How has Ravi Varman's film Moscowin Kaveri become relevant again?

Chennai, Aug 30 (NationPress) One of India's leading cinematographers, Ravi Varman, recently shared an insightful post on Instagram, reflecting on how the themes of 'Moscowin Kaveri', his directorial debut, have gained significance nearly 15 years after its release.

In his Instagram update regarding the film, which stars Samantha Ruth Prabhu and director Rahul Ravindran, Ravi Varman expressed, "Moskva and Kaveri symbolize two major rivers, mirroring the two lead characters, much like how rivers flow.

The love depicted is akin to the ever-changing and flowing water of a river. The idea of cohabitation, now deemed ordinary, was portrayed in this film a decade ago, when such notions were seen as impure or fraudulent.

Time has a remarkable way of transforming perceptions—what was deemed impure in the past is now celebrated as pure; meanings and actions evolve just like the river's flow. This experimental film, with the producers' approval, also showcased numerous emerging talents both in front of and behind the camera—those who were newcomers then are now esteemed names.

Although the film did not perform well upon its release, I played a significant role in its failure. Yet, here I stand, resilient, as that setback has propelled me to greater heights today. @the__asc @bscine

For those unfamiliar, Ravi Varman, a recipient of the National Award, is renowned for his work on landmark films, including Mani Ratnam’s epic 'Ponniyin Selvan'. He is only the second Indian to be inducted into the illustrious American Society of Cinematographers (ASC).

The first Indian cinematographer to achieve this accolade was Santosh Sivan.

Acclaimed cinematographers who have received multiple Oscars evaluate a cinematographer's portfolio, analyze the quality of their work, and collectively grant this prestigious recognition.

Interestingly, following his induction, Ravi Varman shared photos from the ASC on his X timeline, stating, “I started my career enveloped in uncertainty. Life has guided me to my current position, and I have been meticulously charting my path to uncover the true essence and purpose of my existence.”

Over the past 25 years, Ravi Varman has lens many films across various languages, including Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, and English. He has collaborated with several of India's most esteemed directors. Notable films captured by Ravi Varman include Mani Ratnam’s 'Ponniyin Selvan', Shankar’s 'Anniyan', Gautham Menon’s 'Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu', and Anurag Basu’s 'Barfi'.