Dir: Kamal
  93. Bandhukkal Sathrukkal – Dir: Sreekumaran Thampi
  94. Bhoomi Geetham – Dir: Kamal
  95. Kudumba Visesham – Dir: Anil – Babu
  96. Nandhini Oppol – Dir: Mohan Kupleri
  97. Gamanam – Dir: Sreeprakash
  98. Sargavasntham – Dir: Anil Das
  99. Samudhayam – Dir: Ambili
  100. Thovala Pookkal – Dir: Suresh Unnithan
  101. Sallapam – Dir: Sunder Daas
  102. Harbour – Dir: Anil – Babu
  103. Kungumacheppu – Dir: Thulasi Das
  104. Kudamattom – Dir: Sundar Daas
  105. Kaarunyam – Dir: Lohita Das
  106. Hrishyashringan – Dir: Suresh Unnithan
  107. Kanmadam – Dir: Lohita Das
  108. Ilavankodu Desam – Dir: K.G.George
  109. Aakasha Ganga – Dir: Vinayan
  110. Saaphalyam – Dir: G.S.Vijayan
  111. English Medium – Dir: Pradep Chokli
  112. Varnakkazhchagal – Dir: Sunder Daas
  113. Puthooram Puthri Unniyarcha – Dir: P.G.Viswambharan
  114. Nakshatra Kannulla Rajakumaran
  115. Vanundoru Rajakumari – Dir: Rajasenan
  116. Beyond The Soul – Dir: Rajiv Anchal
  117. Swapnam Kondu Thulabharam – Dir: Rajasenan
  118. Kanninum Kannadikkum – Dir: Sunder Daas
  119. Agni Nakshatram – Dir: Kareem
  120. Kalyana Kurimanam – Dir: Udaya Kumar
  121. Udayon – Dir: Bhadran
  122. Mayookham – Dir: Hariharan
  123. Al Boom Dir: Khalid Al Zadjali
  124. Bharathan – Dir: Anil Das
  125. Mizhigal Saakshi – Dir: Ashok R Nath
  126. Pagal Nakshatrangal – Dir: Rajeevnath
  127. Yugapurushan – Dir: R. Sukumaran
  128. Kadaksham – Dir: Shashi Paravoor
  129. Inganayum Oraal – Dir Kabeer Raother
  130. Pirate's Blood – Dir: Mark Ratering
  131. Venshankpol – Dir: Ashok R Nath

    Unreleased films

  132. Kaadhal Viduthalai – Dir: Jayakumar
  133. Puthiya Swarangal – Dir: Vijayan
  134. Puthu Mazhathullikal – Dir: Raghavan
  135. Kavaadam – Dir: K.R.Joshi
Professor dingan-director..died during the production

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