V.K.Murty, cinematographer to get Dada Saheb Phalke award
raaz
Legendary cinematographer V K Murthy, best remembered as the
cinematographer for all Guru Dutt films, has been chosen for the Dada
Saheb Phalke Rani Mukherje and VK Murthy
Award for 2008.
This is the first time that a cinematographer has been selected for
this award. Murthy broke new grounds, ushered in modern and highly
sophisticated techniques and brought in rich visual artistry to Indian
cinema. He shot India's first cinemascope movie Kagaz Ke Phool (1959)
and was the cinematographer for all of Guru Dutt films, an official
statement said.
Murthy has been cinematographer for films Ziddi (1948), Baazi (1951),
Jaal (1952), Pyasa (1957) and Chaudhvin ka Chand (1960), among
others.
Born in 1923 and having spent nearly five decades in Mumbai, the ace
cinematographer is now based in Bangalore.
The award will be conferred by President Pratibha Patil but the date
is yet to be announced. Along with the award, Murthy will also receive
a cash prize of Rs.10 lakh, a Swarna Kamal and a shawl. The Dada Saheb
Phalke Award is conferred annually by the government for outstanding
contributions to films, based on the recommendations of a committee of
eminent people.
Pavan Jha
> cinematographer for all Guru Dutt films, has been chosen for the Dada
> Saheb Phalke Rani Mukherje and VK Murthy
Great News...Privileged to meet him and interact with him during last
year's RMIM Meet at Bangalore..
> This is the first time that a cinematographer has been selected for
> this award.
He isn't.. Nitin Bose was the first cinematographer.. Infact Murthy
sir himself corrected a news person when he was contacted today and
told the reporter so (as per my friend working for the same channel)
Sukesh
As per IMDB, Nitin Bose's last film as cinematographer was in 1941 -
Parichay. Is this correct?
He wielded the megaphone in many films right form the silent era and
into the 40s, 50s and 60s. Perhaps, he was honoured for his all round
contribution.
Geat news as far as V K Murthy is concerned. A very deserving
recognition.
The film industry has been blessed with a fantastic bunch of
cinematographers in spite of the fact that they had to make do with
ancient equipment in 50s and 60s.
Faredoon Irani, Fali Mistry, V Babasaheb, R D Mathur, Kamal Bose,
Radhu Karmakar and Dwarka Divecha are the some of the names that I can
recall, who made so many films a visual delight.
Regards
Sukesh
Vinayak
Great News.
I read some where that mr. Murthy is an accomplished violinist.
If there is any of his clips on youtube, please point.
Vinayak
Chetan Vinchhi
>
> Great News.
Yes, indeed. A well-deserved honor!
> I read some where that mr. Murthy is an accomplished violinist.
When he came to the Bangalore meet last year, he did mention he played
the violin. He used this talent to gain the intial entry into Hindi
filmdom - he signed up to play in the orchestra! As it turns out, he
did not have to play at all (or not much - I don't recall exactly). He
went off to his true calling.
Additionally, he also directed Kannada plays - something like one per
month for over 30 years! A truly multifaceted personality.
Another aspect of his personality that came out during the Meet was
his self-effacing nature. While discussing the stroke of genius
employed in creating the famous shaft of light for "waqt ne kiyaa", he
brushed it aside as "simply physics". While discussing the interesting
light/shadow effects in "saaqiyaa aaj mujhe nii.nd nahii.n aayegii",
he said "anybody can do that". He is humble to a fault!
C
Sudhir
were
quite a number of Errors and wrong info. The corrections (to best
of
my re-collections are)
- Ziddi, It is not the 1948 film of Filmistan, but mid-60s,
Produced and directed
by Promod Chakravarty (Asha Parekh, Joy Mukherji)
- Baazi was probably shot by V. Ratra (who shot many of NavKetan
Films). Mr. Murthy
was ab assistant for this film
- The newspapers listed that Mr. Murthy shot many of the 50s Color
Films, which is
totally wrong.The cinematographers of early - mid 50's color
films were
AAN - Fardoon Irani (To save money, the film
was shot on 16 mm stock and then
blown-up and
printed on 35 mm positive.)
JHANSI KI RAANI (have not seen the film, so unable
to list it)
JHANAK JHANAK - V Balachandra
Sudhir
---------------------------------------------
Arun Simha
There was an extensive interview of Murthy on Sarai.net done sometime
during the early part of the last decade, but I can't find it anymore.
I do have a PDF of the interview if anyone is interested. It contains
elaborate details on how Waqt ne kiya was shot.
Cheers
Arun