<p>This is the first time ever that a cinematographer has got the award, named after Phalke who himself had photographed his pioneering feature film “Raja Harishchandra”. <br />Murthy, now 87, broke new grounds in cinematography, using highly sophisticated techniques to bring in rich visual artistry into Indian cinema. <br /><br />He shot “Kagaz Ke Phool,” India’s first cinemascope film, and has been one of the pioneers of colour cinematography. <br /><br />Murthy started his career in cinema as a violinist, but won Filmfare Awards for his cinematography in “Kagaz Ke Phool” and “Sahib, Bibi aur Ghulam” which were directed by Guru Dutt, India’s Orson Welles.<br /><br />Murthy’s work mesmerised viewers in films like “Baazi,” “Jaal,” “Chaudhvin ka Chand,” “Pyasa,” “12 O’Clock” and “Ziddi.” He was also associated with “Pakeezah” and “Razia Sultan.” <br /><br />His career spans from his early collaboration with Guru Dutt from the 1950s to working in Shyam Benegal’s mega-serial “Bharat Ek Khoj” as also “Hoovu Hannu,” one of the most acclaimed Kannada movies. <br /><br />An inspiration for a whole generation of cinematographers, the 1923-born Murthy earned his diploma in cinematography from S J Polytechnic, Bangalore, in its very first batch (1943-46). As a student, he took part in the freedom struggle and was jailed in 1943 and is a recipient of freedom fighter’s pension. <br /><br />After having spent nearly five decades in Mumbai, the ace cinematographer is now based in Bangalore. <br /><br />A recipient of the IIFA Lifetime Achievement Award at Amsterdam in 2005, Murthy will be the 56th recipient of the Dada Saheb Phalke Award, which comprises a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh, a swarna kamal and a shawl. The award will be conferred on Murthy by President Pratibha Patil at the presentation ceremony of the National Film Awards for 2008.<br /><br /><br /></p>
<p>This is the first time ever that a cinematographer has got the award, named after Phalke who himself had photographed his pioneering feature film “Raja Harishchandra”. <br />Murthy, now 87, broke new grounds in cinematography, using highly sophisticated techniques to bring in rich visual artistry into Indian cinema. <br /><br />He shot “Kagaz Ke Phool,” India’s first cinemascope film, and has been one of the pioneers of colour cinematography. <br /><br />Murthy started his career in cinema as a violinist, but won Filmfare Awards for his cinematography in “Kagaz Ke Phool” and “Sahib, Bibi aur Ghulam” which were directed by Guru Dutt, India’s Orson Welles.<br /><br />Murthy’s work mesmerised viewers in films like “Baazi,” “Jaal,” “Chaudhvin ka Chand,” “Pyasa,” “12 O’Clock” and “Ziddi.” He was also associated with “Pakeezah” and “Razia Sultan.” <br /><br />His career spans from his early collaboration with Guru Dutt from the 1950s to working in Shyam Benegal’s mega-serial “Bharat Ek Khoj” as also “Hoovu Hannu,” one of the most acclaimed Kannada movies. <br /><br />An inspiration for a whole generation of cinematographers, the 1923-born Murthy earned his diploma in cinematography from S J Polytechnic, Bangalore, in its very first batch (1943-46). As a student, he took part in the freedom struggle and was jailed in 1943 and is a recipient of freedom fighter’s pension. <br /><br />After having spent nearly five decades in Mumbai, the ace cinematographer is now based in Bangalore. <br /><br />A recipient of the IIFA Lifetime Achievement Award at Amsterdam in 2005, Murthy will be the 56th recipient of the Dada Saheb Phalke Award, which comprises a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh, a swarna kamal and a shawl. The award will be conferred on Murthy by President Pratibha Patil at the presentation ceremony of the National Film Awards for 2008.<br /><br /><br /></p>
