Santosh Sivan, Anil Mehta, Ajay Bahl talk on their inspiration...V K Murthy: The magician behind the camera

The passing away of V K Murthy signals almost the end of the golden phase of cinema represented by Guru Dutt. Only Waheeda Rehman remains from that era. It was Murthy who made Waheeda look so beautiful in Chaudvin Ka Chand that Shakeel Badayuni’s lyrics comparing her beauty to the moon seemed perfectly justified. V K Murthy was not a mere cinematographer. His black-and-white images in Guru Dutt’s monumental masterpieces created a play of light and shade which cinematographers to this are trying to analyze. Born in Mysore in 1923 Murthy began his illustrious though meager career as cinematographer with Baazi in 1951. Murthy and Guru Dutt went on to collaborate in several masterpieces : Jaal, Aar Paar, Mr & Mrs 55 , CID.... But it was Guru Dutt’s Pyaasa , Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam followed by Kagaz Ke Phool whose visual images linger to this day. Kagaz Ke Phool was the first Indian film to be shot in the Cinemascope format. Murthy’s play with light in one particular song sequence Waqt ne kiya kya haseen sitam inside a near-empty film studio is to this day considered a textbook of lucid cinematography. Till Guru Dutt was alive Murthy worked with no other filmmaker. After Guru Dutt’s death Murthy did some extraordinary work in Kamal Amrohi’s Pakeezah. He also shot Govind Nihalani’s historic television series Tamas. Says Kamal Amrohi’s son Tajdar, “Murthyji was one of the many formidable cameramen who contributed his skills in capturing Pakeezah. There were other camerapersons on board: R.D. Mathur, Fali Mistry, Jal Mistry, Nariman Irani, Keki Mistry, B K Lad and thers.” Murthy was the first cinematographer to win the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke award. Cinematographer-filmmaker Santosh Sivan says, “Really sad to hear of Murthyji death. His cinematography was always a source of inspiration for all students of cinema. His work inspired many generations. His visuals have a timeless quality.” Adds cinematographer Anil Mehta, “The simplicity of the man and the greatness of his art were a source of personal inspiration for me. For a man who started as a violin player for background scores, his achievement in cinematography is a testimony to the fact that all art is basically intuitive. We’ve lost a true artiste.” Filmmaker-cinematographer Ajay Bahl considers Murthy an abiding influence. “The strong and magnificent imagery he created is yet to find an equal after almost half a century of evolution of the cinematic technology and image-enhancing tools. He continues to inspire and humble in equal measures.” We shall remember him forever.