Renowned cinematographer V K Murthy passes away

V.K Murthy 

Renowned cinematographer and Dada Saheb Phalke awardee V K Murthy, who won encomiums capturing breathtaking images in Guru Dutt's classics like Pyaasa, Sahib, Bibi Aur Ghulam and Kagaz Ke Phool, died in Bangalore yesterday at the age of 91.

Known as 'Guru Dutt's eye', Murthy also worked with the pioneer of Indian cinema in Aar Paar and later teamed up with Kamal Amrohi in Pakeezah and Razia Sultan.

"He passed away this morning at his Shankarapuram residence here; he had only age-related issues," said Murthy's niece Nalini Vasudev. The ace cinematographer is survived by his daughter Chaya Murthy.

Murthy was the first technician to be honoured with the Dada Saheb Phalke Award, Indian cinema's highest honour, since its inception in 1969. He won the award in 2008.

Murthy, who shot India's first cinemascope movie Kagaz Ke Phool in 1959, also won the International Indian Film Academy Lifetime Achievement Award at Amsterdam in 2005 during his four-decade-long career. 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 films like Kagaz Ke Phool and Sahib, Bibi aur Ghulam won him Filmfare Awards.

From his early collaboration with Guru Dutt in the 50's to his work in Shyam Benegal's mega-serial Bharat Ek Khoj, Murthy has also to his credit one of the most acclaimed Kannada movies titled Hoova Hannu in 1993, where he made his acting debut, though he never tried his luck in acting after this.

Born in 1923 in Mysore, Murthy earned his Diploma in Cinematography from S J Polytechnic, Bangalore, in 1946. He later shifted base to Mumbai, where he met Guru Dutt.

Related:
2008-Dada Saheb Phalke award for V K Murthy