'Didn't want NN to be cinematic'

Hotshot cinematographer Manoj Paramahamsa talks to TOI about Gautham���������s Nadunisi Naayigal...
Nadunisi Naayigal (NN)...
It will certainly be a different Gautham Menon film ��������� dark, raw and realistic. Gautham sir had earlier broached a similar idea in Vettaiyaadu Vilayaadu. You could call NN an expansion of that idea. Initially, he gave us a one-line plot of the film when we were shooting for Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa (VTV) mentioning that he���������s planning to shoot mostly during the nights and that a significant portion of the film would take place inside a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV).
Bouquets and brickbats...
I went for 16 mm film as the camera that you use for it is flexible. It is not as big as a 35 mm camera and so, you can shoot in narrow spaces. Generally, we modify the interior of vehicles to shoot inside them. By going for 16 mm, I did not even modify the MPV when shooting inside it. I���������ve tried the dogme style of filmmaking, in which the camera travels along with the film���������s characters. You won���������t find proper shot divisions as we wanted the film to have a natural look. The film deals with a weird subject (based on a real-life incident) and we didn���������t want it to be cinematic. We wanted the film to have a grainy look and feel very raw. I realise that most people here consider glossy visuals as better cinematography. I���������m ready for the bouquets and brickbats. I���������m sure my work will be noticed if the film succeeds; and if it doesn���������t work out, I know I���������ll be held accountable.
The night effect...
Shooting in the night was quite advantageous. During the day, especially when you shoot outdoors, you���������ll have light variations because of the movement of the clouds. But when you are shooting during the night, you can control the lighting. Even in VTV, which was mostly bright and sunny, it was the night sequence that we shot in Allepey that people took notice of. The visual tone of NN is pretty dark, though you cannot compare it with Eeram.
The 3 Idiots remake...
Shankar sir knew me right from my Eeram days. He was very happy with my work for Eeram. But what I think must have made him sign me up for 3 Idiots is my work for VTV. It had that gloss that his movies are famous for. Initially, I was apprehensive to take on the project because of my commitment to Gautham sir. At a time when he could have signed up any top cinematographer, he chose to give me a break, that too trusting the words of one of his associates. So, I really did not want to upset him or his film in anyway. But he understood my position and magnanimously let me work for 3 Idiots.
What makes me really happy about this project is the fact that it will be over in six to eight months as the film is being planned as a summer release. The shoot will most probably begin by late October or early November.
Next up...
I���������m really kicked about Gautham sir���������s Thuppariyum Anand. It���������s a thriller set in the 1930s, and the independence movement will just be a backdrop. I���������ve already begun some research to get the look of that period. We had some issues in getting it going, but now that period films are back in vogue, I don���������t think that would be a problem.
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