Sunder Ramu's Response to Mayakkam Enna Flaws

Sunder Ramu, an ace fashion photographer who has captured many celebrities, made an impressive debut in Mayakkam Enna. Every one who watched the movie yearned to have a friend like him in real life. He is also currently acting with Dhanush in 3. When you read his response below, one can tell he is a nice guy off-the-screen as well. Here is Sunder Ramu's reply to the visitor column "Mayakkam Enna Irks a Photographer" 

This is in response to the photographer's observations on the loopholes in the profession's portrayal in ME. Firstly its wonderful to get into a constructive conversation with someone who has watched the movie. I'm a passionate photographer myself and started off the first 3 years of my life as a wildlife photographer. This is not a defense or counter points to the observations made but merely my thoughts in connection to your queries.

Mathesh Krishnaswamy being an office bound, wildlife photographer who has assistants and works on fashion shoots as well, is not an unrealistic portrayal simply because a majority of photographers trying to make ends meet, do take up other forms of photography which are more lucrative and end up letting their original passion take a backseat,due to lack of money to sustain themselves in their chosen fields. A lot of artists in different mediums struggle with that. His portrayal of being a non committed photographer and loss of interest in the rawness of the art form, also is something that I have witnessed with a number of photographers, who for lack of opportunity or because of the fame that they might have obtained through their achievements or simply a loss of passion for their art, makes them into cocktail party hosting, gallery bound,pseudo intellectual artists who lose their hunger and the original energy that they started
with. With this in mind I thought the casting and characterization of his particular character was quite apt.

As for the portrayal of a lack of practise by the protagonist, of his techniques to shoot wildlife photographs, I must say that with the number of layers that this movie has addressed,getting into nitty gritties of showing that would have lost the interest of the rest of the non wildlife photography enthusiastic audience, who are the majority.This was not meant to be a documentary of a wildlife photographer. In any case this is the journey of an artist in struggle with his passion,his own demons, obvious flaws,and grey areas in life that a lot artists dare to challenge when most people who have adhered to a certain set of morals will not stray or even be offended by a deviation from a set moral code.(Like sentiments of encroaching on someone else's relationship.)

A lot of artists stray from the black and white in life because they try to question and explore life and express it through their chosen mediums. The confusion and turmoil of Karthik is a very relatable scenario.
As for sharp pictures without a tripod or long telephoto lenses,with the technology available now and with high speed digital cameras to shoot with and high end software which allows for interpolation, good pictures are possible without the traditional approach to wildlife photography. Some of the best photographs that I have judged in contests have been shot by college students or IT professionals with minimum knowledge and basic equipment.

As for Yamini not sending the images to NatGeo, I think she did an admirable job of sending the images to the best of her abilities and the easiest ones that she could've sent it to are the local mags. If that's the limit of her knowledge of an art form that's not her passion or not her expertise. Even students from reputed viscomm related colleges ask me in our workshops about the most obvious questions, so given Yamini's background I consider that to be more realistic than sending them to NAT GEO.

Photographs that have won awards in one category have been known to win awards in other areas and there have been images that have won more than one award with different forums as the image is not time bound. 

I agree that the African elephant was an error .

In the end i think you have brought up very valid points and have articulated them really well.I enjoyed reading them as a member of the audience, a photographer, as well as a part of the ME team. I'm sure, knowing Selva, He will be thrilled that this film is evoking a multilayered response and will take the good points with an open mind and heart. Thank you once again and all the best.

- Sunder Ramu