Obituaries

National Award-Winning Cinematographer-Director R. Chezhiyan Dies at 57

By TestNeeti Editorial TeamPublished Friday, 10 July 2026 2 min readSource: The Indian ExpressArticle 11 of 13

R. Chezhiyan, the National Award-winning cinematographer, director and writer, passed away in Chennai on the morning of July 10, 2026 (Friday), aged 57, after a prolonged illness. He was widely respected in Tamil cinema for his realist visual style. His directorial debut To Let (2017) won the National Film Award for Best Tamil Feature Film at the 65th National Film Awards. As a cinematographer he made his independent debut with Kalloori (2007) and shot acclaimed films including Thenmerku Paruvakaatru, Paradesi and Joker. Born in Sivaganga, he trained under celebrated cinematographer P. C. Sreeram early in his career and was a member of the International Institute of Film Culture (IIFC).

Key Facts & Details

8 points

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R. Chezhiyan, National Award-winning cinematographer, director and writer, died in Chennai on July 10, 2026, aged 57.
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His directorial debut To Let (2017) won the National Film Award for Best Tamil Feature Film at the 65th National Film Awards.
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He made his independent cinematography debut with Kalloori (2007) and worked on Paradesi, Thenmerku Paruvakaatru and Joker.
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He was known for his realist visual storytelling in Tamil cinema.
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Born in Sivaganga, he began his career as an assistant to noted cinematographer P. C. Sreeram.
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He was a member of the International Institute of Film Culture (IIFC).

Deep Dive

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To Let depicted the struggles of a lower-middle-class family searching for a rented home, and travelled to several international film festivals.
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Beyond cinematography and direction, Chezhiyan was also a writer and lyricist, reflecting a multifaceted career in cinema.

Exam Focus

For which acclaimed film did R. Chezhiyan win the National Film Award, and in what field is he best known?

Exam Relevance & Angle

Obituaries of National Award winners are standard GA fare, tested by name, field and signature achievement. Linking R. Chezhiyan with To Let and the National Film Award for Best Tamil Feature Film gives aspirants a clean, examinable fact cluster in the arts and honours space.

Target Exams

SBI POIBPS POSSC CGLSSC CHSLRRB NTPCState PCS

Background & Context

The National Film Awards are India's most prestigious cinema honours, presented annually and administered by the Directorate of Film Festivals under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting; the Best Feature Film in each language, including Tamil, is among the recognised categories. A cinematographer (director of photography) is responsible for a film's camera work, lighting and visual look, a craft distinct from direction. Tamil cinema, one of India's major film industries, has a strong tradition of realist, socially rooted storytelling. Chezhiyan belonged to a generation of technicians who moved from cinematography into direction, and his acclaimed debut To Let exemplified the realist school of contemporary Tamil filmmaking.