Chota K. Naidu

Chota K. Naidu (born 1962) is an Indian cinematographer, best known for his distinct style of cinematography for films like, "Matru Devo Bhava, Choodalani Vund"i and "Kotha Bangaru Lokam". Naidu is a member of the Indian Society of Cinematographers, the South Indian Cinematographers Association and the Telugu Cinematographers Association. He received two state Nandi Awards for "Anji", "Kotha Bangaru Lokam" and two Filmfare Awards South for "Kotha Bangaru Lokam", "Damarukam" for cinematography. His outstanding contribution to the Indian Film Industry and the Indian Television Industry working as a DOP for Telugu, Tamil and Hindi films, and in television is appreciated from last 30 and odd years.
Early life.
Naidu was born in Ramachandrapuram, East Godavari district, Andhra pradesh, his father Chitti Babu Naidu a writer and director of stage plays at Andhra Pradesh, and mother Ananthalakshmi a housewife. Elder sister Padma Latha Electronics Engineer, Elder brother K.V.S. Naidu Mechanical Engineer, Younger sister Kanaka Durga Electronics Engineer, Younger brother Shyam K. naidu is a Cinematographer. He attended Skpgn Govt. Junior college Rcpuram. Born into a family of engineers, Chota spent most of his time focusing on watching films instead of concentrating on his studies due to which he failed in his 10th standard exams. To see more films he worked as a gatekeeper in a nearby theatre. He failed in his supplementary exams later that year as he was watching more and more films. Realizing his interest in cinema his father Chitti Babu Naidu gave him a challenge to pass at least 10th standard with a reward to join him in film industry. Chota took the Challenge and passed with good rank and duly his father made him to join as camera apprentice at "Devar films outdoor unit" (camera rental house in the city of Chennai in 1979). Later he joined "Taraka Prabhu outdoor unit" under Dasari Narayana Rao. 
He was working with top cinematographers during the 1980s throughout India as a Focus puller he was inspired by DOP V.S.R. Swamy for his discipline, dedication and craft. He always considers Swamy as his role model.
Career.
Naidu's first opportunity as a DOP was for a tele film – "Kristhu Jananam" (1987) for DD Hyderabad Kendra directed by Bharath Parepalli and produced by "P. Seetha Devi" who later went on to become his wife.
From then onwards he was continuously working for a lot more Regional and National Television work and TV commercials evolving his craftsman ship.
Naidu's first movie as a cinematographer was Dasari Narayana Rao Amma Rajinama (1991). He collaborated with Dasari Narayana Rao for several other films "Venkanna Babu", "Surigadu", Santaan, etc., Some of the directors he collaborated with are: E.V.V. Satyanarayana for films "Varasudu, Maga Rayudu, Veedevadandi Babu, Maavidaakulu," Kranthi Kumar for "Bhale Pellam", K. Raghavendra Rao for films "Allari Premikudu, Bombay Priyudu, Gangotri," Ramgopal Varma for "Deyyam,"Suresh Krissna for films "Master, Daddy, Baba" (Tamil). Satish Kaushik for "Prem" (Hindi), Gunasekhar for "Choodalani Vundi", David Dhawan for "Kunwara" (Hindi), A.R. Murugadoss for "Stalin", Trivikram Srinivas for "Julai,". V.V. Vinayak for films "Tagore, Bunny, Lakshmi, Krishna, Adhurs, Naayak, Alludu Seenu".
Style.
Naidu received critical acclaim with his debut "Kristhu Jananam" a telefilm dealing with the times of Jesus Christ, for the rich painting like cinematography.
For "Matru Devo Bhava", Naidu applied the chiaroscuro (extremely bright back light and top light to the point of burnout) and silhouette techniques to communicate predominantly a tragic content.
"Varasudu" was his first big commercial film. He adapted commercial style of lighting and selection of color palette to get grandeur.
Personal life.
His nephew Sundeep Kishan is a film actor.