Jigme Tenzing

Biography

Jigme Tenzing is an Indian-Bhutanese cinematographer known for his work in international and South Asian cinema. He has built a reputation for visually distinctive cinematography, particularly in films that combine intimate human stories with striking natural landscapes. IMDb lists him as a cinematographer with credits across feature films, documentaries, and short films.

Tenzing made an important contribution to Bhutanese cinema through Hema Hema: Sing Me a Song While I Wait (2016), directed by Khyentse Norbu. The film premiered at the Locarno Film Festival and was noted for its atmospheric visual style.

He later served as cinematographer for Honeygiver Among the Dogs (2016) and YADVI: The Dignified Princess (2017). His international work also includes The Red Phallus (2018) and Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom (2019). The latter became particularly prominent internationally and received an Academy Award nomination for Best International Feature Film.

In Malayalam cinema, Tenzing worked as the cinematographer on Nirmal Sahadev's Ranam (2018), starring Prithviraj Sukumaran, Rahman, and Isha Talwar. The crime drama was set largely in Detroit and marked an important collaboration between Tenzing and Malayalam filmmakers.

Tenzing subsequently photographed The Monk and the Gun (2023), directed by Pawo Choyning Dorji. The film further demonstrated his ability to combine carefully composed imagery with character-driven storytelling.

His cinematography is distinguished by a strong sense of atmosphere and an ability to capture both expansive landscapes and intimate character moments. Through projects such as Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom, Hema Hema, Ranam, and The Monk and the Gun, Jigme Tenzing has developed a diverse international filmography.