In a major breakthrough, National Award-winni💝ng cinematographer Ravi Varman has become a member of the American Society of Cinematographജers (ASC).
Varman who is known for his work in films like Ponniyin Selvan and Tamasha became the second Indian to join the rankꦯs of the world’s leading cinema🏅tographers’ organisation after Santosh Sivan.
In an official press release, Varman was quoted expressing gratitude for this opportunity, he said, "I would like to convey my heartfelt gratitude to the board of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) for inducting me as a member. Cinematographers from all over the world dream of joining this associa🅺tion."
"It gives me great joy and pride to be included in a platform where the world's leading cinematographers who have won awards including Oscars are members. I✤ wholehe🐭artedly thank those who made me realise this dream," he added.
Varman is also a member of ꦆthe Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) since 2024.
In a career spannin♏g over 25 years, Ravi Varman has shot films in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi a🏅nd English.
He has collaborated with noted Indian filmmakers such as Rathnam, Shankar, Bℱhansali, Raj Kumar Hirani, Anurag Basu, Imtiaz Ali and American filmmaker Dune Adler.
His filmography include award-winning movies such as "Ponniyin🌺 Selvan", "Dasavatharam", "Vettaiyaad⛎u Vaidyaadu", "Barfi", "Sanju", "Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela" and "Tamasha".
Ravi Varman's Career
Ravi Varman has lived through a l✤ife no less than an inspiring dramatic film. Orphaned at 13, Varman was forced to discontinue his formal education and start working as a cleaner at a hotel in Madras.
Varman's love for photography and later cinem𝔉atography began with a an 'out of focus' photo of him mother, it happene🐟d to be the only image of hers that he had.
According to the official press release, saving his salary at the first job, he was able to purchase a camera—a Zenith TTL 35 mm film-SLR —without ꧋even knowing how to use it.
He joined the fil🙈m industry as an office boy at the age of 16 and rose up to the ranks until his talent was recognised.
He was inspired by the works of film-makers like Satyajit Ray, Federico Fellini, Akira Kurosawa, David Lean, Ingmar Bergman, and Alfred Hitchcock tha𒉰t helped his build🐽 his visual sense.
Reportedly, Ravi Varman became an independent cinematographer in 1999, and over the past 25 years, has shot more than 35 films, and has worked with 30 directors. Varman has also shot a number of commercials for brands like Cok𓄧e, Nestle, Lux and others.
The American Society of Cinematographers was founded in 1919 with the purpose of advancing the art and science of cinematography and bringing cinematographers together to exchange ideas, discuss techniques and promote the motion picture as an art form, according to the orga༒nisation's official website.
