Ace cinematographer V.K. Murthy, who shot India’s first cinemascope movie ‘Kagaz Ke Phool’ and best remembered for his stunning camera work for all films of legendary Guru Dutt, was on Tuesday chosen for the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke Award for 2008.
This is for the first time that a cinematographer is being given the highest national award for contribution to films since its inception in 1969.
Announcing the award for 87-year-old Murthy, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said the honour which carries a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh, a Swarna Kamal and a shawl, would be conferred by President Pratibha Patil during the presentation of the National Film Awards.
Reacting to getting the honour, Mr. Murthy told PTI in Bangalore where he is settled, “I am extremely happy to be nominated for the award“.
Mr. Murthy, who is also a freedom fighter, is best remembered for his cinematography work in Guru Dutt’s Hindi films like ’Kagaz Ke Phool’, ‘Sahib Bibi aur Ghulam’ and ‘Pyaasa’
His picturisation of the song ‘Chaudavin ka Chand’ is still considered one of the best cinematographic works that Hindi cinema has seen and his work in classics like ‘Kagaz Ke Phool’ and ‘Sahib Bibi aur Ghulam’ won him Filmfare Awards.
“He broke new grounds, ushered in modern and highly sophisticated techniques and brought in rich visual artistry into Indian cinema. Films like ‘Baazi’, ‘Jaal’, ‘Pyasa’, ‘12 O’Clock’, ‘Ziddi’ celebrate his cinematic brilliance,” an official release said in New Delhi.
