For the first time the Dada Saheb Phalke Award has been conferred on a technician.
For the first time since the inception in 1969, the Dada Saheb Phalke Award has been conferred on a technician, cinematographer VK Murthy, for the year 2008. The ministry of information and broadcasting on Tuesday announced that the award would be conferred on 87-year-old VK Murthy, born in Mysore and now settled in Bangalore.
The Phalke Award, conferred annually by the government in recognition of outstanding contributions to films, includes a cash prize of Rs10 lakh, a Swarna Kamal and a shawl.
VK Murthy shot India's first cinemascope movie, Kagaz Ke Phool (1959), produced and directed by the legendary Guru Dutt. Murthy was a regular part of Dutt's crew, and worked on Sahib, Bibi aur Gulam (1962) and Pyaasa (1957) too.
“I never expected this. I present this award to Guru Dutt, I would never have been known in the film world if it were not for him,” said Murthy, speaking to DNA. My own favourite is Pyaasa. I recall working for it even today. I think that if young technicians work with intelligence and honesty, they will win recognition eventually."
Murthy has worked on only one Kannada film, Hoovu Hannu (1993), directed by Rajendra Singh Babu. “VK Murthy worked on the film when he was 75; he first told me that he could not work with me as he was under tremendous work pressure, but then later found time. He used mostly natural light, and his work was done both in colour and in black and white. He worked like a painter, only that his medium was light. Today, technicians have more sophisticated technology at their command, but Murthy made magic with what he had,” said Babu.
Noted director Girish Kasaravalli said, “VK Murthy is great technician. Everyone uses the camera, but his style is different. He uses light to bring out a range of emotions in the actors. Without Murthy's camera work, we cannot imagine Guru Dutt's films. The Phalke award to him is an honour to all technicians.”
In a message, chief minister BS Yeddyurappa said that the honour was a proud moment for all Kannadigas.
But ask the ace cinematographer why he did not work in more Kannada films, and he replies stoically: “You'll have to ask the producers that question.”
Murthy is the second Kannadiga to be chosen for the Phalke award; the late Rajkumar won the award for the year 1995.
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