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Tirru

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Tirru
Tirru at Vanamagan audio launch
Born
S. Thirunavukarasu

(1966-06-02) 2 June 1966 (age 58)
Salem, Tamil Nadu, India.
Occupations
Years active1994–present
Notable workHey Ram (2000)
Kanchivaram (2008)
24 (2016)
Jigarthanda DoubleX (2023)
AwardsNational Film Awards (2016)

S. Thirunavukarasu (born 21 July 1966), better known mononymously as Tirru, is an Indian cinematographer and screenwriter who has worked in multiple languages across India. Born in Mullukuruchi village, Tirru became interested in photography when he was in college.

He gained recognition through collaborations with Kamal Haasan, contributing pioneering techniques in Indian cinema. His cinematography on 24 (2016), won the National Film Award for Best Cinematography.

Personal life

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Tirru was born on 21 July 1966 in Mullukuruchi village, Namakkal. He became interested in photography while studying science in college. He assisted by his cousin, a dentist by profession, in the latter's passion for nature photography.[1]

Film career

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He co-wrote the screenplay of the Malayalam film Mission 90 Days with director Major Ravi.[2] He is also known for television commercials.[1][2]

Debut as cinematographer (1993)

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Tirru began his career by assisting cinematographer P.C. Sreeram, working on four films during this period.[1][3] Tirru's last project as an assistant was the film Thevar Magan (1992), which caught the attention of Kamal Haasan. This led to Tirru's first project as a cinematographer for Magalir Mattum (1994), directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao and produced by Kamal Haasan.[1]

Srinivasa Rao wasn't used to working with newcomers and had doubts at first but Tirru convinced him with his technical skills in the opening shots.[4] Kamal Haasan's faith in Tirru played a big role during his debut.[4] During the filming of KT Kunjumon's Tamil movie Sakthi in 1997, the shoot was set in Pollachi. In one particular scene featuring charging wild elephants, Tirru and his assistant were on a 45-foot-high crane to shoot a scene. Unfortunately, the situation took a dangerous turn as still photographer Rajesh recounts, "Somehow, the mahouts lost control of the elephants, and they came charging towards the crane. We knew that if they hit the crane, we would fall to our deaths." to Cinema Express.[5]

Collaboration with Kamal Haasan (1993–2001)

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Early in his career, Tirru and Kamal Haasan has collaborated on four films, Magalir Mattum (1994), Kaathala Kaathala (1998), Hey Ram (2000) and Aalavandhan (2001).[4] Aalavandhan pioneered the use of a motion control rig in India for capturing picture movement and Tirru was the first cinematographer to introduce it. Aalavandhan was also the first film to use animation sequences in the Indian film industry.[6][7]

Post national award (2018–present)

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In 2018, Karthik Subbaraj reached out to Tirru for the silent film Mercury as he wanted an experienced cinematographer capable of conveying a narrative without relying on dialogue. They worked on the pre-production planning for three months to address the challenges posed by the film's silent nature and unconventional genre.[8][9]

In 2019, Tirru and Karthik Subbaraj collaborated again on the action-drama film Petta starring Rajinikanth.[10][11] This was Tirru's first collaboration with Rajinikanth and it was a long-held dream of his as he had missed an opportunity previously to be the cinematographer of Enthiran (2010) directed by Shankar.[12]

Tirru debuted in Kannada cinema with the action thriller Twenty One Hours (2022) directed by debutant Jaishankar Pandit. Jai Sankar has worked with Tirru on multiple television advertisements.[13]

Filmography

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Year Film Language Notes
1994 Magalir Mattum Tamil Debut as cinematographer
1997 Sakthi Tamil
1998 Kaathala Kaathala Tamil
Manjeeradhwani Malayalam Debut in Malayalam
2000 Hey Ram Tamil
Hindi		 Debut in Hindi
Champion Hindi
2001 Little John Tamil
Hindi
English
Aalavandhan
Abhay		 Tamil
Hindi
2002 23rd March 1931: Shaheed Hindi
2003 Lesa Lesa Tamil
Hungama Hindi
Punarjani Malayalam
Mullavalliyum Thenmavum Malayalam
2005 Garam Masala Hindi
Kyon Ki Hindi
2006 Chup Chup Ke Hindi
Keerthi Chakra Malayalam
2007 Kireedam Tamil Also featured segments shot by Nirav Shah
Mission 90 Days Malayalam Also writer[2]
Bhool Bhulaiyaa Hindi
2008 Kanchivaram Tamil 1st Filmfare Award for Best Cinematography
2009 Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani Hindi
2010 Aakrosh Hindi
2012 Tezz Hindi
2013 Krrish 3 Hindi
Geethaanjali Malayalam
2016 24 Tamil National Film Award for Best Cinematography[14][15]
Janatha Garage Telugu Debut in Telugu
2017 Vanamagan Tamil
2018 Mercury Tamil 1st of 3 collaborations with Karthik Subbaraj
Bharat Ane Nenu Telugu Also features segments shot by Ravi K. Chandran
Fanney Khan Hindi
2019 Petta Tamil
2021 Eeswaran Tamil
Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea Malayalam
2022 Acharya Telugu [16]
Twenty One Hours Kannada
Malayalam 		[13]
2023 Jigarthanda DoubleX Tamil [17]
2025 Game Changer Telugu Filming
Sikandar Hindi Filming

Awards

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Awards and nominations received by Tirru
Award Year Category Work(s) Result Ref.
7th Annual Screen Awards 2000 Best Cinematography Hey Ram Nominated [18]
Kerala Film Critics Association Awards 2003 Best Cinematography Mullavalliyum Thenmavum Won [19]
V. Shantharam Award 2008 Best Cinematography Kanchivaram Won
Filmfare Awards 2008 Best Cinematography Kanchivaram Won [20]
Filmfare Awards 2016 Best Cinematography 24 Won [21]
National Film Awards 2016 Best Cinematography Won [14]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "An interview with Thiru". www.chennaionline.com:80. Archived from the original on 11 March 2003. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "The Hindu : Friday Review Thiruvananthapuram / Personality : Realistic frames". The Hindu. 28 November 2007. Archived from the original on 28 November 2007. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  3. ^ "DOP Tirru Interview". www.moviecrow.com. Archived from the original on 9 January 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "24 Frames". The Hindu. 30 April 2016. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 14 March 2019. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  5. ^ "Location Diaries: Candid shots and close shaves". Cinema Express. 7 March 2018. Archived from the original on 30 April 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  6. ^ "'Aalavandhan' - 2001". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 16 November 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  7. ^ Raman, Sruthi Ganapathy (15 December 2023). "Has Aalavandhan's Time Finally Come?". www.filmcompanion.in. Archived from the original on 6 January 2024. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  8. ^ "'Other language films have taken over our screens'". Cinema Express. May 2018. Archived from the original on 17 April 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  9. ^ Menon, Vishal (3 May 2018). "'Cinematographers shouldn't have their own style'". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 17 April 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  10. ^ "Petta is filled with anger: Cinematographer Tirru". Cinema Express. 9 January 2019. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  11. ^ "'Rajinikanth's enthusiasm and dedication are beyond his age'". The Indian Express. 23 January 2019. Archived from the original on 19 June 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  12. ^ "Petta cinematographer S Thirunavukarasu says 'the story is secondary in a Rajinikanth film'". Firstpost. 9 January 2019. Archived from the original on 17 May 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  13. ^ a b "Tirru makes his debut in Kannada with Dhananjay's untitled action-thriller". Cinema Express. 29 September 2020. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  14. ^ a b "64th National Film Awards: Pulimurugan, Joker, 24 sweep top honours". Archived from the original on 25 June 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  15. ^ "64th National Awards: Complete List of the Winners". News18. 7 April 2017. Archived from the original on 17 September 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  16. ^ Dundoo, Sangeetha Devi (28 April 2022). "Director Koratala Siva on casting Chiranjeevi and Ram Charan in contrasting characters in 'Acharya' and why his movies are larger than life". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  17. ^ Bureau, The Hindu (11 December 2022). "Karthik Subbaraj's 'Jigarthanda Double X': A 'kind of teaser' featuring SJ Suryah, Raghava Lawrence out". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 6 January 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2023. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  18. ^ "Screen Videocon Awards 2000". Screen India. 19 February 2004. Archived from the original on 19 February 2004. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  19. ^ Critics, kerala Film. "FILM CRITICS AWARDS COMPLETE LIST FROM 1977 TILL 2012 ഫിലിം ക്രിട്ടിക്‌സ് അവാര്‍ഡ് 1977 മുതല്‍ 2012 വരെ സമ്പൂര്‍ണ പട്ടിക". Archived from the original on 25 January 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  20. ^ Bhama Devi Ravi (8 August 2010). "Chennai rocks to Filmfare awards | Chennai News - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 8 January 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  21. ^ "Winners of the 64th Jio Filmfare Awards (South)". filmfare.com. Archived from the original on 16 April 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
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