Mindscreen Film Institute

About Mindscreen Film Institute

Mindscreen Film Institute founded by Rajiv Menon started as a school for Cinematography and branched out to Screenplay Writing, Film-Making, and Direction. Rajiv Menon, known for his passion for teaching, has mentored award winning cinematographers and directors during their formative years.   Run by a team of senior professionals, Mindscreen Film Institute takes pride in having been the training ground for some of the best talent in the film industry today.

The certificate course on Cinematography started in the year 2006 is highly reputed for its comprehensive program on film-making with specialization in cinematography. Students get hands-on learning experience and theoretical knowledge on the latest equipment's and facilities available on the campus.

Mindscreen Film Institute to offer high-quality professional study programs in the theory & practice of film-making.

Mindscreen Film Institute to focus on specialized areas of film-making that develop very proficient technicians who are creative artists as well.

Mindscreen Film Institute and its alumni to make a professional impact and significant contribution to the media and entertainment industry.

We believe that a good film-maker, irrespective of his/her role must appreciate all aspects of the process.

From the choices a cinematographer confronts, understanding the director & his script, how sound and music transform a scene to the assembling of images in the editing room. And the best way to learn them is to have a real 'touch-feel-do' experience.

Mindscreen Film Institute is all about hands-on learning. Our learning environment is designed to move one beyond their current level, expand the vision, enhance technical skills and unleash the potential to IMAGINE, THINK & CREATE a new way.

Courses Offered:

• Six Months Course on Cinematography

• Six Months Course on Screenwriting and Direction

• Three Months Foundation course on Digital Photography

• Six Months Course on Acting for Film and Television

Rajiv Menon
Founder - Directo 

Rajiv Menon began his career in the film industry when he graduated in cinematography from the Film and Television Institute. His subsequent training in Steadicam operation under Garret Brown, the academy award winner provided him the opportunity to work with some of the top productions.

Rajiv Menon with two decades of experience in making commercials has won numerous awards. He has also worked on a few important documentary projects with personalities like Shyam Benegal and Girish Karnard. While Rajiv Menon worked on a few documentaries, He gained national recognition for shooting Mani Ratnam's 'Bombay' and is continued to be associated with him through 'Guru' and 'Kadal'.

Rajiv Menon made his directorial debut in feature filmmaking, Minsara Kanavu for AVM Studios. He is equally interested in giving back to the industry a range of talents it needs to constantly renew itself. With same aim, he has established Mindscreen Film Institute inaugurated in July 2006 by filmmaker, Maniratnam

Founder and Director page to include major awards

• 2000 - Kandukondain Kandukondain –Tamil Feature Film- Film fare Award - Best Director

• 2008 – Guru – Hindi Feature Film – APSARA award for Best Cinematography.

• 2008 – Guru - Hindi Feature Film – SHANTARAM award for Best Cinematography.

• 2014 – Kadal – Tamil Feature Film – Film Fare Award for Best Cinematography

• 2014 – Kadal – Tamil Feature Film - Vijay TV Award for Best Cinematography

• 2014 – Kadal – Tamil Feature Film - SIIMA Award for Best Cinematography

Rajiv Menon, Founder of "Rajiv Menon Productions", born in Kerala, joined the Film and Television Institute of Chennai in 1981, to study cinematography. In 1984, he went to America to train under cinematographer Garret Brown, best known for his invention of the Steadicam. In 1986, Rajiv founded "Rajiv Menon Productions", popularly known today as "RMP", where he started his career in TV commercials. Rajiv received his first national recognition through his Asian Paints "Pongal" commercial, which he both shot and directed and music for this was composed by A R Rahman. RMP has since produced over 300 TV commercials for leading brands in the country, for over 25 years. Rajiv's work in feature films was noticed and well appreciated when he did the cinematography for the award winning feature film 'Bombay (1995)’. His skill as a cinematographer received much praise, and since, he has worked with accomplished filmmakers like Mani Ratnam, Shyam Benegal, and Girish Karnad. His latest contributions have been in Mani Ratnam's Guru (2007) and Kadal (2013). Rajiv's first directorial venture Minsaara Kanavu (1997) (Electric Dreams) was not only a popular hit but also fetched four national awards for best choreography, best playback - male & female, and best music director. His second directorial venture was the multi-starter Kandukondain Kandukondain (2000) (I have found it), besides winning the best director and best picture awards at Filmfare, was screened at numerous International Film Festivals like the London Film Festival, The Washington DC Festival, and the Danish Film Festival. A song from the film also won singer Shankar Mahadevan his first National Award. Rajiv Menon is a tremendously hard working individual and his versatility extends across everything from being an ad photographer, cinematographer, director, actor, singer, and orator, making him one of the country's most reputed and sought after filmmakers. Rajiv is equally interested in giving back to the industry a range of talent it needs to constantly renew itself. It is with this principal aim that he founded the Mindscreen Film Institute - a film school that nurtures tomorrow's talent by providing comprehensive training across all facets of Cinematography, Screenwriting, and Filmmaking.