Cinematography
K. K. Senthil Kumar is an Indian cinematographer known for his work in Telugu cinema, particularly for his frequent collaborations with director S.S. Rajamouli. He obtained a degree in cinematography from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune. His career began with the sitcom TV series "Amrutham," where he served as a cinematographer. He made his film debut with the critically acclaimed movie "Aithe" in 2003, which brought him recognition in the industry.
Senthil Kumar has worked on several notable films, including "Sye" (2004), "Chatrapathi" (2005), "Yamadonga" (2007), "Arundhati" (2009), "Magadheera" (2009), "Eega" (2012), "Baahubali: The Beginning" (2015), "Baahubali 2: The Conclusion" (2017), and "RRR" (2022). His collaboration with S.S. Rajamouli on the "Baahubali" films brought him widespread acclaim and recognition. He has received two Nandi Awards from the Andhra Pradesh government and three Filmfare Awards South, among other accolades, for his exceptional cinematography.
Born and raised in Hyderabad, Senthil Kumar hails from a Tamil-speaking family. He is the eldest of three siblings. In 2009, he married Ruhee, a Yoga instructor who heads the Hyderabad division of Bharat Thakur’s Yoga classes.
After completing his studies at FTII, Senthil Kumar began his career as an assistant cinematographer to renowned cinematographer Sarath. He worked under Sarath's guidance on various projects from "Premaku Velayara" (1999) to "Jabili" (2001). During his early career, he also worked on 13 episodes of the TV series "Amrutham." Director Chandra Sekhar Yeleti gave him the opportunity to work as the cinematographer for his directorial debut, "Aithe," in 2003, which marked Senthil Kumar's official entry into feature films.