Dada Saheb award for V K Murthy

New Delhi, Jan 19: For the First Time in the history of cinema, a cinematographer has been chosen for Dada Saheb Phalke Award for the year 2008. The cinematographer was none other than V K Murthy, the legendary cinematographer.The award will be conferred by President Pratibha Patil in New  Delhi. The date of awards presentation is yet to be announced. Along with the award, Murthy will receive a cash prize of Rs.10 lakh, a Swarna Kamal and a shawl.

The legendary cinematographer who brought in rich visual artistry to Indian cinema shot India’s first cinemascope movie “Kagaz Ke Phool” (1959) and was the cinematographer for all of Guru Dutt films,.Murthy has been the cinematographer for films like “Ziddi” (1948), “Baazi” (1951), “Jaal” (1952), “Pyasa” (1957) and “Chaudhvin ka Chand” (1960), among others.Born in 1923 and having spent nearly five decades in Mumbai, the ace cinematographer is now based in Bangalore.