29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Regret not working with chettan after 'Piravi': Cinematographer Sunny Joseph on Shaji N Karun
After completing my studies at the Pune Film Institute, I packed my bags and reached Kottayam via Madras to shoot a documentary by Aravindettan (G Aravindan). I arrived late after taking several buses. By then, Aravindettan had taken KG Jayan, who was assisting Shaji chettan, for Panchavadi Palam (directed by K G George). Since Jayan was away, Shaji chettan asked me to stay back and assist him on the sets of Panchavadi Palam.
Though I had met Shaji chettan earlier, those four or five days on set helped us get to know each other. Later, I worked closely with him alongside K G Jayan in films like
Meenamasathile Sooryan
(Lenin Rajendran, 1986), and
Chidambaram
(Aravindan, 1985).
Because of this association, I got my first independent assignment for
Theertham
(Mohan, 1987) — a project initially meant for Shaji chettan. He actually recommended me to Mohan. My second and third films,
Eenam Maranna Kattu
(Thomas J. Easaw, 1988) and
Ore Thooval Pakshikal
(Chintha Ravi, 1988), were also meant for him, but he handed them to me.
Then came
Piravi
, his first film as a director — my fourth as an independent cinematographer. Piravi was a breakthrough in every sense. Sadly, Shaji chettan and I never worked together after that, though we stayed in touch. That will remain a regret. The last time we met, he told me.
