Shehnad Jalal

Biography

Shehnad Jalal is an Indian cinematographer known primarily for his work in Malayalam cinema. Born on 28 June 1978 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, he has built a career known for visually distinctive and atmospheric cinematography.

Early Life and Career

Jalal studied at the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute. He began his professional career as an assistant to cinematographer Venu ISC, working with him on feature films, documentaries, and television commercials before establishing himself as an independent cinematographer.

He made his feature-film cinematography debut with Chitrasutram (2010), directed by Vipin Vijay. His work on the film earned him the Kerala State Film Award for Best Cinematography, shared with M. J. Radhakrishnan.

Career in Cinematography

Jalal has worked on more than 25 films and has collaborated with filmmakers across Malayalam cinema. His credits include Ee Adutha Kaalathu (2012), Vedivazhipadu (2013), _Kavi Uddheshichathu..? (2016), Vimaanam (2017), Kamala (2019) and Bhoothakaalam (2022).

He also worked on the documentary A Pestering Journey (2011), for which he won the Navroze Contractor Award for Best Documentary Cameraman at the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala.

Bramayugam

One of the most significant projects of Jalal's career is Bramayugam (2024), directed by Rahul Sadasivan and starring Mammootty. Jalal served as the film's director of photography, helping create its dark, atmospheric visual style.

The film's cinematography was widely recognized, and Jalal received the SIIMA Award for Best Cinematographer for his work on Bramayugam.

Recent Work

Jalal continued his association with contemporary Malayalam cinema through films including Ullozhukku (2024) and Diés Iraé (2025). He also served as cinematographer for Padayaatra (2026), directed by Adoor Gopalakrishnan.