Ravi K. Chandran

• Name — Ravi K. Chandran • Born — 1960 • Birthplace — Maduranthakam, Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu, India • Occupation — Director of Photography, Film Director • Years Active — 1992 - present • Relatives — Ramachandra Babu (brother)

Ravi was born as the 7th child in a Malayali family to Kunjan Pillai and Padmini Amma and was brought up in Maduranthakam. His eldest brother, cinematographer Ramachandra Babu, who went to the Pune Film Institute in the seventies was the major influence and inspiration for Ravi. Growing up in the 70s, amidst the new wave of French cinema, names like Truffaut and Gordard became familiar to Ravi when he was very young. Latter part time closet painter, Ravi joined his brother as an assistant cinematographer, learning the technical aspects of the job.

In 1984, Ravi started his career working in Malayalam films as an assistant to his brother and cinematographer, Ramachandra Babu, and later with his friend, Rajiv Menon. He got his first break as a cinematographer in the Malayalam film Kilukkampetti and worked his way up until he shot the legendary Virasat (1997), which won many awards for Ravi. Since then there has been no looking back. He is a pioneer in using new equipment and cameras in the Indian film industry like the akila crane, kino flo lights, mole beams, hawk lenses, sky panels, celeb lights, and space lights. His work in Black (2005) was featured in an American cinematographer's magazine. Kodak international cinematographer calendar, and the cover of the ALEXA camera brochure. His best-known works are Virasat, Dil Chahta Hai (2001), Kannathil Muthamittal (2002), Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu, Black, Fanaa (2006), and Saawariya (2007). Ravi is also an ambassador for the Canon Cinema EOS. Ravi's first Telugu film was with the Mahesh Babu starrer Bharat Ane Nenu. He later worked on Bheemla Nayak. He has collaborated with director Mani Ratnam for the films like Kannathil Muthamittal, Aayutha Ezhuthu / Yuva (2004), and Thug Life (2025).

Ravi's directorial debut was the 2014 Tamil film Yaan.

Ravi is the younger brother of K. Ramachandra Babu, who himself is a noted cinematographer. He is married to Hemalata and currently resides in Mumbai with his two sons. One of his sons, Santhana Krishnan, also followed his father's footsteps as a cinematographer.

• Year — Title — Language — Notes • 1991 — Kilukkampetti — Malayalam • 1992 — Thalasthanam • Manthrikacheppu • Priyapetta Kukku • Welcome to Kodaikanal • Kallan Kappalil Thanne • 1993 — Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans • Ekalavyan • Mafia • Arthana • Injakkadan Mathai & Sons • Customs Diary • 1994 — Chukkan • Honest Raj — Tamil — Debut in Tamil cinema • The City — Malayalam • 1995 — Aksharam • The King • 1997 — Virasat — Hindi — Filmfare Award for Best Cinematographer; Debut in Hindi cinema • Minsaara Kanavu — Tamil — Co-cinematographer • 1998 — Kabhi Na Kabhi — Hindi • Major Saab • 1999 — Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu — Malayalam • 2000 — Snip! — Hindi • Kandukondain Kandukondain — Tamil • Raja Ko Rani Se Pyar Ho Gaya — Hindi • Citizen — Tamil • Punaradhivasam — Malayalam • 2001 — Dil Chahta Hai — Hindi — Nominated - Star Screen Award for Best Cinematography • 2002 — Kannathil Muthamittal — Tamil — Filmfare Award for Best Cinematographer – Tamil ITFA Best Cinematographer Award • 2003 — Calcutta Mail — Hindi — Nominated - Zee Cine Award for Best Cinematography • Koi... Mil Gaya • Boys — Tamil • 2004 — Aayutha Ezhuthu Yuva — Tamil Hindi • 2005 — Black — Hindi — Filmfare Award for Best Cinematographer • Paheli • 2006 — Fanaa • 2007 — Saawariya • 2008 — Firaaq • Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi — German Public Bollywood Award for Best Cinematography • Ghajini • 2010 — My Name Is Khan • Anjaana Anjaani • 2011 — Ladies vs Ricky Bahl — For One Song • 7 Aum Arivu — Tamil • 2012 — Agneepath — Hindi • 2016 — Baar Baar Dekho • 2017 — Ok Jaanu • 2018 — Bharat Ane Nenu — Telugu — Debut in Telugu cinema • 2019 — Student of the Year 2 — Hindi • Adithya Varma — Tamil • 2020 — Mrs. Serial Killer — Hindi • Coolie No. 1 • 2021 — Bhramam — Malayalam • 2022 — Bheemla Nayak — Telugu • 2025 — Thug Life — Tamil • They Call Him OG — Telugu • 2026 — Parasakthi — Tamil

• Year — Film — Language — Notes • 2014 — Yaan — Tamil — Directorial debut • 2021 — Bhramam — Malayalam — Remake of Andhadhun