Ashok Palit
Shri Surendra Sahu is born on 24.07.1948, after pursing B.Sc. from Ravenshaw College, Cuttack, he had did DC (MPP),Diploma in Cinema, Film & Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune.He is well known as the cinematographer of first Odia color film GAPA HELE BE SATA directed by Nagen Ray and Produced by Er.,Subimal Mallick,featuring Harish Mohapatra and Banja Mohanty in lead role.
Mr. Sahu, has value added to the Oriya Film Industry in diversified role as a Cameraman for thirty long years. He has played a pivotal role in redefining the standards of film education in Orissa. Hailing from a remote village of Cuttack district he had his primary education from Ravenshaw Collegiate School and graduated from the historical Ravenshaw College before he started his journey to make a career in the film industry.
Mumbai, Bollywood to the outside world is where young Surendra landed up to pick up the strings from already established personalities like Ramananda Sagar, Ram Dayal, Bijayananda. Having strengthened his faculties to launch himself in the film industry he turned homewards to Orissa. Coming in contact with the initial architects of Orissa’s film industry like Mr. Nagen Ray and Mr. Subimal Mallick he wrote his fate by launching the first ever Oriya colour film ‘Gapa Helebi Sata’. This was his maiden attempt as a cinematographer.
He spread out of his home state and tried his able hand as Director of Photography for a few Hindi and Bengali films. But committed to his homeland he scored high on the Oriya film horizon with about twenty films to his credit as a cinematographer. He at the end also dabbled with Tele films, documentaries and promotional films for the corporate as well as the Government sector.He has a large following and those who were inspired by his talents made their own marks in various spheres of film making from lighting to costume designing. He was crucial in bridging the technology divide between Mumbai and Orissa and acted as a link between two centers.
He believed in shooting on natural sets both outdoor as well as indoor and also set the road map to elevate Orissa to a standard of being self sufficient in terms of basic infrastructure required for the entire process of film making. According to Mr. Sahu “ Development of Odia Cinema is my obsession. It was my attempt since beginning of my career to make all technical facilities available in the state in order to extend a fair technical support to Odisha Film Industry. So is the establishment of Kalinga Cine Equipment in 1977 which is the leading equipment house in the state now”. He is the man behind the screen by whose sincere effort Biju Pttanaik Film and Television Institute of Odisha, Cuttack has inducted degree course which is first in east India.
Govt. of Orissa has honoured him with the State award for best photography in the film Dora (1984) and Rajanigandha (1989). The Chief Minister has felicitated him in 1984 for his valuable contribution towards the growth of film industry in the State.
He was associated right from the beginning as a founder member of Biju Patnaik Film & Television Institute of Orissa in Cuttack, the only institution of its kind set up by the State Govt.Recenly this Institute of Orissa has provide degree Course in three segments which is first in Eastern India.
More than 1000 students have been successfully trained by him are now spread all over the country and working in various Govt. departments, Door-Darshan, Media channels, Film schools and also in national and regional film industry.
His efforts are no less in making the women and tribal students of the state aware of film education and becoming successful media-professionals. He has also succeeded in highlighting the students of his state at the national level.
With absolutely no technical manpower in the state, way back in 1976 he initiated shooting films entirely on indoor and outdoor locations of Orissa. Since then he has been inspiring. Many unemployed youth to work in film industry as technicians in various fields
He has trained a large number of highly skilled lighting assistants who are now successfully working in the Film and TV productions units making their livelihood He has encouraged many enthusiasts to make their career as Art Director, Make-up artist, Costume man, Assistant Director, Production Manager etc.
These people have excelled in their respective fields and are well off in the industry
He has provided complete technical support and mentored many new Directors (in their first film) who emerged from stage and made their films successful.
He sacrificed his professional career and entered into academics in 1991 to train skilled technical manpower in the state .Mr. Sahu Retired from Govt. service in 2007 as Principal of Biju Pattanaik Film & Television Institute of Odisha, Cuttack.Now he has been assigned as an adviser at Biju Pattanaik Film & Television Institute.
Life is an ongoing process for him and today he takes pleasure in enlightening the young ones, creating confidence in them and spreading Film and media education among the new generation. He continues to teach now and aims to teach till his last breath.Rightly he has been conferred with the prestigious “Jayadev Award” in 2006, the highest state honour in films for one’s outstanding contribution to Odia cinema
LIST OF FILMS Cinematography BY SURENDRA KUMAR SAHU
Sl.no. | Year | Name of the Film | Director |
1 | 1976 | Gapa Helebi Sata | Nagen Ray |
2 | 1978 | Ta’poi | Sarat Pujari |
3 | 1980 | Tapasya (B&W, partly colored) | Nagen Ray |
4 | 1981 | Jhia’ti Seeta Pari | Bidhu Bhusan Nanda |
5 | 1982 | Mahasati Savitri | Sona Mukherjee |
6 | 1984 | Danda Balunga | Md. Mohsin |
7 | 1984 | Dora | Prasant Nanda |
8 | 1985 | Jaga Balia | Prasant Nanda |
9 | 1986 | Sankha Sindoora | Bhaskar |
10 | 1986 | Sapana Banika | P. D. Shenoy |
11 | 1986 | Paka Kambal Po’at Chhata | Prasant Nanda |
12 | 1986 | Heera Neela | Prasant Nanda |
13 | 1987 | Bagula baguli | Prasant Nanda |
14 | 1987 | Jahaku Rakhibe Ananta | Asim Kumar |
15 | 1988 | Rakhe Hari Mare Ke (Bengali) | Asim Basu |
16 | 1988 | Topae Sindoora Di-pata Sankha | Sujit Kumar |
17 | Bhagya Lipi (Bengali) | Sujit Kumar | |
18 | 1989 | Rajani Gandha | Bijoy Mishra |
19 | 1990 | Patent Medicine | Hemant Das |
20 | 1991 | Raghu Arakhita | Nitai Palit |
21 | 1993 | Aasha | Shantanu Mishra |
Hindi Films: | |||
22 | 1973 | Suchitra (1st independent Hindi) | Sagar Acharya |
23 | 1975 | Taqdeer Ka Badshah | B. Subash |
24 | 1975 | Sandeh | Zoe Disouza |
25 | 1976 | Jeena Iseeka Naam Hai | P. D. Shenoy |
LIST OF AWARDS RECEIVED BY SHRI SURENDRA SAHU
Year | Award Particulars. |
SIGNIFICANT AWARDS | |
2019 |
Eswariya Kalanidhi samman: 2019 By Prajapita Bramha Kumari Eswariya Viswa Vidyalaya, for his selfless efforts towards spreading education and creating profession media persons |
2008 |
Jayadev Award : 2006 by Department of Culture, Govt. of Odisha for Life time achievement and contribution to Odia Cinema |
2005 |
Srjan Award: 2006 by Guru Kelu Charan Mohapatra Trust in humble recognition of Life time’s dedication to Cinema. |
2000 |
Millennium Award – 2000 as the best Cinematographer by Chala Chitra Jagat in consideration of his valuable services for the development of Oriya film |
1991 |
State Award – 1989 as the best photographer for the film – ‘Rajani Gandha’ |
1988 |
State Award -1984 as the best photographer of the year for the film ‘Dora’ |
1984 |
Felicitated by the chief minister of Orissa with a silver medal for his valuable contribution towards the growth of film industry in the state |
1976 |
Best Photography Award for the 1st colour film ‘Gapa Helebi Sata’. |
AWARDS FROM OTHER ORGANISATIONS | |
2023 |
Pramod Pati-Chalachitra Sammana for life time contribution to Odia Cinema |
2020 |
Akshaya Parija & Chalachitra Jagat award-2020 for significant contribution to Odia film |
2016 |
Bani Chitra Award for highest contribution for the growth of Odia Cinema and life time achievement |
2011 |
Nitai Palit Samman for life time achievement and multifarious contribution to growth of Oriya Cinema by Chalachitra Jagat |
2010 |
Orissa Film Fare Award for long association and contribution to growth of
Oriya Cinema |
2010 |
ETV Film Award for significant contribution to Oriya Cinema |
2009 |
Cinema Sansar Samman for significant contribution to Oriya Cinema |
2006 |
Chalachitra Prativa Samman : 2006 by Chalachitra Jagat in recognition of his significant contribution towards growth of Odia Cinema and Film education in Odisha |
2005 |
Chitra Puri Award -2005 for his notable contribution towards Oriya film |
2003 |
Bani Chitra Award – 2003 for his contribution towards Oriya film |
2002 |
OMPTWA Award: Orissa Motion Picture Technician’s & Workers’ Association for his contribution towards Orissa film industry. |
1992 |
Chala Chitra Prativa samman -1992 for creating new horizon in the field of Cinematography |
1990 |
Neela Saila Film & TV Award -1990 for best Photography in the film “Rajani Gandha” |
1988 |
Orissa Film Journalist Association (OFJA) Award -1988 for best photography in the film ‘Jahaku Rakhibe Ananta’ |
1986 |
OFJA Award -1986 for best photography in the film ‘Sapana Banika’ |
1984 |
OFJA Award -1984 for best photography in the film ‘Dora’ |
1983 |
Cine Critic award for best photography in the film ‘Jhiyati Sita Pari’ |
1983 |
Chitra Taranga award for best photography in the film ‘Maha Sati Savitri’ |
1980 |
Chhaya Chitra award-1980 best cameraman for the film “Tapasya” |
1978 |
Chitra Puri Award for best Photography in the film Ta’poi |
About the Author : Ashok Palit as a cineaste has been active in film criticism for over three decades. As a film society activist, he soared to eminence for his profound commitment to the art film appreciation and aesthetics of cinema. His mode of discourse is often erudite but always lucid and comprehensible marked by a perfect acumen so rare in the field. A film aesthete with an immense fond of critical sensibilities, he wrote about growth and development of odia cinema in New Indian Express, The Times of India, The Hindustan Times, The Asian Age and Screen. He has been working as an Editor for Cine Samaya from 2002-2004.. He had made solid contribution on cinema in many odia Dailies and weekly such as Samaj, Prajatantra, Dharatri, Samaya, Satabadi, and weekly Samaya.
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