In Telugu cinema, some director-technician partnerships have become iconic over the years. These creative combinations bring out the best in each other, delivering memorable films. One such beloved duo is director S.S. Rajamouli and cinematographer Senthil Kumar.
This combination has given Telugu cinema some of its most visually stunning films. From Sye and Yamadonga to the epic Baahubali series and RRR, Senthil’s camera work has played a huge role in bringing Rajamouli’s grand visions to life. His work helped create powerful visuals that matched the scale and emotion of Rajamouli’s storytelling. The use of lighting, camera angles, and epic frames in Baahubali and RRR was praised internationally, and Senthil’s contribution was key to their success.
However, fans were surprised to learn that the duo will not be working together on Rajamouli’s upcoming film SSMB29, starring Mahesh Babu. For this project, Rajamouli has chosen cinematographer P.S. Vinod instead. This has sparked questions about what might have caused the change.
During promotions for a film with Jr NTR, Senthil addressed the issue. He clearly stated there were no problems between him and Rajamouli. He reminded everyone that Rajamouli had previously worked with other cinematographers on Maryada Ramanna and Vikramarkudu and later teamed up with him again. Senthil said SSMB29 is just one film they chose not to do together and that they may collaborate again in the future.
Fans now believe that Rajamouli might be exploring a different visual style for his new adventure film and are curious to see what changes he brings. Still, the Rajamouli–Senthil combination remains one of the most respected in the industry.
