From 'Thaai Kizhavi' to Rajamouli, Mahesh Babu, and Kamal Haasan: India's top filmmakers impressed by prosthetics expert Vineesh Vijayan

KOLLAM: For prosthetics and makeup artist Vineesh Vijayan, a single cinematic transformation has become the definitive turning point of his career. His intricate work in ageing veteran actress Radhika Sarathkumar into the character 'Pavunuthayi' for the Tamil film Thaai Kizhavi has not only captured the industry's attention but has also earned him high praise from cinema icon Kamal Haasan.

Following the widespread recognition of Thaai Kizhavi, Vineesh’s portfolio is expanding rapidly with high-profile projects. He is currently slated to work on the upcoming untitled spectacle directed by S.S. Rajamouli starring Mahesh Babu (tentatively titled Varanasi), as well as Raghava Lawrence’s horror-comedy sequel Kanchana 4. Malayalam cinema fans will also see his work closer to home; Vineesh is the hand behind the realistic face mask designed for Bollywood actor Abhimanyu Singh, who plays the antagonist in the highly anticipated Mohanlal-starrer Empuraan.

From Clay Modeling to High-End Prosthetics

A native of Kottarakkara, Vineesh’s journey into the world of practical effects began during his school days at the Vendar Sri Vidyadhiraja Model High School, where he consistently won prizes in clay modelling at state-level school science fairs.

Driven by a passion for creating human forms, he moved to Chennai to pursue professional courses in filmmaking and animation, eventually working as an instructor there. He further formalised his skills by earning a degree in sculpting from the Chennai Government College of Fine Arts. Vineesh credits the hyper-realistic human sculptures of world-renowned Australian artist Ron Mueck as a primary source of his artistic inspiration.

Before transitioning into mainstream cinema, Vineesh and a close friend co-founded a sculpture manufacturing company. Their lifelike silicone creations, including a widely praised sculpture of Sai Baba, garnered significant attention. This led to a prestigious commission from the Tamil Nadu Government Museum to create a series of narrative sculptures tracing the life journey of the legendary actor Sivaji Ganesan from his youth.

Later, while fabricating a bronze statue of Akkinenii Nageswara Rao for the ANR Studios in Hyderabad, Vineesh crossed paths with director S.S. Rajamouli—a meeting that paved the way for his entry into India's largest film industries.

Grinding routine

While the on-screen results look seamless, the physical labour involved in modern prosthetic makeup is gruelling. According to Vineesh, the process on set requires immense discipline from both the artist and the actor:

• Application Window: Each shooting day requires four to five hours of meticulous application to properly position and blend the silicone appliances.
• The Removal Process: Post-shoot, safely removing the prosthetics and adhesives without damaging the actor's skin takes over two hours.
• Hyper-Realistic Details: The craft relies on replicating subtle signs of ageing, such as sagging neck skin, elongated earlobes, and weathered skin textures, ensuring they move naturally under unforgiving studio lighting.

Vineesh is the son of Vijayan and Usha, residing at Vijayan Bhavanam in Vendar, Kottarakkara. He is supported in his creative endeavours by his wife, Avani.