K. U. Mohanan

Based in Mumbai

K. U. Mohanan ISC, a distinguished alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India (Pune) and a founding member of the Indian Society of Cinematographers, is recognised for his visually astute contributions to both feature films and brand advertising.

Spanning a career of more than three decades, Mohanan has shaped the aesthetic of landmark films such as Don (2006), Talaash (2012) and Andhadhun (2018)—for which he received the Golden Sparrow for Best Cinematography at the Diorama International Film Festival & Market—and earned the Kerala State Film Award for Carbon (2018).

At the Good Ads Matter Awards 2025, he served as a jury member for the Film Craft, Production Design category, further highlighting his influence within the industry.

In advertising, Mohanan has crafted visually engaging campaigns including Cadbury Dairy Milk Silk – Umbrella #HowFarWillYouGoForLove, Taj – Barsaat, Titan – The Joy of Gifting, CEAT – Kamla, Parle Agro – The Magic of Frooti, Kerala Tourism ‘Your Moment is Waiting’, and Cadbury – Museum, among others. His commercial collaborations also extend to brands such as Idea, Kotak Bank, HSBC, Pedigree, Britannia Pure Magic, Licious, Myntra, IDBI Bank, and more.

Mohanan’s approach to cinematography is defined by naturalism and purposeful visuals. He places storytelling at the centre of his craft, allowing technology to support rather than overshadow the narrative.

Catch K. U. Mohanan in conversation with some of India’s top 1% ad-film Cinematographers' at the Good Ads Matter Cinematographers' Roundtable — on our YouTube channel.

Social Media Handle:

• Instagram - @kumohanan