In a career spanning close to four decades, he cranked the camera for over 130 films — mostly in Malayalam, although he worked in other South Indian languages, too. He is best known for his work in Tamil films like Mani Ratnam’s Pagal Nilavu and Kaadhal Enum Nadhiynile among others.
A product of FTII Pune, Babu worked with legendary Malayalam filmmakers such as John Abraham, IV Sasi, Bharathan, Mani Ratnam, and Sasikumar to name a few.
He has won four Kerala State Film Awards.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, while condoling the death of the master craftsman, recalled Babu as a legend of his own by reigning supreme during a long period in his career.