Adjudged the best cameraman from
Madras Film Institute, Munir taught there briefly before leaving the Institute
to try his luck in Telugu films. His dream was to become the industry’s
best cinematographer. He did a dozen films as an assistant cameraman but
even after having directed and photographed Kannathalli, he didn’t make
much headway in films. “In showbusiness, hard work alone doesn’t
pay. Luck also counts. Probably, luck did not favour me at the time. I wanted
to make money fast, I decided to quit films and look for a job elsewhere.”
He joined Doordarshan as a staff cameraman and stayed for 13 years during which he covered MGR’s death and the fire mishaps at LIC and Spencer. Munir looks back on these years with fondness. “My experience with DD gave me immense exposure in all departments of filming even though we had to work within certain limitations. Since it is run by the government every kind of facility was available to us. DD was also the only TV channel at that time.” But since covering news was part of his job, he did not get any individual recognition. He quit DD because he wanted to do something on his own. Egged on by Sasikumar of Asianet he joined PTI-TV as cameraman and continues to cover events and incidents which were considered newsworthy. Almost all the major headlines captured by Munir for PTI were telecast on DD. Recollecting those days, Munir explains, “Covering news you have to be very alert and should take decisions then and there. Handling people is also very important. I feel this type of work is more challenging and interesting and I derive a lot of satisfaction from this”. Munir still works as a regional representative of Aaj Tak.
Interestingly, offers to direct television serials also started coming in. Mano Bhoomi was the first serial he directed and it got rave reviews from press and the public. Anda Oru Nimisham penned and directed by him, was the first serial which talked of AIDS and had as the protagonist a character who acquires AIDS because of his questionable habits. It won him the best director award from the Mylapore Academy for 1992. To date, Munir has directed 12 serials in Tamil. He is currently working on Oiyvu which revolves around old age problems and Penn Vazhvin Kan which deals with women power.
Talking about Sakthi, Munir says, “It is not an easy job to work with a 3-camera setup for a serial. Lightning and compositions have to be done with utmost care. Since it’s a daily soap time is the major factor we can't afford to lose even a single minute. I am happy witt the response I have been getting. The compliments are worth more than a million rupees for a creator”.
Anupama
