Sanu varghese biography of barack

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His ability to capture stunning visuals and create unique visual styles has made him one of the most sought-after cinematographers in the industry.

sanu varghese biography of barack

These experiences equipped him with the expertise needed to transition into professional media production.[8][7]

Career

Early career

Sanu John Varghese began his professional career as a news cameraman at DD News, Doordarshan's news division, in the late 1990s, where he handled camera operations for television broadcasts.

During the period, her also began work on Kamal Haasan's historical Tamil film, Marmayogi, but the film was shelved after pre-production.

In early 2010, Kamal Haasan called Varghese to work with him on the production of his bilingual spy-thriller Vishwaroopam (2013). Varghese's debut as an independent cinematographer came with the 2003 Hindi film "Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon."   

 

 

He gained widespread recognition for his work in Kamal Haasan's spy thriller, "Vishwaroopam" (2013), where his stunning visuals captured the diverse landscapes and action sequences of the film.

As of 2025, he remains active primarily as a cinematographer on projects like the Telugu film HIT: The Third Case, suggesting an ongoing integration of roles rather than a full shift to directing.[20][21]

Filmography

As cinematographer

Sanu John Varghese has served as cinematographer on over 30 feature films spanning Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu cinema as of 2025.[4]His credited works include:
  • Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon (2003, Hindi): Debut feature, capturing the quirky narrative of a small-town woman's Bollywood aspirations with intimate, naturalistic lighting.[1]
  • Karthik Calling Karthik (2010, Hindi): Employed subtle visual motifs to underscore the psychological thriller's themes of schizophrenia and mystery.[2]
  • Electra (2010, Malayalam): Focused on dramatic shadows and close-ups to heighten the emotional intensity of the family drama.[20]
  • Vishwaroopam (2013, Tamil/Hindi): Shot simultaneously in multiple languages, addressing challenges in maintaining visual continuity and dialogue synchronization across versions.[22]
  • Hasee Toh Phasee (2014, Hindi): Utilized vibrant color palettes and dynamic tracking shots to enhance the romantic comedy's whimsical tone.[23]
  • Thoonga Vanam / Cheekati Rajyam (2015, Tamil/Telugu): Adapted noir-inspired lighting for the bilingual crime thriller, emphasizing tension in urban settings.[24]
  • Wazir (2016, Hindi): Integrated chessboard motifs through strategic framing and low-key lighting to symbolize the film's intellectual cat-and-mouse game.[25]
  • Take Off (2017, Malayalam): Documented real-time hostage crisis visuals with handheld camerawork for authenticity, drawing from actual events.[26]
  • Badhaai Ho (2018, Hindi): Employed warm, domestic lighting to portray middle-class family dynamics with humor and realism.[27]
  • Jersey (2019, Telugu): Captured the grit of sports drama through natural outdoor lighting on cricket fields, evoking nostalgia and perseverance.[28]
  • Lootcase (2020, Hindi): Used playful, shadowy aesthetics to match the film's comedic heist elements and chaotic energy.[25]
  • Malik (2021, Malayalam): Highlighted socio-political themes with stark contrasts and wide-angle shots in coastal locales.[29]
  • Shyam Singha Roy (2021, Telugu/Tamil): Blended period and modern visuals using sepia tones for historical segments and vivid colors for contemporary ones.[29]
  • Hi Nanna (2023, Telugu): Focused on soft, ethereal lighting to convey emotional father-daughter bonds in a heartfelt drama.
  • Ponman (2025, Malayalam): Incorporated moody, rain-soaked cinematography to amplify the thriller's atmospheric tension.
  • HIT: The 3rd Case (2025, Telugu): Employed high-contrast visuals and rapid cuts to build suspense in the investigative narrative.

As director

Sanu John Varghese made his directorial debut with the 2021 Malayalam-language drama film Aarkkariyam, a character-driven story exploring interpersonal relationships and subtle mysteries through visually evocative storytelling.[24][30] The film, co-written by Varghese alongside Rajesh Ravi and Arun Janardanan, stars Sharaf U Dheen, Biju Menon, and Parvathy Thiruvothu, and emphasizes emotional depth over conventional plot twists.[31][32]As of November 2025, Aarkkariyam remains Varghese's sole directorial credit, with no additional feature films announced.[33] In this project, he also handled cinematography, integrating his expertise in visual composition to enhance the narrative's intimate tone.[30]

Awards and recognition

For cinematography

Sanu Varghese has been recognized for his cinematographic contributions through several prestigious awards from major South Indian film organizations.

In 2018, he won the South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA) for Best Cinematographer in the Malayalam category for his work on the survival thriller Take Off, praised for capturing the stark realism of the nurses' ordeal in Iraq.[34] This accolade highlighted his ability to blend documentary-style visuals with dramatic tension in a multilingual production.Building on this success, Varghese received the SIIMA Award for Best Cinematographer in the Telugu category in 2021 for Jersey, where his evocative imagery enhanced the emotional depth of the sports drama, particularly in scenes depicting the protagonist's cricketing journey and personal struggles.[35] His cinematography in this film was noted for its warm, nostalgic tones that resonated with audiences across regions.In 2022, Varghese was honored with the Indywood Cinematography Award for Best Cinematographer for his work on the Telugu film Shyam Singha Roy, recognizing his versatile contributions across Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu industries.[36] Earlier, his visuals in Kamal Haasan's Vishwaroopam (2013) earned widespread critical acclaim for their innovative use of lighting and composition in action sequences, though specific nominations from bodies like Filmfare were not recorded.

He frequently employs Steadicam for fluid, dynamic shots that immerse viewers in action and emotional sequences, enhancing narrative flow without disrupting pacing. Before obtaining the chance to work on the Hindi film Karthik Calling Karthik (2010) and the Malayalam psychological thriller Elektra (2010), he continued to work on commercials, filming almost 600 of them.

He won acclaim for his work in capturing the terrain of Jordan, which was shown as Afghanistan in the film, and the technical brilliance of the film was noted by his peers in the film industry. Co-written by Varghese alongside Arun Janardanan and Rajesh Ravi, the film was produced by Aashiq Abu and Santhosh T. Kuruvilla under OPM Dream Mill Cinemas and Moonshot Entertainments, and it premiered on Amazon Prime Video.[19][20]Varghese's directorial style in Aarkkariyam prioritizes intimate and realistic cinematography to foster emotional intimacy, drawing heavily from his extensive experience as a cinematographer in feature films and advertisements.

He attended M.D. Seminary Higher Secondary School in Kottayam. The story follows a couple, Shirley and Roy, who return from Mumbai to Shirley's family home in Kerala, where family secrets unravel into a tale of blackmail and moral ambiguity, highlighting interpersonal dynamics and emotional vulnerabilities. In multi-language productions, Varghese has adeptly transitioned to digital formats, optimizing for varying resolutions and post-production needs to ensure visual consistency across linguistic versions.[2][17][18]

Directorial ventures

Sanu John Varghese made his directorial debut with the 2021 Malayalam-language film Aarkkariyam, a mysterydrama that delves into human connections amid personal crises and the backdrop of the COVID-19 lockdown.

Sanu Varghese

Sanu Varghese attended College of Fine Arts Trivandrum and upon graduation went on to join the Sarojini Naidu School of Arts and Communication at University of Hyderabad, before beginning work with DD News. He became acquainted with Ravi K. Chandran and assisted him on a couple of ventures and documentaries, before making his debut as an independent cinematographer with Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon (2003).

After that, Sanu worked hard to secure locations around the world for the movie during its two-year production.   

 

 

Career Highlights

His career took off after assisting renowned cinematographer Ravi K. Chandran on various projects. This program provided him with a comprehensive theoretical foundation in the visual medium under esteemed faculty.[8][7]Through his university training, Varghese developed essential technical skills in lighting, composition, and documentary filmmaking, particularly via hands-on projects that emphasized practical application in visual storytelling.

Similarly, Take Off (2017) garnered praise for its immersive framing, contributing to the film's international recognition.[7]

For directing

Sanu Varghese received the 30th Aravindan Award for Best Debutant Filmmaker in 2022 for his directorial debut Aarkkariyam, recognizing his innovative narrative approach in exploring themes of guilt and familial bonds within a mystery framework.[37] This accolade, instituted in memory of filmmaker G.

Aravindan, highlights Varghese's successful shift from cinematography to directing by commending the film's subtle storytelling and emotional depth.In addition to the Aravindan honor, Varghese was awarded the inaugural Kishore Kumar Award for Best Debut Director in 2022, established by the Janachithra Film Society to honor emerging Malayalam filmmakers, with Aarkkariyam praised for its restrained narrative innovation that blends realism and introspection.[38] The film also earned selections in prestigious festivals, including a premiere in the debut directors' section at the 26th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) in 2021, underscoring Varghese's ability to craft compelling stories that resonate through minimalistic yet profound character-driven plots.[39]These recognitions affirm Varghese's transition from a renowned cinematographer to a creative force in directing, marking his debut as a pivotal moment in Malayalam cinema where technical expertise informs bold narrative choices.[37]

Sanu John Varghese

Biography

Sanu John Varghese is a prominent Indian cinematographer who has made significant contributions to the Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu film industries.