# Cinematographer Faiz Siddik says missing film at 18 shaped his career 2026-08-08T08:53:32+00:00 | Entertainment | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Cinematographer Faiz Siddik, currently earning praise for his work on 'Chinna Chinna Aasai', told ETimes that losing a film opportunity at age 18 was a blessing. He said the setback made him remain a student longer and gave him humility to work as an assistant, teaching him more than a credit would have. Siddik believes film schools can teach technical grammar but not an artist's voice, which comes from curiosity across departments. He avoids a signature style, wanting audiences to remember the story, not his framing. His upcoming projects include 'Merri Boys', '1000 Babies Season 2', and 'Operation Cambodia'. ## Coverage - timesofindia.indiatimes.com Tags: Chinna Chinna Aasai, cinematography, Faiz Siddik, film schools, Malayalam cinema, Operation Java Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/cinematographer-faiz-siddik-says-missing-film-at-18-shaped-his-career/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/cinematographer-faiz-siddik-says-missing-film-at-18-shaped-his-career/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.