Phalke award conferred on Murthy

Murthy, 87, best remembered for his work on Guru Dutt films, was dressed in a black suit and received a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh, a Swarna Kamal and a shawl. This is the first time that a cinematographer has been selected for the top film award.

He shot India’s first cinemascope movie ‘Kagaz Ke Phool’ in 1959. He worked on films like ‘Ziddi’ (1948), ‘Baazi’ (1951), ‘Jaal’ (1952), ‘Pyasa’ (1957) and ‘Chaudhvin ka Chand’ (1960).
Born in 1923 and having spent nearly five decades in Mumbai, the ace cinematographer is now settled in Bangalore. “He’s a wizard of images,” was how President Pratibha Patil described Murthy after conferring the ace cinematographer with the Phalke Award. 
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the ceremony, a joyous Murthy expressed his happiness over getting highest film award being a technician.

Abhaya Simha who’s directed Kannada film “Gubbachchigalu”, was given away the Swarna Kamal award for the best children’s film. P Sheshadri, director of “Vimukthi” won Rajata Kamala award for best film in Kannada, Shivadhwaj Shetty, director of  “Gaggara” that bagged Rajat Kamal for the best Tulu film, also received the awards.
The film awards ceremony was high on the Bollywood quotient owing to the presence of host of celebrities including Priyaka Chopra and Kangana Ranaut. Bollywood has bagged 13 awards in different categories.

Priyanka Chopra came in a white thread-work sari to receive the best actress award for her role in “Fashion” and Kangana walked up the podium in a black salwar-kameez to take the best supporting actress award for the same film.