Rajiv Menon, the visionary founder of "Rajiv Menon Productions", hails from the culturally rich state of Kerala. In 1981, he embarked on a journey to hone his skills in cinematography at the prestigious Film and Television Institute of Chennai. His passion for the craft led him to the United States in 1984, where he had the privilege of training under the renowned cinematographer Garret Brown, inventor of the revolutionary Steadicam.
Upon returning to India, Rajiv founded "Rajiv Menon Productions" in 1986, which would later become popularly known as "RMP". He began his career in television commercials, and his breakthrough came with the Asian Paints "Pongal" commercial, which he not only shot and directed but also composed the music for, with the maestro A R Rahman.
RMP has since produced over 300 TV commercials for leading brands in the country, a testament to Rajiv's dedication and perseverance. His work in feature films was met with critical acclaim, particularly with his cinematography in the award-winning film "Bombay" (1995). He went on to collaborate with acclaimed directors like Mani Ratnam, Shyam Benegal, and Girish Karnad, and his recent contributions include Mani Ratnam's "Guru" (2007) and "Kadal" (2013).
Rajiv's directorial debut, "Minsaara Kanavu" (1997),was a massive hit and earned four national awards for its outstanding music, choreography, and playback singing. His second directorial venture, "I Have Found It" (2000),was a multi-starrer that won numerous accolades, including the best director and best picture awards at the Filmfare ceremony. The film was also screened at several international film festivals, including the London Film Festival, the Washington DC Festival, and the Danish Film Festival.
Rajiv's impressive repertoire extends beyond filmmaking, as he is also an accomplished ad photographer, cinematographer, director, actor, singer, and orator. His versatility has earned him the reputation of being one of India's most sought-after filmmakers. Moreover, he is committed to giving back to the industry by nurturing young talent. To this end, he founded the Mindscreen Film Institute, a film school that provides comprehensive training in cinematography, screenwriting, and filmmaking.
