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HabeebiCinematographer Mahesh Muthuswami has consistently brought a distinctive visual identity to Tamil cinema through films such as Anjathey and Chithiram Pesuthadi. Known for blending realism with emotional depth,
Mahesh belongs to a rare school of cinematographers who believe that visuals should quietly serve the soul of the story rather than dominate it.
In his latest feature Habeebi, directed by critically acclaimed filmmaker Meera Kathiravan, Mahesh once again explores human emotion through subtle and layered cinematography.
The title Habeebi meaning “My Beloved” reflects a heartfelt narrative from Meera Kathiravan which is rooted in the life, culture, and emotional landscape of Tamil Muslims. Spanning five decades, the film travels through generations of a family before culminating in a deeply romantic emotional arc
Mahesh explains that the original idea was to visually separate each decade with a different cinematic treatment. However, he consciously moved away from that design.
“I did not want Habeebi to become a film where every decade looked artificially different. I preferred a singular emotional flow and instead went deeper into subtle changes through frame architecture, costume textures, emotional graph, and staging.”
Rather than dramatic stylistic shifts, Mahesh focused on evolving the visual language internally while preserving emotional continuity. His challenge was to maintain a contemporary visual tone while carrying the warmth and softness associated with 1990s Kodak film palettes.
“In digital cinematography, achieving subtle period variations is extremely difficult. Only through optics can we create desired emotional textures. For me, choosing the right optics is one of the most important decisions for a cinematographer.”
“Cooke S4/i lenses as highly versatile, offering the right balance of contrast, color rendition, and a gentle vintage texture without appearing nostalgic or forced.”
“We were shooting in real, live conditions, and the Cooke optics rendered those spaces beautifully with natural warmth and depth.”
Most of the film was shot using 32mm and 50mm focal lengths to maintain intimacy and emotional closeness with the characters.
The visual form of Habeebi has already drawn admiration from several respected filmmakers and artists following special screenings. Legendary cinematographer P.C. Sreeram, actor Nassar, and filmmakers Ram, Vetri Maaran, and Seenu Ramasamy reportedly praised both the emotional content and the understated visual language of the film.
With Habeebi, Mahesh Muthuswami once again demonstrates that cinematography is not merely about creating beautiful images it is about preserving emotional truth across time, memory, and human experience
Mahesh Muthuswami | Director of Photography
