BIFFES 2023 to feature retrospective of legendary cinematographer VK Murthy; Here's all you need to know

Over the years, the Bengaluru International Film Festival has shined a bright light on the legacies of several renowned artists of both Indian and international cinema. From auteurs like Andrei Tarkovsky (Russia), Zoltán Fábri (Hungary) and Volker Schlöndorff (Germany) to accomplished actors such as B. Saroja Devi, Anant Nag, and Harini, the film festival aims at highlighting some of the best work of luminaries of all the various disciplines of filmmaking. Keeping the tradition alive of presenting a retrospective of one Kannada artist every year, the upcoming 14th edition of the Bengaluru International Film Festival will showcase the work of the legendary cinematographer V.K. Murthy.

Born Venkatarama Pandit Krishnamurthy on November 26, 1923 in Mysuru, VK Murthy obtained his Diploma in Cinematography from Sri Jayachamarajendra Polytechnic in 1946 before he left for Mumbai to pursue a career in the visual medium. As someone who was fascinated with the interplay of light and shadows, VK Murthy's talent was first spotted by Guru Dutt on the sets of the 1951 film Baazi, where the former worked as an assistant to cinematographer V. Ratra. Dutt would hire Murthy soon after as the chief cinematographer on Jaal (1952) and offer him his first big break in the movie industry, thus beckoning to a most glorious and long-sustained collaboration. The two would go on to work on seminal projects like Mr. and Mrs. '55, Pyaasa (1957) and Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959).

Some of the other major credits in V.K. Murthy's career include Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960), Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962) and Love in Tokyo (1966). Despite hailing from Karnataka, his only Kannada project came in 1993, in the form of S.V. Rajendra Singh Babu's Hoovu Hannu.

VK Murthy is the only cinematographer to date to have won the revered Dadasaheb Phalke Award. He was bestowed with the honour in 2008.

The upcoming retrospective at BIFFes will include four of V.K. Murthy's best work, namely Pyaasa, Kaagaz Ke Phool, Chaudhvin Ka Chand and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam.

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The 14th edition of the BIFFes also boasts the retrospective of the work of Senegalese filmmaker Ousmane Sembène, who is often regarded as the 'father of African film'. The film festival is scheduled to take place from March 23rd to March 30th at Bengaluru's Orion Mall, Kannada Kalavidara Sangha, and Suchitra Film Society.