If that is so, isn't it good? I have not done it consciously. But how can you not be influenced by him? Any cinematographer, who watches his works, gets influenced at some level.

How different was your experience shooting your first independent film Priya's Kannamoochi Enda from Abhiyum Naanum?

Kannamoochi Enada had an ensemble cast and a very different tone. It was a comedy. Being the first commercial film for me, my focus was on how to pull it off with so many people. It was fun.

Abhiyum Naanum was more of an emotional experience. I wanted to shoot it in Super 35. There are more lenses in Super 35, and I wanted the freedom to use more lenses. I also wanted to get closer to the characters as it is an intimate script. I wanted the close-ups to be really intimately close.

We see very few women cinematographers. Is it difficult for a woman cinematographer to work in the film industry?

Yes, there are very few people. But I feel it is difficult for both men and women cinematographers because it takes very long to get a break. I passed out in 1993 and made a reasonably well known film only in 2008! It is a long struggle.

One reason why there are few women cinematographers could be the erratic working hours -- you leave the house at 4am and return at midnight. It is physically challenging.

You worked with a woman director first. Now that you have worked for a male director, has it made any difference to the way people look at you?

Yes, many people thought because Priya is a woman, she chose me. Many people asked me if I would work with Revathy next. But that is like slotting you as if you can work only with a woman director. Working with Radhamohan has brought me out of that trap.

What next?

Radhamohan's Mozhi in Hindi, produced by Boney Kapoor. And then Priya's next project.

Also Read: Abhiyum Naanum is poignant

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