V. K. Murthy was an Indian Professional Cinematographer. He obtained his Diploma in Cinematography in 1946.

He worked as an Assistant to Cinematographer V. Ratra film “Baazi” in 1951 which was directed by Guru Datt. Datt noticed the fluidity and flow that Murthy managed in a particular shot. A pan from a reflection in the mirror to Dev Anand to Geeta Bali and the Chorus rendering ‘Suno Gazar Kya Gaye’. Datt impressed to take him on for “Jaal”(1952). Jaal was Murthy’s first film as a chief cinematograer. Murthy then became a part of the Guru Datt Team. Murthy became Guru’s favorite and this duo shared a unique bond with each other, which lasted until Guru Datt’s last breath.

In 1959, Guru Datt’s film “Kagaz Ke Phool” he created Sun breaking through studio roof shot with the use of pair or ordinary mirrors to get a parallel beam. It won him the Filmfare Best Cinematographer Award for 1959.

In 1962 “Sahib Bibi Aur Gulam” Murthy won again Filmfare Award for Best Cinematographer.

In later years he worked with Directors like Pramod Chakravarthy, Raj Khosala, Shyam Benegal and Govind Nihalani. Murthy never approached Cinema as just a series of images. Every frame and every shot had a purpose. He was a fearless innovator. He is known for his astounding work in black-and-white films. The kind of photography seen in film such as “Kagaz Ke Phool and Chaudhvi Ka Chand”, which are considered as landmark films Indian Cinema.

Murthy was awarded the International Indian Film Academy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005 for his contribution to Indian Cinema. Murthy was the first Cinematographer to be chosen for the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

Photo courtesy Google. Excerpts taken from Google.