Santosh Sivan Filmography

Born:: Chennai, India
Occupation:: Director, Cinematographer, Screenwriter
Biography:: After graduating from the Film and Television Institute of India in 1984, Santosh Sivan began his film career as a cinematographer, eventually working with such legendary Bollywood directors as Aditya Bhattacharya (Raakh) and the always innovative Mani Rathnam (Iruvar, Dil Se). In 1995 he moved...Read More

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Before the Rains

Crew: Cinematographer, Director

Actors: Linus Roache, Rahul Bose, Nandita Das, Jennifer Ehle, John Standing

Synopsis: An Englishman intent on opening a spice plantation in Kerala attempts to gain the trust of the local villagers and destroys numerous lives in the process in this period drama from director/cinematographer Santosh Sivan. The year is 1937, and the power that the English wield over the citizens of Read More

5/9/08
Bride and Prejudice

Crew: Cinematographer

Actors: Aishwarya Rai, Martin Henderson, Anupam Kher, Nadira Babbar, Naveen Andrews

Synopsis: The very British sensibilities of Jane Austen are introduced to the exotic flavors of the Bollywood musical in this romantic comedy with songs from the director of Bend It Like Beckham, Gurinder Chadha. Lalita Bakshi (Aishwarya Rai) is the lovely and eligible daughter of her socially ambitious Read More

2/11/05
Silsiilay

Crew: Cinematographer

Actors: Tabu, Rahul Bose, Bhumika Chawla, Riya Sen

2005
Anandabhadram

Crew: Director

2005
Mistress of Spices

Crew: Cinematographer

Actors: Aishwarya Rai, Dylan McDermott, Nitin Chandra Ganatra, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Caroline Chikezie, Sonny Gill Dulay

Synopsis: Director Paul Mayeda Berges adapts author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni magic realist tale about an enchanting Indian orphan who has leaned to harness the magical properties of spices. Orphaned by regional strife in her homeland of India, Tilo (Aishwarya Rai) is subsequently kidnapped by a vicious Read More

2005
Asoka

Crew: Cinematographer, Director, Screenwriter

Actors: Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Danny Denzongpa, Ajith, Rahul Dev

Synopsis: Cinematographer turned director Santosh Sivan follows up on his acclaimed 1999 opus Malli with this sweeping historical epic. Asoka, the emperor of the Mauryan dynasty between 274 and 232 B.C., was famed for having unified much of modern-day India and for raising Buddhism from obscurity to the Read More

2001
The Terrorist

Crew: Cinematographer, Director, Screenwriter

Actors: Ayesha Dharker, Vishnu Vardhan, Bhanu Prakash, K. Krishna, Sonu Sisupal

Synopsis: Veteran cinematographer Santosh Sivan made his directorial debut with this fact-based Indian drama, a winner of "Best Film" and editing awards in India. Teen terrorist Malli (Ayesha Dharkar) dwells on the death of her family members who have died for the cause. A veteran of killings during 30 Read More

1/14/00
Vanaprastham

Crew: Cinematographer

Actors: Mohanlal, Suhasini, Mattanoor Shankara Marar, Kukkoo Parameswaran, Venmani Haridas

Synopsis: Shaji Karun's love story takes its inspiration from Kathakali, a dance-drama with a 500-year history, which is indigenous to the Kerala region of India. In the late 1930s, 10-year-old Kunhikuttan begins his training in this very taxing art form. When he is eighteen, he is forced to marry someone Read More

1999
Malli

Crew: Cinematographer, Director, Screenwriter

Actors: Janakaraj

Synopsis: Indian director Santosh Sivan departed from his successful 1998 The Terrorist, a political thriller hailed as one of the most beautiful films ever to come from the subcontinent, to make this magical portrait of the inner life of Malli, a poor eight-year old girl. Malli works to help her parents Read More

1999
Dil Se

Crew: Cinematographer

Actors: Shah Rukh Khan, Manisha Koirala, Preity Zinta, Raghubir Yadav, Zohra Segal

Synopsis: Mani Rathnam, who has proven with films like Bombay (1995) and Iruvar (1998) that it was possible in India to make quality films that could also be box-office hits, chose the 50th anniversary celebrations of Indian Independence as the backdrop for this film about the clash between love and Read More

1998
Iruvar

Crew: Cinematographer

Actors: Mohanlal, Prakash Raj, Aishwarya Rai, Tabu

Synopsis: Director of the controversial blockbuster Bombay (1995), Mani Rathnam has come up with another entertaining film which threads between high art and soft soap opera. Struggling actor Anandan (Mohanlal) meets poet, screenwriter, and active politician Selvam (Prakash Raj), and a long friendship Read More

1997
Perumthachan

Crew: Cinematographer

Actors: Nedumudi Venu

Synopsis: In this Indian story, based on a Kerala legend, a pious and self-disciplined mixed-caste master carpenter moves easily in his world, building temples and then carving the stone statues which embellish them. Despite his mixed-caste status, he is at home in his traditional world. By way of contrast Read More

1992
Raakh

Crew: Cinematographer

Actors: Pankaj Kapoor, Aamir Khan, Supriya Pathak

Synopsis: After a series of riots, the country that Aamir (Pankaj Kapoor) lives in has become a dictatorship. When a girlfriend of his is raped by gangsters, Aamir wants to make them pay. He gets together with a policeman and together the two seek to bring justice to the wrongdoers. This eventually involves Read More

1989