Ravi Varman, a National Award-winning cinematographer, has just been welcomed into the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC). He’s also a member of the Indian Society of Cinematographers and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. At 51, this talented cinematographer from Tamil Nadu is among the youngest to have earned such impressive recognition in his field.

During a masterclass at the Bengaluru International Film Festival, Ravi Varman, known for his work on a variety of films like Indian, Ram Leela, Ponniyin Selvan, Barfi, Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyadu, and Anniyan, shared his thoughts on how much cinema has evolved since he first started out.

Ravi Varma discussing the evolving film industry

Back in the day, we had this studio system where the producer would pick the lead, director, and everything else based on the story. Nowadays, though, India has sadly moved away from that, and it’s the hero who calls the shots on the story, producer, and director, which he pointed out while discussing the state of cinema.

These days, directors come and go – they don’t stick around like they used to back in the day when legends like Guru Dutt, Balu Mahendra, Bharathiraja, K Balachander, and Raj Kapoor were around. Now, everyone’s all about making modern films, but they tend to get old pretty quickly. In the past, we had a wealth of stories and talented writers, and honestly, some of the best films were adaptations of books. We’ve kind of lost our reading and writing culture, even though there are still amazing writers out there who aren’t getting the recognition they deserve.

When it comes to cinematography and his journey in Indian cinema, Ravi Varman shared, “I’m always looking to innovate and explore new techniques. Plus, when I started working in different languages, I didn’t know the lingo, so I just focused on my craft. I found that really helped my career because I stayed out of the gossip and politics on set.”

Directors who prefer to stay in their ‘comfort zones’

Cinematographers often find themselves in a bit of a tug-of-war with directors since they usually have different ideas about how to capture a scene. Varman compared their relationship to that of a married couple, saying, “They’ll argue and have their differences, but ultimately, they share the same vision. It’s a normal part of the process that helps bring out the best in their work. Nowadays, some directors prefer cinematographers who stick to their comfort zone—those who will just follow orders.”

Recently, there’s been a pattern where cinematographers shoot to fame quickly but then fade away after just a few projects. Varman pointed out that this shift in mindset plays a big role. “There’s a clear distinction between a star cinematographer and a truly great one. The star might pop in and out with a few films, but a great cinematographer sticks around because they bring a wealth of experience, top-notch techniques, and creativity that stands the test of time,” he explained.

He also mentioned that he doesn’t watch his own films because he’s already aware of the mistakes he made while working on them. “I learn from those errors and aim not to repeat them in future projects—though I’m sure I’ll make new ones! I dedicate at least 60 days to the digital intermediate process to make sure our shots are well-represented and that our vision shines through,” Varman added.

The well-known cinematographer also acknowledged that “art is business” in today’s world. “At the end of the day, cinema is a business, and I consider myself a savvy businessman. I navigate my artistic journey within this framework,” Ravi Varman concluded, sharing a philosophical note: “Success and failure are just part of the karma. I don’t dwell on that; I focus on my work and choose projects—big or small—that allow me to keep learning and innovating.”

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