Tirru
Indian cinematographer
title: "Tirru" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["living-people", "tamil-cinematographers", "1968-births", "people-from-namakkal-district", "malayalam-film-cinematographers", "best-cinematography-national-film-award-winners", "telugu-film-cinematographers", "20th-century-indian-photographers", "21st-century-indian-photographers", "cinematographers-from-tamil-nadu", "screenwriters-from-tamil-nadu"] description: "Indian cinematographer" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tirru" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Indian cinematographer ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Tirru |
| image | Tirru at Vanamagan Audio Launch.jpg |
| caption | Tirru at Vanamagan audio launch |
| birth_name | S. Thirunavukarasu |
| birth_date | |
| birth_place | Salem, Tamil Nadu, India. |
| occupation | |
| years active | 1994–present |
| notable_works | Hey Ram (2000) |
| Kanchivaram (2008) | |
| 24 (2016) | |
| Jigarthanda DoubleX (2023) | |
| awards | National Film Awards (2016) |
| :: |
| name = Tirru | image = Tirru at Vanamagan Audio Launch.jpg | caption = Tirru at Vanamagan audio launch | birth_name = S. Thirunavukarasu | birth_date = | birth_place = Salem, Tamil Nadu, India. | occupation = | years active = 1994–present | notable_works = Hey Ram (2000) Kanchivaram (2008) 24 (2016) Jigarthanda DoubleX (2023) | spouse = | awards = National Film Awards (2016)
S. Thirunavukarasu (born 21 July 1966), better known mononymously as Tirru, is an Indian cinematographer and screenwriter who has worked in multiple languages across India. Born in Mullukuruchi village, Tirru became interested in photography when he was in college.
He gained recognition through collaborations with Kamal Haasan, contributing pioneering techniques in Indian cinema. His cinematography on 24 (2016), won the National Film Award for Best Cinematography.
Personal life
Tirru was born on 21 July 1966 in Mullukuruchi village, Namakkal. He became interested in photography while studying science in college. He assisted by his cousin, a dentist by profession, in the latter's passion for nature photography.
Film career
He co-wrote the screenplay of the Malayalam film Mission 90 Days with director Major Ravi. He is also known for television commercials.
Debut as cinematographer (1993)
Tirru began his career by assisting cinematographer P.C. Sreeram, working on four films during this period. Tirru's last project as an assistant was the film Thevar Magan (1992), which caught the attention of Kamal Haasan. This led to Tirru's first project as a cinematographer for Magalir Mattum (1994), directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao and produced by Kamal Haasan.
Srinivasa Rao wasn't used to working with newcomers and had doubts at first but Tirru convinced him with his technical skills in the opening shots. Kamal Haasan's faith in Tirru played a big role during his debut. During the filming of KT Kunjumon's Tamil movie Sakthi in 1997, the shoot was set in Pollachi. In one particular scene featuring charging wild elephants, Tirru and his assistant were on a 45-foot-high crane to shoot a scene. Unfortunately, the situation took a dangerous turn as still photographer Rajesh recounts, "Somehow, the mahouts lost control of the elephants, and they came charging towards the crane. We knew that if they hit the crane, we would fall to our deaths." to Cinema Express.
Collaboration with Kamal Haasan (1993–2001)
Early in his career, Tirru and Kamal Haasan has collaborated on four films, Magalir Mattum (1994), Kaathala Kaathala (1998), Hey Ram (2000) and Aalavandhan (2001). Aalavandhan pioneered the use of a motion control rig in India for capturing picture movement and Tirru was the first cinematographer to introduce it. Aalavandhan was also the first film to use animation sequences in the Indian film industry.
Post national award (2018–present)
In 2018, Karthik Subbaraj reached out to Tirru for the silent film Mercury as he wanted an experienced cinematographer capable of conveying a narrative without relying on dialogue. They worked on the pre-production planning for three months to address the challenges posed by the film's silent nature and unconventional genre.
In 2019, Tirru and Karthik Subbaraj collaborated again on the action-drama film Petta starring Rajinikanth. This was Tirru's first collaboration with Rajinikanth and it was a long-held dream of his as he had missed an opportunity previously to be the cinematographer of Enthiran (2010) directed by Shankar.
Tirru debuted in Kannada cinema with the action thriller Twenty One Hours (2022) directed by debutant Jaishankar Pandit. Jai Sankar has worked with Tirru on multiple television advertisements.
Filmography
::data[format=table]
| Year | Film | Language | Notes | 1994 | 1997 | 1998 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2012 | 2013 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magalir Mattum | Tamil | Debut as cinematographer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sakthi | Tamil | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kaathala Kaathala | Tamil | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Priyuralu | Telugu | Debut in Telugu; dubbed in Malayalam as Manjeeradhwani | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hey Ram | Tamil | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hindi | Debut in Hindi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Champion | Hindi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Little John | Tamil | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hindi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| English | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aalavandhan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abhay | Tamil | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hindi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23rd March 1931: Shaheed | Hindi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lesa Lesa | Tamil | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hungama | Hindi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Punarjani | Malayalam | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mullavalliyum Thenmavum | Malayalam | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Garam Masala | Hindi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kyon Ki | Hindi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chup Chup Ke | Hindi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Keerthi Chakra | Malayalam | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kireedam | Tamil | Also featured segments shot by Nirav Shah | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mission 90 Days | Malayalam | date=2007-11-28 | title=The Hindu : Friday Review Thiruvananthapuram / Personality : Realistic frames | url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2007/07/06/stories/2007070650970200.htm | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071128021430/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2007/07/06/stories/2007070650970200.htm | archive-date=28 November 2007 | access-date=2023-11-13 | website=The Hindu}} | |||||||||||||||||
| Bhool Bhulaiyaa | Hindi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kanchivaram | Tamil | 1st Filmfare Award for Best Cinematography | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani | Hindi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aakrosh | Hindi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tezz | Hindi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Krrish 3 | Hindi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Geethaanjali | Malayalam | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 24 | Tamil | National Film Award for Best Cinematography | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Janatha Garage | Telugu | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vanamagan | Tamil | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mercury | Tamil | 1st of 3 collaborations with Karthik Subbaraj | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bharat Ane Nenu | Telugu | Also features segments shot by Ravi K. Chandran | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fanney Khan | Hindi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Petta | Tamil | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eeswaran | Tamil | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea | Malayalam | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acharya | Telugu | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Twenty One Hours | Kannada | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Malayalam | title=Tirru makes his debut in Kannada with Dhananjay's untitled action-thriller | url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2020/sep/30/tirru-frames-dhananjay-for-action-thriller-cop-drama-20536.html | access-date=2023-11-11 | website=Cinema Express | date=29 September 2020 | language=en | archive-date=11 November 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231111203713/https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/interviews/2020/sep/30/tirru-frames-dhananjay-for-action-thriller-cop-drama-20536.html | url-status=live }} | |||||||||||||||||
| Jigarthanda DoubleX | Tamil | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Game Changer | Telugu | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sikandar | Hindi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| :: |
Awards
::data[format=table title="Awards and nominations received by Tirru"]
| Award | Year | Category | Work(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7th Annual Screen Awards | 2000 | Best Cinematography | Hey Ram | ||
| Kerala Film Critics Association Awards | 2003 | Best Cinematography | Mullavalliyum Thenmavum | last=Critics | |
| V. Shantharam Award | 2008 | Best Cinematography | Kanchivaram | ||
| Filmfare Awards | 2008 | Best Cinematography | Kanchivaram | ||
| Filmfare Awards | 2016 | Best Cinematography | 24 | ||
| National Film Awards | 2016 | Best Cinematography | |||
| :: |
References
References
- "An interview with Thiru".
- "DOP Tirru Interview".
- (2016-04-30). "24 Frames". The Hindu.
- (7 March 2018). "Location Diaries: Candid shots and close shaves".
- "'Aalavandhan' - 2001". The Times of India.
- Raman, Sruthi Ganapathy. (2023-12-15). "Has Aalavandhan's Time Finally Come?".
- (May 2018). "'Other language films have taken over our screens'".
- Menon, Vishal. (2018-05-03). "'Cinematographers shouldn't have their own style'". The Hindu.
- (9 January 2019). "Petta is filled with anger: Cinematographer Tirru".
- (2019-01-23). "'Rajinikanth's enthusiasm and dedication are beyond his age'".
- (2019-01-09). "Petta cinematographer S Thirunavukarasu says 'the story is secondary in a Rajinikanth film'".
- (2007-11-28). "The Hindu : Friday Review Thiruvananthapuram / Personality : Realistic frames".
- "64th National Film Awards: Pulimurugan, Joker, 24 sweep top honours".
- (2017-04-07). "64th National Awards: Complete List of the Winners". News18.
- Dundoo, Sangeetha Devi. (2022-04-28). "Director Koratala Siva on casting Chiranjeevi and Ram Charan in contrasting characters in 'Acharya' and why his movies are larger than life". The Hindu.
- (29 September 2020). "Tirru makes his debut in Kannada with Dhananjay's untitled action-thriller".
- (2022-12-11). "Karthik Subbaraj's 'Jigarthanda Double X': A 'kind of teaser' featuring SJ Suryah, Raghava Lawrence out". The Hindu.
- (2004-02-19). "Screen Videocon Awards 2000".
- Critics, kerala Film. "FILM CRITICS AWARDS COMPLETE LIST FROM 1977 TILL 2012 ഫിലിം ക്രിട്ടിക്സ് അവാര്ഡ് 1977 മുതല് 2012 വരെ സമ്പൂര്ണ പട്ടിക".
- Bhama Devi Ravi. (Aug 8, 2010). "Chennai rocks to Filmfare awards {{!}} Chennai News - Times of India".
- "Winners of the 64th Jio Filmfare Awards (South)".
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::