Swapnil S. Sonawane

Based in Mumbai

Swapnil S. Sonawane is a Mumbai-based cinematographer who works across formats including commercials, feature films, documentaries, and short-form content.

He began his career with director Pan Nalin’s documentary Faith Connection and went on to work independently on acclaimed shows like Dewarists and Sound Trippin, along with commercials for brands such as Vodafone and Flipkart.

Swapnil is known for his naturalistic visual style and ability to blend realism with cinematic detail. Working across advertising and feature films, his work often places performance, atmosphere, and emotion at the centre of the frame.

In advertising, some of his notable projects include Fursat – #ShotoniPhone for Apple, CRED – Charger ft. Karisma Kapoor, campaigns for Myntra, Indeed SMB – Oil Spill and IT Specialist, as well as ads for Swiggy (Nonveg, Influencer, Match Day, Glass Jar), Pepsi Black, and Maggi (Papa, Hostel), among many others.

Swapnil’s feature film work includes Angry Indian Goddesses (2015), Zubaan (2016), and Newton (2017), which was India’s official selection for the 2018 Oscars. He received the National Award for Best Film on National Integration for Dhappa (2018), directed by Nipun Dharmadhikari. His recent work includes Last Film Show (Chhello Show), which was India’s official entry to the 2023 Oscars.

He has also collaborated on a wide range of contemporary Indian cinema, including Vasan Bala’s Monica O My Darling, Harshavardhan Kulkarni’s Badhaai Do, Vikramaditya Motwane’s AK vs AK, the Netflix anthology Ray, Jigra, and Superboys of Malegaon, among others.

Social Media Handles:

• Instagram - @swapsagram

• Vimeo - Swapnil S. Sonawane