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Emerging as a fresh and promising talent in Indian cinematography, Kalaiselvan Sivaji made an instant mark with the critically acclaimed thriller Por Thozhil. His visual storytelling was widely appreciated for its nuanced texture and emotional depth. Now, with his latest film Maareesan—a road movie that has earned praise from none other than Legendary Kamal Haasan—Kalaiselvan cements his reputation as a cinematographer to watch.
In Maareesan, Kalaiselvan faced what he describes as one of his most challenging yet creatively fulfilling experiences. “The film is essentially a road journey that begins in Nagercoil and ends in Palghat, featuring two iconic actors—Vadivelu and Fahadh Faasil,” he shares. “We traversed a wide range of terrain—from narrow rural roads and dense woods to expansive national highways.”
What made the project especially complex was the extensive mix of day and night sequences with constantly shifting lighting conditions. “I had to time every shot with precision. The key decision I made early on was not to restrict the film to a limited color palette. Instead, I wanted the visual tone to evolve naturally along with the journey,” Kalaiselvan explains. 
“While the film had its emotional highs, I didn’t want the tone to feel overtly cinematic. It needed to be grounded. Real. That meant capturing the soul of the travel without over-stylizing it.”
To achieve this realism while retaining aesthetic beauty, Kalaiselvan turned to Cooke Optics. “I’ve been fascinated by Cooke lenses even before I became a DoP. My mentor, Balasubramaniem sir, often used Cooke lenses with remarkable restraint and precision.”
His debut film Por Thozhil also featured Cooke lenses, “There, I designed contrasting visual signatures—the seasoned police officer was framed with a muted, strong palette while the new recruit was shown in clean whites, full of ambition. Cooke helped define these subtleties.”
With Maareesan, he used the Cooke S7/i series, relying heavily on his favorite 32mm focal length.
“The S7/i delivered what I needed—controlled flares, minimal distortion, and very little lens breathing. Cooke lenses feel both classic and contemporary, with an organic feel that suited the tone of our film perfectly.”
For the travel sequences, Kalaiselvan opted for a naturalistic approach, avoiding modern camera rigs. “We stuck to a low-loader setup for most travel shots. It gave us the freedom to maintain authenticity without compromising fluidity.”
In both his choice of storytelling and technical finesse, Kalaiselvan Sivaji demonstrates a maturity that belies his years. With Maareesan, he has not only pushed his own creative boundaries but also reaffirmed his place as a rising star in Indian cinematography—with Cooke lenses riding shotgun on the journey.
Supported by: VMK Equipements Camera Rentals
