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M.C. SEKHAR
Born in a family of nine in a remote village (Nedumbal) in Kerala, Shri M.C.Sekhar was pitched far from wealth, fame, and prosperity. His parents had migrated to Madras to make a living. His burning desire to be educated was thwarted as he lost his father while in middle school. Thereafter, he tagged along with his brother (Shri M. Peethambaram) to the studios to fend for the family. Little did one know that these village boys were all set to make a mark in the South film industry through their talent, dedication, and hard work.

Mr. M. C. Sekhar set foot in the field of photography as early as 1955 as an apprentice at Vauhini Studios. He received his initial training under great masters such as Mr. Marcus Bartley, Mr. Vincent, and Mr. C. Nageswara Rao. Under Mr. Marcus Bartley, Sekhar gradually rose from being an apprentice to 2nd assistant to an operative cameraman. His skills were further honed and perfected by Mr. Vincent, Director of Photography. Impressed by his workmanship, the then-popular and reigning cameraman, Mr. C. Nageswara Rao, invited Sekhar to work with him and requested he give up his services at Vauhini Studios. He went on to work in partnership with his guru, Shri Nageswara Rao, as Director of Photography for nearly 20 Telugu films. These included several blockbuster movies starring famous heroes of the times such as N.T.R., Nageswara Rao, S.V. Ranga Rao, etc. Most of these were great hits, like Aradhana, Pandava vanavasam, Chaturangam, Anthasthulu, Bhishma, Kathanayaka etc. The sudden and untimely demise of Shri. C. Nageswara Rao destined Sekhar to journey on his own in the film industry. His talent was absorbed not only in the Telugu film industry but in other languages as well, such as Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada. In all, Mr. Sekhar worked on a total of 103 films which include over 40 each in Telugu and Tamil, 6 in Kannada, 9 in Malayalam, and one each in Gujarati and Bengali. This amazing feat of Mr. Sekhar has given him the opportunity to work with great directors such as Mr. Kamalakar Kameswara Rao, Mr, Prichyagatma, Mr. V. Yoganand, Mr. Madhusudanan Rao, etc of the Telugu industry. Mr. K. Shankar, Mr. P. Vasu, Mr. K. Bhagiyaraj of the Tamil industry. Mr. I.V. Sasi, Mr. Sasikumar, and Mr. Sugumaran of the Malayalam industry, etc., His work was also part of several successful hits like Yugandhar, Anna thamula anubandham, Mathrudevatha in Telugu. Kuzhandai Ullam, Miruthanga Chakravarthy, Paneer Pushpangal, Indru Poi Naalai vaa, Pannakkaran, Uzhaipali, Sethupathi IPS, Richshawmama and Walter Vetrivel in Tamil. Among the major highlights in Mr.Sekhar’s career is the fact that he worked on six films with Dr. Chevaliar Sivaji Ganesan in Praptham, Chiranjeevi, Mirudanga Chakravarthy, Ezhudatha sattangal, Nidhiyin nizhal and Rajarishi. He has also produced four successful films in Telugu, namely, Mathrudevatha (starring NTR), Koothrukodalu (starring Shobanbabu), Sthree (Krishnamraju) and Aarathi (Sharada). Further, Mr. Sekhar is also the proud recipient of 2 state awards, one for the movie titled Vernivasoolat in Gujarathi directed by Mr. S.S. Balan and the other for Walter Vetrivel in Tamil directed by Mr. P. Vasu.

This illustrious journey of Mr. Sekhar would not have found its way without the support of his elder brother Shri. M. Peethambaram. Mr. Shekar attributes his success and achievements to Mr. Peethambaram, who guided and guarded him at every stage of his personal and professional life.