It's not often that a director collaborating with a cinematographer makes news. If it is Mani Ratnam who we are talking about, the fanfare is palpable.

Even before clarity has come about his next movie, Mani signing up lensman Santosh Sivan (who is currently doing Mahesh Babu's 'SPYder') has become some sort of news. Why wouldn't it, when the visual poetry their collaboration is known to result in is there for everyone to see?

Earlier, the two worked on the movies 'Thalapathy' ('Dalapathy' in Telugu), 'Roja', 'Iruvar' ('Iddaru' in Telugu), 'Uyire' ('Dil Se' in Hindi), and Raavanan ('Villain' in Telugu).

It's also being rumoured that Aditi Rao Hydari of 'Cheyliyaa' will once again be teaming up with Mani. If so, she would have worked for a second time with her dream director.