A Tribute to V K Murthy [Documentary film screening and panel discussion] by panelists Uma Rao and GS Bhaskar at Azim Premji University, Bangalore.
November 21, 2014.
A Note on VK Murthy:
VK Murthy is a legendary cinematographer who is known especially for his work on the films of Guru Dutt. A few of these examples include, Mr and Mrs 55, Sahib Bibi aur Gulam and Aar Paar. He won widespread acclaim for his innovative use of light in Guru Dutt’s Pyaasa and Kaagaz ke Phool, the first cinemascope film made in India. VK Murthy did the camerawork for other major films like Pakeezah and Shyam Benegal’s Bharat Ek Khoj and Govind Nihalani’s Tamas. Born in Mysore in 1923, he obtained a diploma in film making at Sri Jayachamarajendra Polytechnic Institute, Bangalore in 1946. Recipient of numerous prestigious awards, he was the first cinematographer to win the Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2008), the highest award given by the Government of India in recognition of achievements in the field of cinema.
A Note on the Panelists:
Uma Rao is a well known modern Kannada writer. Her publications include, Agastya, Kadala Haadi & Ceylon Susheela (short story collections), Nooru Swara(novel), Rocky Parvathagala Naduve Cabaret (travelogue), Mumbai Diary(Collection of Columns), Avala Surya (translations of Canadian Womens short stories),Vanajammana Seatu (novella) and Bisilu Kolu (Biography of cinematographer V.K.Murthy),and Dalai Lama (A biographical sketch). Having lived in Mumbai for 30 years, she was also active in kannada theatre and worked as a freelance advertising copywriter. Her weekly column,‘Mumbai Diary” which appeared in Lankesh Patrike was highly popular. Uma, who now lives in Bangalore, has also written, directed and hosted some TV shows. Uma is the winner of Andrews Fellowship for Creative Writing and Arts (1994) from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver,Canada. She has won several awards including the Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award (2006) for Bisilu Kolu and the H.V.Savithramma Birth Centenary Award for Ceylon Susheela (2014).
GS Bhaskar is a reputed cinematographer. Trained at the Film and Technology Institute, Pune, Bhaskar has worked as cinematographer on several films such as Koormavatara (2011, Dir: Girish Kasaravalli), (Ijjodu, 2010, Dir: MS Sathyu), Hyderabad Blues 2 (2004, Dir: Nagesh Kukunoor), Saaz (1997, Dir: Sai Paranjape), Nagamandala (1996, Dir: TS Nagabharana), Disha (1990, Dir: Sai Paranjape), and Bannada Vesha (1988, Dir: Girish Kasaravalli).
