''VIJAY SIR APPRECIATED ME FOR MY WORK IN MUMBAI, FOR THUPPAKKI''

The recent horror phenomenon, DeMonte Colony, has been ruling the roost in theaters since its release last week and the film is holding on well even after the release of Masss. 

 

We catch up with the DoP of the film, Aravinnd Singh, a former assistant of the legendary Santosh Sivan in movies like Thuppakki and Urumi

 

"I studied in Rajini sir's Ashram school in Chennai and it was a place which shaped my interests to get into the cinema space. Later, I did a production course in Whistling Woods, Mumbai but I wasn't very good at the production aspects. My mentor at the institute advised me to take up direction after being impressed with my work in a short film. I happened to get a recommendation to meet Santosh Sivan sir and managed to impress him with my work, as he is someone who doesn't accept people just out of recommendations. I was bitten by the cinematography bug only after meeting Santosh sir and guess I was destined to be a cameraman.

 

I joined him as an assistant in 2010 after passing out, and I worked in Thuppakki for the entire duration of the film as a 2nd unit cameraman. Vijay sir appreciated me for my work in some of the candid shots on Mumbai's roads. I was required to operate the camera in a crowded street, walking and holding the camera on my shoulders. I couldn't even see the view-finder and had just one chance to get that shot. We did it in a single take and Vijay sir was really impressed.

 

I learnt speed, efficiency and the importance of choosing good stories from Santosh sir. He is also someone who believes that inherent sensibilities are very important for a cameraman, and not just technical competency. I also learnt to appreciate paintings after associating with him.

 

I knew Ajay from Thuppakki and he is very meticulous as a director. I wondered if I could ever work with him (laughs). DeMonte Colony was shot very fast and efficiently thanks to my tutelage under Santosh sir.

 

And my biggest inspiration in my field has to be Roger Deakins."

 

Good Luck Aravinnd