Suresh Ragutu doesn’t have an eclectic resume to boast of but his is a story that is inspirational, and has everything a newcomer can learn from. So far he has worked in three films far — the latest one being Nannu Dochukunduvate — each different from the other.
He approaches each script as a blank canvas and collaborates with the director for creative inspiration and character study. Suresh migrated from Kharagpur to Hyderabad to study arts in JNTU. “During vacations I would visit my cousin and artist Ram Prasad Ragutu and hang around with him in JNTU, where he was studying. While worked as an art director for events, I would assist him and click random pictures with my Nikon FM 10. Noticing my compositions, he would encourage me. When I finished my high school I decided to take up arts in the same college. Though I stood fifth in the entrance exam, I did not get an admission because I was a non-local; they had only one seat for a non-local candidate and it went to someone else. I tried again the subsequent year and stood second then,” recalls Suresh.
A still from ‘Nannu Dochukonduvate’
The one year that Suresh missed wasn’t wasted, he clicked many pictures, mostly on wildlife and street photography. He also got to see a lot world cinema. Colours and frames, lighting were part of the discussions, all intelligent and stimulating conversations. When his contemporaries veered towards wedding photography, he wanted to be a cinematographer. He exclaims, “I didn’t know I had a flair for drawing till I tried it. I had never tried in school . One has to be good at sketching to prepare for an entrance exam. My brother taught me drawing and he mentored me and all I visualised was doing sketches on a bigger canvas. Formal education does give one basics but we got to balance it by interning. Also if you gain practical knowledge and academics, it will be difficult. After college hours, we have to learn, read and observe cinema and study why a certain shot was composed that way.”
Sadly Suresh never had time to go to college. In one and a half month of securing an admission, he got a chance to assist cinematographer Senthil for the climax of Arundathi and director Shekar Suri’s Three . Nevertheless he would balance his schedule, both academics and professional; Suresh throws light on his prioritising, “For 15 days there would be a film shoot and rest of the time I would go to college. Then I got to work for Eega . I managed this way till the third year and couldn’t continue studies thereafter. I turned associate cinematographer for Magadheera , Thakita Thakita, Eega, Arundathi, Golkonda High School and was offered many advertisements and independent short films. I realised my future lies in it and left studies.”
Suresh Ragutu
After working with Senthil in around seven movies, Suresh began making trials to go independent. The experience he gained from Eega was immense; he talks of the projects he took up and the DoP he idolises. He says, “I learnt micro photography and we used probe lenses for the maximum part of shoot. I was asked by my brother to assist Rajamouli’s project Bahubali but was apprehensive of missing out on a lot of movies. Instead I took up Chandama Kathalu, Garudavega and Nannu Dochukunduvate .”
Speaking of developing his expertise, Suresh says, “I love the works of Bruno Delbonnel. None implemented the colours like Bruno did in Amelie . He tries to narrate with colours while others do with camera movements. I sometimes wonder if he is a cinematographer or a philosopher, they narrate every frame poetically.”
Finally ask Suresh what is the advantage of being a local cinematographer and he immediately shoots, “We can spend time with family which is otherwise lost on travel.”
