VV Subramanyam
One of the doyens of news photography from the Telugu-speaking States, P.V. Sivakumar, passed away in Hyderabad on Sunday afternoon following a massive heart attack. He was 66 and is survived by his wife, son, and daughter-in-law.
Popularly known as Siva in media circles, he was an integral part of the journalistic fraternity, known for covering major events with an indefatigable spirit and passion.
His contributions—first to The Indian Express and later to The Hindu—are well chronicled. Siva was renowned for his integrity and rare levels of commitment. Always omnipresent with his immaculate skills and booming voice, he often played the dual role of photographer and reporter, posing sharp, insightful questions that frequently enhanced the reporting process.
Sivakumar left an indelible mark by covering a range of significant events: the return journey of the 1987 Ranji Trophy-winning Hyderabad team from Warangal, the euphoric homecoming of Mohammed Azharuddin after his three back-to-back Test centuries in 1985, and the SAF Games in Islamabad and later in Chennai.
He was also a witness to key political developments and brought a distinctive perspective to the coverage of national calamities and major train accidents.
Importantly, Sivakumar belonged to a rare breed of photographers who experienced the full arc of the medium’s evolution—from the era of black-and-white film and darkroom development to the digital age. He embraced every change with ease and excellence.
P.V. Sivakumar will be remembered not only for the powerful images he captured but also for the passion, precision, and humanity he brought to the field of journalism.
