Tamil director-cinematographer KV Anand died on Friday in Chennai due to Covid-19 related complications. He was 54. His last rites took place at Besant Nagar crematorium in Chennai.
Anand started his career as a freelance photojournalist before he started assisting award-winning cinematographer PC Sreeram. He worked with Sreeram on Tamil films such as Kamal Haasan’s Devar Magan and Mani Ratnam’s Thiruda Thiruda in the early 90s. It is said Sreeram was too busy when director Priyadarshan approached him for his new project at the time. So Sreeram recommended Anand’s name to Priyadarshan for the 1996 film Thenmavin Kombath. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Anand won the National Film Award for Best cinematography for that film, which had Mohanlal and Shobana in the lead roles. He went on to shoot some remarkable films across many Indian languages including Minnaram, Punya Bhoomi Naa Desam and Kadhal Desam. He was director Shankar’s go-to cameraman after they collaborated for the first time for the blockbuster political drama Mudhalvan (1999). Later, Anand also shot Shankar’s Boys (2003) and Sivaji (2007). He also cranked the camera for Bollywood films Josh (2000), Nayak: The Real Hero (Hindi remake of Mudhalvan), The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002) and Khakee (2004).
Anand made his directorial debut with the 2005 movie Kana Kandaen. He went on to helm films like Ayan, Ko, Maattrraan, Anegan, Kavan and Kaappaan.
Anand’s untimely passing has passed a shock wave across the industry, which is still mourning the death of comedy icon Vivek.
