K. K. Senthil Kumar is an Indian cinematographer who works in Telugu cinema. He is known for his frequent collaborations with S.S. Rajamouli. A graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, Senthil Kumar began his career as a cinematographer with the TV sitcom Amrutham and made his film debut with Aithe (2003), earning critical recognition.

K. K. Senthil Kumar
Born (1974-07-29) 29 July 1974 (age 50)
Alma materFilm and Television Institute of India, Pune
Occupations
Spouse
Ruhee
(m. 2009)

Over the years, he has worked on several notable films, including Sye (2004), Chatrapathi (2005), Yamadonga (2007), Arundhati (2009), Magadheera (2009), Eega (2012), Baahubali (2015), Baahubali 2 (2017), and RRR (2022).[1] He earned various accolades, including four Filmfare Awards, two Nandi Awards and four SIIMA awards, among others.

Early and personal life

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K. K. Senthil Kumar was born and brought up in Hyderabad, into a Tamil-speaking family.[2] He is the eldest of three siblings. He graduated with a degree in cinematography from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune. He married Ruhee on 25 June 2009, who is a Yoga instructor and heads the Hyderabad division of Bharat Thakur’s Yoga classes.[2] His wife Ruhee died on 15 February 2024 at a Private Hospital in Hyderabad.

Career

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After his graduation from FTII, he joined cinematographer Sarath as an assistant cinematographer. He worked under Sarath from Premaku Velayara (1999) to Jabili (2001). He started his work as a Independent Cinematographer with the TV Series Amrutham in 2000. When Chandra Sekhar Yeleti was making his directorial debut with Aithe (2003), he took Senthil on as the cinematographer, marking his official feature-film debut.[2]

Filmography

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Year Film Notes
2003 Aithe
2004 Sye
2005 Chatrapathi
2006 Ashok
2007 Yamadonga
2008 Three
2009 Arundhati
Magadheera
2010 Thakita Thakita
2011 Golconda High School
2012 Eega
2013 Rough
2015 Baahubali: The Beginning
2017 Baahubali 2: The Conclusion
2018 Vijetha
2022 RRR

Awards

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Filmfare Awards South
Nandi Awards
South Indian International Movie Awards
CineMAA Awards

Santosham Film Awards

Philadelphia Film Critics Circle
  • Best Cinematography – RRR (2022)[5]

References

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  1. ^ "KK Senthil Kumar - Celebs At Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 Mirchi Music Awards Gallery - Gallery 1 Pic 75 - cinegoer.net". cinegoer.net. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  2. ^ a b c "Senthil Kumar interview - Telugu film cinematographer". Idlebrain.com. 20 August 2009. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  3. ^ "'Eega is one of the most difficult films I have shot'". Rediff. 5 July 2012. Archived from the original on 6 April 2016.
  4. ^ "SIIMA Day 1 Winners of Technical, Music & Gen Next Awards - Telugu cinema news". idlebrain.com.
  5. ^ Hymavati, Ravali (18 December 2022). "The 2022 Philadelphia Film Critics Circle (PFCC): K. K. Senthil Kumar Wins 'Best Cinematography' Award For RRR". The Hans India. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.