Santosh Sivan (born 8 February 1964) is an Indian cinematographer, film director, producer and actor known for his works in Malayalam, Tamil and Hindi cinema. Santosh graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India and has to date completed 55 feature films and 50 documentaries. He is regarded as one of India's finest and best cinematographers. He Has Won Twelve National Film Awards, Six Filmfare Awards, Four Kerala State Film Awards and Three Tamil Nadu State Film Awards respectively. Career Santosh, a founding member of the Indian Society of Cinematographers and the most awarded Director of Photography in India, graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India and completed 45 feature films and 41 documentaries. As a director, Santosh won his first National Award in 1988 for the Story of Tiblu (1988). His film Halo was honoured at the 43rd National Film Awards as the Best Children's Film and Best Sound. Santosh became the first cinematographer in the Asia-Pacific region to join the American Society of Cinematographers membership. As a cinematographer, he has won five National Film Awards – including four for Best Feature Film Cinematography. As of 2014, he has received eleven National Film Awards, and 21 international awards for his works. He was awarded the Padma Shri for his contributions to Indian cinema in 2014. Late 1999s and present In an interview, he said that some films he chose, not mostly because of the story but due to the very fact that he was comfortable with the director, a bigger pay cut and friendship things. Documentary His 2007 release Prarambha won the National Film Award for Best Educational/Motivational/Instructional Film at the 55th National Film Awards. Filmography As actor Awards National Film Awards Kerala State Film Awards 1992 – Aham – Best Cinematography (Colour) 1994 – Pavithram – Best Cinematography 1996 – Kalapani – Best Cinematography 2005 – Anandabhadram – Best Cinematography Tamil Nadu State Film Awards 1992 – Roja – Best Cinematography 1996 – Indira – Best Cinematography 2010 – Raavanan – Best Cinematography Filmfare Awards 1995 – Barsaat – Best Cinematography 1998 – Dil Se.. – Best Cinematography 2000 – Halo – Best Film (Critics) 2001 – Asoka – Best Cinematography Filmfare Awards South 1997 – Iruvar – Best Cinematographer – South 1999 – Vanaprastham – Best Cinematographer – South IIFA Awards 2002 – Asoka – IFFA Best Cinematographer Award Star Screen Awards 2005 –