Manesh Madhavan

Manesh Madhavan, honestly, the guy’s got serious chops behind the camera. He came out of FTII Pune, which—let’s be real—is basically the Hogwarts for Indian filmmakers. You won’t catch him sticking to just one language or zone. He’s been all over: Malayalam, Hindi, Bengali, you name it. The man hops between industries like he’s changing playlists, and his name keeps popping up in the credits of some pretty bold films. Back in 2017, he snagged the Kerala State Film Award for ‘Aedan: Garden of Desire’—and, not one to rest, he did it again in 2022 for ‘Ela Veezha Poonchira’. Both for Best Cinematography. That’s not just luck, that’s someone who knows how to make a frame pop and breathe. You can actually see his style in the way light and shadow dance across the screen. It’s got this mood, you know? Not just pretty pictures. It feels lived-in. Now, international film festivals? He’s not just a tourist. His work’s been India’s pick for Venice, Cannes, Berlin—the whole circuit. That’s no small feat. And the dude’s an alumnus of the Berlinale Talent Campus, which means he’s rubbed shoulders with the world’s up-and-coming filmmakers. That was way back in 2008, but clearly, he’s kept that momentum rolling. In short, if you’re looking for someone who blends craft, guts, and a touch of magic behind the lens, Manesh Madhavan is your guy.