P. C. Sreeram Biography: Age, Movies, Awards, Net Worth, Career, Films, Ethnicity

Priya Chandramohan Sreeram, professionally known as P. C. Sreeram, is a distinguished Indian cinematographer and film director, renowned for his groundbreaking work primarily in Tamil cinema, with contributions across Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi films.

Widely regarded as the “Guru of Cinematography,” Sreeram has earned acclaim for his innovative camera techniques and visual storytelling, particularly through his long-standing collaboration with director Mani Ratnam on iconic films like Mouna Ragam and Nayakan.

Profile

• Full Name: Priya Chandramohan Sreeram
• Stage Name: P. C. Sreeram
• Born: 26, January 1956
• Age: 69 years old
• Birthplace: Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
• Nationality: Indian
• Occupation: Cinematographer, Film Director, President of Qube Cinemas
• Height: Unknown
• Parents: Mr. Sreeram, Mrs. Sreeram
• Siblings: Unknown
• Spouse: None
• Children: None
• Relationship: Not married
• Net Worth: $5 million

Early Life and Education

Priya Chandramohan Sreeram was born on January 26, 1956, in Madras, now known as Chennai, Tamil Nadu, to Mr. Sreeram and Mrs. Sreeram.

Information about his siblings is not publicly available. Growing up, he developed a passion for photography and showed little interest in academics, focusing instead on cinema.

He attended Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School in Mylapore, Chennai, and later pursued a diploma in Motion Picture Photography at the Madras Film Institute, graduating in 1979. His ethnicity is Indian, and his religious beliefs are not publicly disclosed.

Career

Priya Chandramohan Sreeram began his career in the early 1980s after earning his diploma from the Madras Film Institute.

His debut as a cinematographer came with the Tamil film Vaa Indha Pakkam (1981), but his breakthrough arrived with Meendum Oru Kaathal Kathai (1985), which won the Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director in 1984.

His collaboration with Mani Ratnam on Mouna Ragam (1986) marked a turning point, earning him widespread recognition for his evocative visuals. This partnership continued with Nayakan (1987), which secured Sreeram his first National Film Award for Best Cinematography and established him as a leading figure in Indian cinema.

Sreeram’s career flourished through the late 1980s and 1990s with films like Agni Natchathiram (1988), where he introduced innovative camera techniques, and Geethanjali (1989), earning a Nandi Award.

His work on Thevar Magan (1992) and Alaipayuthey (2000) further showcased his ability to blend technical precision with emotional depth. Sreeram ventured into directing with Meera (1992), though it was a commercial disappointment.

His second directorial effort, Kuruthipunal (1995), a police thriller, gained international acclaim as India’s Oscar entry in 1996 and was later featured at the Rotterdam International Film Festival. In 2004, he directed Vaanam Vasappadum, the first Indian film shot in high-definition digital technology, screened at prestigious festivals like Mumbai and Kerala.

Sreeram expanded his influence into Bollywood with Cheeni Kum (2007) and continued with R. Balki’s Paa (2009), Shamitabh (2015), Ki & Ka (2016), and Pad Man (2018).

His recent work includes Psycho (2020), Putham Pudhu Kaalai (2020), and Rang De (2021), with his cinematography for 96 Part 2 confirmed in 2025.

A mentor to prominent cinematographers like K. V. Anand and Nirav Shah, Sreeram has shaped modern Indian cinematography. As president of Qube Cinemas and the South Indian Film Cinematographers Association since 2016, his contributions extend beyond the camera, influencing digital cinema technology and industry standards.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @pcsreeram
• Facebook Handle: P. C. Sreeram
• Twitter Handle: @pcsreeram

Personal Life

Priya Chandramohan Sreeram has maintained a private personal life, with no publicly documented spouse, romantic partners, or children.

Tragically, he lost his daughter in 2012, who passed away at age 23 after falling from a terrace. A private individual, Sreeram is known for his dedication to his craft and his mentorship of emerging cinematographers, including his niece, Preetha Jayaraman.

Filmography

• Meendum Oru Kaathal Kathai (1985)
• Mouna Ragam (1986)
• Nayakan (1987)
• Agni Natchathiram (1988)
• Geethanjali (1989)
• Thevar Magan (1992)
• Meera (1992)
• Thiruda Thiruda (1993)
• Ki & Ka (2016)
• Remo (2016)
• Pad Man (2018)
• Psycho (2020)
• Putham Pudhu Kaalai (2020)
• Rang De (2021)

Net Worth

Priya Chandramohan Sreeram has an estimated net worth of $5 million. His wealth is derived from his extensive career as a cinematographer across over 30 films in multiple Indian languages, supplemented by his directorial projects and television commercials.