Celebrated cinematographer R. Rathnavelu discusses his meticulous visual design for the upcoming sports drama Peddi, his enduring collaborations with top industry talent, and the rigorous craft behind capturing Ram Charan’s intense performance. The film will head to theatres on June 4.
The moment director Buchi Babu Sana narrated the story, I really liked the script. It takes place in Vizianagaram around 40 years ago. Since the town is completely modernized today, we had to transport audiences back in time. We collected several reference images and worked systematically to create this world element by element, from the clock tower and streets to the sugar factory. I designed the lifestyle of the hill regions in an organic manner. Post-COVID, audiences want realism, so we created visuals with an authentic feel. In Rangasthalam, I used a golden-brown tone that became a huge success. For Peddi, we tried to recreate the actual color experience of Vizianagaram from 40 years ago. We created a mood that keeps audiences connected from the very first frame to the last. After every editing session, Buchi Babu would say, “A National Award for Ram Charan and a National Award for R. Rathnavelu.” Usually, if 60% of what is written on paper appears effectively on screen, it is a super hit. Buchi Babu brought 200% of his vision onto the screen. Seeing his happiness gave me immense satisfaction.
Buchi Babu Sana is an excellent writer who knows exactly what he wants. The character selection, performances, and emotions have all come out brilliantly. One of my favorite portions is the sequence shot in Delhi, which I filmed entirely without artificial lighting. We actually used film negatives for this part to achieve a more authentic, realistic feel. It has been almost 17 years since I last worked with film negatives. Shooting in Sri Lanka was also a special experience. We shot a beautiful waterfall sequence near a railway track and a tunnel where no one had filmed before. It was hard to reach, but the traveling sequences turned out beautifully.
Ram Charan has delivered an extraordinary performance and gone to another level in this film. There is a huge emotional difference between his character Chitti Babu in Rangasthalam and his role in Peddi. In Rangasthalam, he never stepped outside the role, but in Peddi, audiences will witness his complete acting prowess. He never compromises and constantly tries again to make a good take even better. His physical transformation is remarkable. From his hairstyle to the way he smokes a beedi, everything perfectly suits the character. For the wrestling portions, he worked on every single muscle in his body to look like a real wrestler, which is visible in great detail in the trailer. He gave very subtle expressions throughout the film, and we captured his intensity beautifully. The last 30 minutes of the film will deeply move the audience and carry a strong emotional high.
The most complicated part for me was the cricket match. Since this is a sports-based film, the entire team had to stay extremely alert. The second match is very crucial and serves as a major turning point in the story. I suggested to Buchi Babu that we should shoot this match at night. Back in the 1980s, floodlight matches used to happen, and I felt a night shoot would create the right mood. Charan came to me afterward and said this brilliant idea took the film to another level. On screen, it will feel like a war between two teams. The wrestling sequences were another huge challenge. There is also a sequence inspired by Hanuman for which I designed a special lighting setup. When you watch it in theaters, it will give you goosebumps and you will truly feel a Hanuman-like presence in Ram Charan.
This is my third film with A.R. Rahman, following our collaborations on Enthiran and Lingaa. Even before that, I worked on Bombay as an assistant. Rahman sir is a genius who has given wonderful songs for this film. Audiences will greatly enjoy the background score. I always try to tell a story through my camera, and the music should also have space within that storytelling. A cinematographer needs to have a sense of music and editing, which becomes a huge help for the director. Buchi Babu gave me a lot of freedom while making this film.
It has been almost 30 years since I entered the film industry. I only do one film a year because once I commit to a project, I stay with it until it is completed. I passed up many big film offers in between because I loved this story so much. After Enthiran was completed, I entered the Telugu industry. Even though I had big offers from Bollywood, I formed a great combination with Sukumar and have continued working closely with him. For every project, I stay involved from pre-production all the way through post-production, including the digital intermediate process. I put in all this hard work so audiences can enjoy an immersive experience on IMAX screens.
Producer Venkata Satish Kilaru is a wonderful human being to whom cinema means everything. He gets very excited just by watching a visual. During editing, he becomes very emotional while watching scenes together with Buchi Babu. He enjoys every moment of filmmaking and is very friendly. We share a very good bond, and I hope producers like him make many more films in the industry.
My son also made a very good contribution to Peddi. He studied cinematography in Canada and is very passionate about cinema. He has great knowledge of color grading and helps me a lot. He even shot one portion of a wrestling fight sequence brilliantly. Now he is ready to work as a director of photography himself and is looking for a good story. As for my own plans, I have already written three stories. I want to direct an action thriller with strong emotions, where every single character has real importance.
