Ramachandra Babu (1947-2019) was an Indian cinematographer with over 130 films in various languages. His works are mostly in Malayalam film Industry. His famous films are Nirmalyam (1973), Chamaram (1980), Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (1989), and Kanmadham (1998). He was also one of the founding members of the Indian Society of Cinematographers (ISC), which was established in 1995. He died on 21 December 2019 after suffering a fatal heart attack.
Wiki/Biography
Kunjan Ramachandra Babu was born on 15 December 1947 (aged 72 years at death) in Maduranthakam, Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu. His zodiac sign is Sagittarius. He was a brilliant student who got multiple promotions in various grades at school. He finished school at the age of 14. He graduated in Chemistry in 1966 from Loyola College in Chennai, after which he obtained a Diploma in Cinema (Motion Picture Photography) at the Film Institute of India in Poona (now, Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune).
Ramachandra Babu as a student at FTII
Family
He is from a Keralite family settled in Marudanthakam, Tamil Nadu.
Parents & Siblings
Ramachandra Babu’s parents are Kunjan Pillai and Padmini Amma. His parents both hail from Alappuzha, Kerala. He is the eldest of their seven children.
Ramachandra Babu with his parents, siblings and friends
His younger brother Ravi K. Chandran, is an established cinematographer and film director. He is famous for the films Virasat (1997), Dil Chahta Hai (2001), and Saawariya (2007).
Ramachandra Babu Ravi K. Chandran’s brother
Wife & Children
Ramachandra Babu married K. Lathika Rani in 1982. His children are Abhishek R. Babu and Abhilash R. Babu.
Others
His nephew Santhana Krishnan Ravichandran is a photographer with majority of his work in Bollywood. Some of his works are the Malayalam films Two Countries (2015), Baaghi 2 (2018), and Kabir Singh (2019).
Ramachandra Babu’s nephew Santhana Krishnan
Religion/Religious Views
Ramachandra Babu belongs to a Hindu family.
Caste
He is from the Pillai Keralite community, which is part of the Nair caste.
Signature/Autograph
Signature of Ramachandra Babu
Career
Movie
In the third year of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) course he made his film debut, as the lensman of Vidhyarthikale Ithile Ithile (1971). The film is directed by John Abraham, one of his seniors from FTII. His work is greatly appreciated.
Vidhyarthikale Ithile Ithile movie poster
He was the cinematographer for Nirmalyam (1973), the directorial debut of MT Vasudevan Nair. It features PJ Antony, Sukumaran, and his batchmate Ravi Menon in one of the lead roles. It won many awards.
Ramachandra Babu during the shooting of the film Nirmalyam
He was also the cinematographer for Swapnadanam (1976), the directorial debut of KG George. It features Rani Chandra and Dr Mohan Das in lead roles. These two films established Ramachandra Babu in the field of cinematography in the film industry.
Ramachandra Babu during the shooting of the movie Swapnadanam
Ramachandra Babu’s first color film was Dweepu (1977) directed by Ramu Kariat. It won him the Best Cinematographer Award at the Kerala State Film Awards.
A scene from the movie Dweepu
He brought many technical improvements in the field of cinematography. Although he was the first to make a cinemascope film Alauddinum Albhuthavilakkum (1979), its release was delayed. So, although on record, Thacholi Ambu (1978) was the first cinemascope film in Malayalam, Ramachandra Babulah was the first to work on it. He was also the cinematographer of the first 70mm film in Malayalam, Padayottam (1982).
Ramachandra Babu with 70mm film equipment
His first Tamil film Agraharathil Kazhuthai (1977) was directed by John Abraham. His first Telugu film was Tholireyi Gadichindi (1977). He was the cinematographer for Rajiv Anchal’s English language film, Beyond the Soul (2003). His Arabic film Al Boom was directed by Khalid Al Zidjali.
Ramachandra Babu during the shooting of the film Beyond The Soul
He also won awards for Rathinirvedam (1978), Chamaram (1980), and Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (1989). The film Professor Dinkan was his directorial debut but unfortunately, he died before the film was completed.
Awards, Honors, Achievements
- In 1976, Ramachandra Babu won the Best Cinematography Award at the Kerala State Film Awards for the film Dweepu.
- In 1978, he won the Kerala State Best Cinematography Award for the film Rathinirvedam.
- In 1980, the film Chamaram won him the Kerala State Award for Best Cinematography.
- In 1981, he won the Best Cinematography Award at the Kerala Film Critics Awards for Bharathan’s film Nidra.
- In 1989, he won the Kerala State Best Cinematography Award for the film Oru Vadakkan Veeragadha.
- In 2008, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Southern India Cinematographers Association (SICA).
Ramachandra Babu received the Lifetime Achievement Award
- In 2010, he won the Best Cinematography Award at the Kerala Film Critics Awards for the film Kadaksham.
Death
Ramachandra Babu was location hunting in Kozhikode when he collapsed due to a fatal heart attack. Although he was rushed to hospital, he died on 21 December 2019. He was cremated with full State honors at the Santhi Kavadam in Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram.
Facts/Trivia
- Ramachandra Babu is the author of the book Celluloid Swapnadakan. The book, published by Mathrubhumi Publications, is an autobiography of his cinematography career.
Ramachandra Babu’s book cover
- The first shot of his career was a close-up of actor Jayabharathi, for the film Vidhyarthikale Ithile Ithile. He expressed concern over Ramachandra Babu’s lighting technique, as it was not a common pattern he had seen so far in the industry.
- Jaya Bhaduri, Danny Dengzopa, Ravi Menon, and KG George are his contemporaries from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII).
- He is a voracious reader and writes poetry and blogs. He is also a painter.
One of Ramachandra Babu’s paintings
- He connects creativity with technology by developing Cineku, a platform for the creation of short films. The name Cineku was inspired from a short poem called Haiku.
- His first published photo was the one sent during his admission to the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). It was published in the Tamil Magazine, Kalki. The model is one of his younger brothers.
Ramachandra Babu’s first published photo
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
