Crafting a visual tale

Geetha Govindam opened to rave reviews, much to the delight of all those associated with it. Cinematographer Manikandan too has been lauded for the stunning visuals in the rom-com. Manikandan says the contemporary script and natural performances worked in the film’s favour.

“I travelled with director Parasuram and imbibed the script, to ensure the visuals complemented the story. Also, Parasuram gave me the required freedom to bring in my own style too. I did not try anything too flashy but just ensured the frames were in sync with the director’s vision,” says Manikandan, who earlier worked for Sreerasthu Shubamastu.

Of all the great things about the movie, it is the lead pair’s (Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna) on-screen chemistry that has been appreciated the most. 

“I wanted them to be as natural as they could, in order to look authentic. During the shooting, we could feel positive vibes about the pairing and believed they would be applauded. However, we never expected it to be blockbuster.”

Shooting in real locations like Annavaram was challenging, feels Manikandan. “That’s because nothing is in your control. We needed to complete the required scene within the stipulated time, so it was tough,” he says, adding, “Also, shooting in the bus was challenging. We shot only a few scenes and the rest we adopted in the green mat in a studio.”