# Attar Singh Saini

Attar Singh Saini is a cinematographer based in Mumbai, India. He has been working in the Indian film industry since 1992. His lighting is lyrical and every composition tells a tale of emotions. Saini graduated from the Film & TV Institute of India, Pune in 1992, which is one of the premier film schools of Asia.

## Career

Attar Singh Saini is one of the most well-known cinematographers, in the Indian film Industry has produced. His lighting is lyrical and every composition tells a tale of emotions. He is a graduate of the Film & TV Institute of India, Pune (1992 batch), which is one of the premier film Schools of Asia. He is an active member of the Western Indian Cinematographer Association (WICA) and Cinematographers Combine (CC). He is based in Mumbai and married to Geetanjali Saini, who is a true inspiration and pillar of support. Saini has been working in India's Film and TV Industry for the last more than two decades. In the first half of his career, he worked for numerous television series for channels such as Star Plus, Sony Entertainment Television, Zee TV, etc. The industry widely appreciated his television work profile and he received the ITA award in 2003 for the best cinematography of the television series ‘Kashmeer’ for the channel Star Plus. Post 2003, Attar Singh Saini took a big leap in his career and started his first feature film 7-1/2 Phere. After that Saini never looked back in his film career and has shot about a number of films such as: Chocolate, Darna Jaroori Hai, Dil Diya Hai, Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal, Summer 2007, Victory, Jane Kahan Se Aayi Hai, Fruit and Nut, Radio, Hate Story, I went shopping for Robert De Niro, Khiladi 786, Daughters of Mother India and Son-Rise, (National Award-Winning Documentary) Junooniyat, Buddha In Traffic Jam, Kashi in search of Ganga, Honeymoon, Laila Manju, Suswagatam Kushmadeed Etc.
Attar Singh Saini has worked with the biggest actors of the industry such as Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Asin, Anil Kapoor, John Abrahim, Bipasha Basu, Irrfaan Khan, Emraan Hashmi, Arshad Warsi, Riteish Deshmukh, Jacqueline Fernandes, Boman Irani, Anupam Kher, Farah Khan, Harman Baweja, Mithun Chakraborty, Tanushree Dutta, Himesh Reshamiya, Dia Mirza, Cyrus Baroacha, Madhvan, Shreyas Talpade, and directors such as Ramesh Sippy, Kundan Shah, Sayed Mirza, Aziz Mirza, Sudheer Mishra, Nikhil Advani, Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, Sohail Tatari, Milap Javeri, Ishaan Trivedi, Kunal Vijaykar, Ajit Pal, Ajay Sinha, Ashish R. Mohan, and Raju Kumar Hirani. Saini is never satisfied, always trying to find magic in his composition and lighting. "With a rustic soul and ambition to create Hollywood-like magic, Saini is Indian Film Industry’s best discovery" boast the directors with whom he has worked. His long work experience and love for his craft has made him a part of the wide network of the Film Industry. Khiladi 786 was a big box office grosser and Chocolate brought a lot of critical appreciation for his work. A few quotes are as follows "Fantastically served by the cameraman Attar Singh Saini (take a bow Please)" --Khalid Mohamed, DNA Dated 18/09/05 “Film has a crisp look throughout (courtesy cinematographer Attar Singh Saini)” --Indiagalitz “Cinematography (Attar Singh Saini) is splendid. The ‘winter look’ of London has been captured with elan. The film bears a rich look throughout” --Taran Adarsh, 16th Sep.2005, India FM

## Films

Saini’s film releases include:
| Name Honeymoon | the Year 2022 | Label Baweja Studio and T- Series |
| Chocolate (2005 film) | 2005 | Spice Team & Inspired Movies UK |
| 7½ Phere | 2005 | Epitome Production |
| Darna Zaroori Hai | 2006 | K. Sera Sera Productions |
| Dil Diya Hai | 2006 | - |
| Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal | 2007 | UTV Motion Pictures |
| Summer 2007 | 2008 | Atul Production |
| Victory (2009 film) (shot partially) | 2009 | Ajitpal Mangat & Manmohan Shethi |
| Fruit and Nut (film) | 2009 | Viacom Studio 18 |
| Radio (2009 film) | 2009 | Plus Entertainment |
| Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai | 2010 | Warner Bros. & Nikhil Advani production |
| Buddha in a Traffic Jam | 2011 | Friday Night Productions |
| Hate Story | 2012 | ASA Production |
| Khiladi 786 | 2012 | HR Musik Limited, Hari Om Entertainment, Eros International |
| Junooniyat | 2016 | T-Series |
| 'Days of Tafree' | 2016 | Anand Pandit Motion Pictures and Rashmi Sharma |
| Kaashi in Search of Ganga | 2018 | Insite India |
Commercials for the industry's biggest brands:
* Taj Hotel Palace series
* Binani Cement
* Indo farm tractors
* Surf Excel
* Pepsodent
* Whisper
* Clinic All Clear
* Hyundai Santro
* Sun Feast Biscuit
* Britannia biscuit
* XXX condoms
* Godrej Shaving Cream
* Vicks vaporizer
* Rexona Deo
* Sagem mobile
* Hair care oil
Feature film Chocolate has earned critical acclaim for its cinematography, few quote from critics are as follow. Saini has also been a member for the jury for the Indian Television Academy Awards 2009.

## Awards and distinction

* Critics reviews of the feature film Chocolate. "Fantastically served by the cameraman Attar Singh Saini (take a bow Please)" – Khalid Mohamed, DNA, dated 18/09/05
* Film has a crisp look throughout courtesy cinematographer (Attar Singh Saini) – Indiagalitz
* Cinematography (Attar Singh Saini) is splendid. The ˜winter look" of London has been captured with Elan. Film bears rich look throughout – Taran Adarsh, 16th Sep.2005, India FM
* Attar Singh Saini has managed to give a true international look throughout the movie with his cinematography exploited – Vikash Mohan, Movie talkies.com
* The visual brilliance (cinematography) Attar Singh Saini – Whyte Space & The Hindu Madras
* Attar Singh Saini is marvelous – Chkarshift King, Sktees
* The film score in one area... the look, it has an ultra modern feel – Nikhat Kazmi, Times of India, Dated 18/09/05
* Jury Member for ITA awards 2004 & 2009
* Indian Television Academy, Best Cinematography Award, 2003 for Television Series : Kashmeer. Producer : Contiloe Films for Star Plus.