Renowned lens man Anji turns director

Renowned cinematographer Anji, who’s been part of 49 films including Angrez, Errabus, Ice Cream and Attack, is set to turn director with the film 10th Class Diary’s. Based on real-life incidents, the youthful entertainer is about friendship and love.

“This is my 50th film also as a cameraman,” Anji states, adding that 10th Class Diary’s is an emotional drama that unfolds between the lead pair Avika Gor and Sreeram.

“What happens when puppy love in one’s 10th class is perceived contrastingly — when the girl takes it too seriously and the guy isn’t interested? At 40, after the guy settles in the US, he realises that there’s something missing in his life and comes back to India in search of the girl who loved him in 10th class,” shares the director.

“The film’s tagline is We are all bad in someone’s story; I worked on the emotional aspects of writing before taking the film on floors. Hopefully, the film will strike a chord with the audience.”

At a time when cinematographers find it challenging to become directors, Anji believes that his experience came in handy. Also, according to Anji, speed and quality define a cameraman — something he’s learnt over the years. As for his directorial debut, he believes that focus on ‘script and screenplay’ will be the key to its success.

“There’s a director in every cinematographer, just as he’s also the first audience. In the process of transforming the director’s vision, my interaction with various crafts of people gave me better insights over the filmmaking process,” adds the director.