The ‘Stills’ Photographer or ‘Set’ Photographer is the less celebrated cousin of the cinematographer on a movie set, but their vision is no less vital to the movie’s success. Their images are familiar to us from movie posters, hoardings and album covers but the individuals behind the camera seldom take center stage. 

This exhibition is a small selection of images showcasing T. Lakshmikanthan’s work - images that were shot on set during live filming, but from a slightly different perspective and framing (of the still camera) to what appeared on the big screen (via the video camera). This distinction makes these images appear familiar, yet unique. 

Lakshmikanthan’s timeless images speak silently but vividly communicate a range of feelings and emotions through a single frozen frame. This presented a ready parallel in how the poet saint Thiruvalluvar compressed depth and poetic grace into just seven words in each Thirukkural. 

The images have been juxtaposed against specific couplets from the Thirukkural - the lyrical nature of the photographs complementing the verbal brevity of the couplet.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Lakshmikanthan began his career as an assistant photographer in 1965 and moved on to being an independent photographer in 1969 with the movie Sangamam. In the subsequent decades he has shot for over 200 movies across Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, Telugu and Kannada and remained active till 2023 when he shot Appaththa. 

His extensive body of work covers every major leading actor, actress and director of his times with a number of movies featuring the likes of Shivaji Ganesan, Kamal Hassan, Rajnikanth and Sridevi as well as directors like Bharathiraja, Bhagyaraj and Priyadarshan. 

This exhibit features a small sample of his work, primarily from the late 70s and early 80s. A number of these images are not posed, but candids shot during actual filming sequences.

EXHIBITION DOCUMENTATION

GALLERY