K. G. Jayan (cinematographer)

Jayan was born and brought up in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. His father Gangadharan was a radiologist. His uncle Velappan Alappad was a renowned film critic. He did his schooling from Government Model Boys Higher Secondary School. He pursued his bachelor's degree and master's degree from Mar Ivanios College and Government Arts College, Thiruvananthapuram. Jayan went to Film and Television Institute of India for pursuing diploma in cinematography, in where Santosh Sivan was his classmate and Venu was his senior.^[1]

Jayan began his career in Malayalam cinema with Harikumar's Jaalakam after taking over from Venu, who had to withdraw from the shoot after a couple of days. He continues to work in parallel cinema with directors like T. V. Chandran and Priyanandanan.

Jayan has shot over 1000 documentaries. His work in K. R. Mohanan's documentary Oru Vanavyavasthayude Sheshippukal won him the Kerala State Television Award for Best Videography, the first ever for a documentary in Kerala, and The 18th Elephant, in which he worked with P. Balan, won him the National Film Award for Best Cinematography in non-feature film section. He has also shot 197 episodes for Asianet's landmark travelogue Ente Keralam.^[1]

Jayan also worked as a deputy director at the Centre for Development of Imaging Technology from 1990 to 2014. He is currently working as the head of department of cinematography at L. V. Prasad College of Media Studies, Thiruvananthapuram.^[2]

In 2016, he made his directorial debut with the short film Chennikuthu.^[3]