Santhosh Sivan receives Pierre Angenieux ExcelLens Award at Cannes, says 'I learnt basics from Malayalam cinema

Renowned cinematographer Santhosh Sivan was honored with the prestigious Pierre Angenieux ExcelLens in Cinematography award at the Cannes Film Festival, an honor for his exceptional contributions to the world of cinema.

Santhosh Sivan, whose illustrious career spans Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, and Hollywood films, took a moment to express his gratitude towards his home state of Kerala and the Malayalam film industry for nurturing his talent.


Receiving the award in the presence of his family, Santhosh Sivan acknowledged the sacrifices they had made due to his demanding career. "I have been a bad husband, always busy filming. Now they are here and they must be really happy," he said. He also paid tribute to his late parents and brother, Sangeeth Sivan, who passed away recently following a cardiac arrest. “I am hoping my father, mother, and brother who is no more are smiling,” he said.

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Santhosh Sivan’s heartfelt speech highlighted the foundational role that the Malayalam film industry played in his career. "I know cinematography does not have language barriers, but still, I learned the basics from Malayalam cinema. I imbibed the culture of my state from my father and grandmother. From Malayalam, I moved to the Tamil industry and then Hindi. Now, I am in Hollywood," he reflected.

This year's Cannes Film Festival saw Indian cinema shine brightly. Filmmaker Payal Kapadia's 'All We Imagine As Light,' competing in the prestigious Palme d'Or category, won the Grand Prix, the festival's second most prestigious award. Additionally, Anasuya Gupta made history by becoming the first Indian actor to win the Best Actress Award at the festival.