Shaji N Karun is undoubtedly one of India's all-time great cinematographers. Film lovers everywhere are all ears when Shaji talks about the film in his mind. Known simply as 'Shaji', he presented a new level of appreciation and communication to the Malayalam cinema.

He is credited with giving cinema not only new visual form but a different grammar too. His films explore new lands of communication through the use of light and shade, traditional art forms and nature. Shaji's films, which were internationally recognised, holds a distinguished seat in Malayalam cinema.

The Cannes Film Festival committee declared '500 names that made Cannes' so far and Shaji shares the honor of being one among the names along with three other Indians - Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen and Sashi Kapoor. He was once listed in a Cannes catalogue as one who provided the late Indian director Aravindan with unforgettable images in the latter's cycle of mythological stories set in the State of Kerala.

In recognition to his contributions to the world of Cinema, the French Government has conferred on him the Chevalier dans ordre des arts et lettres (knight of arts and letters). Shaji is only the third in Indian filmdom, after Satyajit Ray and Sivaji Ganesan, to get the award.

He wore the director's hat after long twelve years of experience in photography. His first film 'Piravi' itself bagged several national and international recognitions. Vanaprastham, his third film, too won the Swarna Kamal for Best Picture and the National Award for Best Editing. For Vanaprastham, he had none other than Renato Berta to do the camerawork for him, and Zakir Hussain flew down to Thiruvananthapuram many times to score the music. And, the protagonist of the film was none other than Bharat Mohanlal.

Except for Vanaprastham, Shaji has always worked on a miniscule budget, but he has never let that tell on his movies. He knew the kind of lights and shots he wanted. He knew the position of the characters and did it effortlessly.