Shamdat Sainudeen

Biography:

An Indian cinematographer and director under the moniker Shamdat Sainudeen is largely recognised for his work in South Indian movies. Since making his acting debut in the Telugu film Premayanamaha in 2003, he has directed the camera crew for almost 30 major motion pictures. These include the Tamil action movie Vishwaroopam 2 (2018), the Telugu political thriller Prasthanam (2010), and the Malayalam anthology movie Kerala Cafe (2009).

In 2018, Shamdat also made his debut as a filmmaker with the multilingual suspense thriller Street Lights, which features Mammootty. The Tiger (2005), Ritu (2009), Uttama Villain (2015), and the action comedy Deva Daasu (2018) are further noteworthy filmographies.

Shamdat Sainudeen is a renowned cinematographer in the world of South Indian cinema, having contributed to numerous Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, and even an Arabic film. He hails from Palakkad (also known as Palghat) in South Kerala. His journey to success began with a humble start, as he didn’t excel in any particular field during his school days.

Intrinsically drawn to the world of cinema, he initially aspired to become an actor. Following his schooling, he pursued his undergraduate studies at the University of Calicut. Later, he enrolled in a film school in South Kerala. However, he quickly realized that the film industry was primarily driven by profit motives and offered little in return for aspiring artists.

Undeterred, he embarked on a journey of self-discovery, teaching himself still photography and trying his hand at photography, including work as a wedding cameraman. Yet, none of these pursuits brought him true satisfaction. Subsequently, Shamdat decided to venture into the realm of sound assistance. His life was marked by numerous rejections, betrayals, and failures, but he persisted, ultimately emerging victorious.

He married on May 26, 2006, and is now a proud parent of two children, an elder son and a younger daughter. Shamdat Sainudeen’s career in cinematography truly took off when he had the opportunity to work under the guidance of Ravi K Chandran. He holds Ravi K Chandran in high regard as both his mentor and role model, attributing his current success to him.

His journey alongside Ravi K Chandran began with the film “Kandukondain Kandukondain” and continued with collaborations on projects such as “Snip,” “Calcutta Mail,” “Citizen,” “Dil Chahta Hai,” and “Punaradhivasam.” Shamdat Sainudeen’s debut as an independent cinematographer came with the Telugu film “Premaya Namah,” followed by the Malayalam film “Krithyam”.

However, it was the film “Rithu,” directed by Shyamaprasad, that truly brought him recognition. His remarkable work extended to Tamil cinema with films like “Avakai Biryani” (2008), “Kavya’s Diary” (2008), and “Prasthanam” (2010). He also collaborated with Kamal Hassan on “Vishwaroopam 2” (2017) and “Uttama Villain” (2015).

Additionally, Shamdat Sainudeen occasionally takes on the role of an art director on film sets, an often underrated position in the regional film industry. Having firmly established himself as a distinguished cinematographer, Shamdat Sainudeen has now turned his attention to reading and writing.

He has already completed two scripts, including a lighthearted romantic story. His directorial debut, the film “Streetlights,” has commenced shooting this year. Soon, we will witness his inaugural directorial work, which is bound to become another milestone in his illustrious career in the film industry.