Sukumar’s Visual Storytelling Is A Big Advantage: Cinematographer Rathnavelu Praises Pushpa Director
May 12, 2026 Published by rajeshe092eb6a68
Sukumar has firmly established himself as one of Indian cinema’s most visionary filmmakers, known for his rooted storytelling, powerful character arcs, and striking visual narration. After delivering massive blockbusters, including the hugely successful Pushpa franchise, the director continues to redefine mainstream Indian cinema with his distinctive cinematic style.
Acclaimed cinematographer R. Rathnavelu, who previously collaborated with Sukumar on the blockbuster Rangasthalam and several other projects, recently opened up about the filmmaker’s strong emphasis on visual storytelling. Speaking about his approach while working on Peddi, Rathnavelu revealed how Sukumar’s filmmaking sensibilities create a creatively enriching environment for cinematographers.
Explaining his visual approach in Peddi, Rathnavelu shared how he prefers telling stories through imagery, framing, and composition instead of relying heavily on dialogues.
“Only one shot of straight hard light falling on his back to reveal his community. I don’t want to emphasize, but I thought that is also a point because it’s written in the story. Even when he was with Jagapathi Babu, untouchability is there. So instead of putting the camera on the face or going for a mid-shot, the camera will follow the glass or pot or whatever. As a cinematographer, I try to tell a story from a story point of view.”
Praising Sukumar’s cinematic vision, Rathnavelu said the filmmaker gives cinematographers the freedom to communicate emotions visually rather than depending entirely on dialogues.
“With Sukumar, I have that big advantage because he also tries to emphasize visually. There are a lot of directors who try to say everything through dialogue. That is where cinematographers, especially Indian cinematographers, don’t have the scope to deliver some extra visuals. Within so many dialogues, a cinematographer has to make the film look good, convey the tone, and convey the mood. It’s a very tricky thing, especially in South Indian cinema where dialogues are very big.”
Their collaboration in Rangasthalam, starring Ram Charan, remains one of the most celebrated visual storytelling experiences in Telugu cinema. Following its massive success, Sukumar is once again set to reunite with Ram Charan for another highly anticipated project, further raising expectations among fans.
Meanwhile, Sukumar’s stature in Indian cinema continues to soar after the phenomenal success of the Pushpa: The Rise and Pushpa 2: The Rule franchise starring Allu Arjun. The franchise emerged as a cultural phenomenon and one of the biggest successes in Indian cinema history. Excitement is also steadily building around the much-awaited next chapter, Pushpa 3: The Rampage, which has already become one of the most discussed upcoming Indian films.
