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A spirited young woman transforms the lives of four unruly brothers and their father in a chaotic household.
“For me, the Cooke S7/i lenses were not just a technical choice but a creative decision that defined the overall look and feel of the project — a perfect blend of cinematic beauty and human connection.”Prakash Velayudhan, Director of Photography
Lens information:
Lens series: S7/i
Camera: Arri Alexa Mini LF
Format: Digital
Production information:
Directors of Photography: Prakash Velayudhan
DOP Instagram: @prakashVelayudhan.Dp
DOP Website: www.prakashvelayudhan.com/
DOP LinkedIn: prakashvelayudhancinematographer
DOP Email: prakashvelayudhan.dop@gmail.com
Producer: Asianet
Director: Johnson James (Asianet channel)
Colourist: joji d parakkal
Rental House: Mega Focus – Kochi
When Asianet Channel Director Johnson James approached me to shoot a promo for a new family drama series, the brief was clear… create a visual language that feels organic, emotional, and relatable to the common audience. The story revolves around a young woman who enters a chaotic household of four brothers and their father, ultimately bringing positive change to their lives.
To achieve a natural yet cinematic tone, I chose the Cooke S7/i lenses paired with the ARRI Alexa Mini LF. The Cooke lenses are renowned for their distinct warmth and gentle fall-off, which beautifully render skin tones and bring out the ethnic nuances essential to this narrative.
Their signature “Cooke Look” gave the frames a sense of humanity and texture, making every shot feel authentic and emotionally engaging.
I used strong daylight-motivated lighting to enhance realism, trusting the Cooke optics to preserve rich shadow details and highlight transitions.
Even with digital capture, the images retained a film-like softness; the sharpness was never harsh or clinical. This helped maintain an organic visual balance, ensuring the visuals stayed truthful to the story’s essence.
The combination of the Alexa Mini LF and Cooke S7/i lenses provided both creative flexibility and mobility, especially while using a gimbal setup. With the Cooke optics, the coloring process became very smooth and effortless, allowing the tones to blend naturally and enhancing the overall look without much manipulation.
The result was a series of frames filled with energy, warmth, and emotional depth exactly in tune with the director’s vision.
For me, the Cooke S7/i lenses were not just a technical choice but a creative decision that defined the overall look and feel of the project — a perfect blend of cinematic beauty and human connection.
Prakash Velayudhan | Director of Photography
