Cinematographer Manoj Paramahamsa has been appointed head of the Tamil Nadu Government M.G.R. Film and Television Institute in Chennai. The appointment comes over a month after Vijay took oath as Chief Minister, and is notable given Manoj's frequent collaborations with Vijay on films like Nanban, Beast and Leo.

Manoj is himself an alumnus of the institute, having trained there before assisting DOP S Saravanan on several films and going on to make his solo debut with Arivazhagan's Eeram. He has since built an acclaimed career spanning Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa, Enai Noki Paayum Thota, Radhe Shyam and Guntur Kaaram, among others, and has also turned producer with films like Poovarasam Peepee and Minmini.

He is currently awaiting the release of Gautham Menon's long-delayed Dhruva Natchathiram.