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The Master of Light: Santosh Sivan Receives the Pierre Angénieux Excellens Award
The Cannes Film Festival 2024 has been a momentous occasion for Indian cinema, with classics like Manthan (1976) making their mark and Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light being featured in the competition section after a 40-year hiatus. Adding to the festival’s honors, cinematographer Santosh Sivan has been awarded the prestigious Pierre Angénieux Excellens in Cinematography. This annual accolade recognizes exceptional cinematographic achievements and celebrates the mastery of those behind the camera.
Santosh Sivan’s journey into the world of cinematography began in his childhood, influenced by the world he observed through his native town of Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. Growing up in a family deeply connected to the visual arts—his father, Sivasankaran Nair, was a noted film director and owner of a photo studio—Sivan was exposed to the nuances of light and shadow from a young age. This early exposure, combined with the natural beauty of his surroundings, profoundly impacted his visual style.
Sivan’s work is renowned for its evocative use of landscapes and colors. His contribution to Mani Ratnam’s Roja (1992) showcased his ability to capture the urgency of the land, while the tangerine hues of the sunset in Rajinikanth’s Thalapathy (1991) created a dramatic ambiance. His cinematography in the iconic ‘Chaiyya Chaiyya’ sequence from Dil Se… (1998) exemplified his skill in crafting haunting visuals, while his portrayal of intense psychological conflict in Asoka (2001) illustrated his ability to delve into the depths of character psyche.
Sivan’s artistic sensibility was further nurtured by his grandmother, who encouraged him to sketch and study the works of Raja Ravi Varma. These early influences, coupled with his formal education at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, shaped his unique visual language. His debut feature, Nidhiyude Katha (1986), an experimental Malayalam film, marked the beginning of his professional career. However, it was his work on Aamir Khan’s Raakh (1989) that brought him wider recognition, with his masterful use of light and shadow highlighting the film’s dark themes.
International acclaim followed with The Terrorist (1998), a film he wrote, shot, and directed. The film’s poignant portrayal of a teenage suicide bomber’s change of heart earned praise from critics and cinephiles alike, including actor John Malkovich and film critic Roger Ebert, who described it as “scripted by the camera.” The film’s impact extended to the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC), where Sivan was inducted in 2012 as the first Asian member, thanks to a recommendation by cinematographer Michael Chapman.
Receiving the Pierre Angénieux Excellens award at Cannes further cements Santosh Sivan’s legacy. He joins an illustrious group of past recipients, including Christopher Doyle, Edward Lachman, Agnes Godard, Barry Ackroyd, and Roger Deakins. Sivan’s career has been defined by his ability to capture moments with authenticity, grace, and a timeless quality. As he stands in the spotlight, the lens reflects his journey, and the applause resonates with the images he has crafted throughout his career.
