SUBRATA MITRA

Oct 12 2017

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Subrata Mitra 1930- 2001

Subrata Mitra is perhaps the greatest ever Indian cinematographer who introduced Bounced Lighting to world and  Indian Cinema

His techniques were designed to make light more realistic and poetic.

Subrata Mitra born to a Bengali family ,his early childhood days are filled with watching English films.

In 1950 the great Jean Renoir came to Calcutta to shoot ‘The River’. Mitra tried to get a job on the film but was turned away. With the efforts of his father he was given permission to watch the shooting. Out there he used to make extensive notes and meticulous diagrams detailing the lighting and the movements of camera and actors. In fact one day the cinematographer Claude Renoir asked for his notes to check lighting continuity before doing a retake.

Subrata Mitra began his career as a still photographer. His first assignment as a cinematographer, was with Satyajit Ray for Pather Panchali Later, he also worked for other directors, including James Ivory.

Indian cinematography was completely under the influence of Hollywood style lighting.

Bounce lighting

The fear of monsoon rain had forced the team of ‘Aparajito’ and art director, Bansi Chandragupta, to abandon the original plan to build the inner courtyard of a typical Benares house in the open place and the set was built inside a studio in Calcutta.

Impossibilities of simulating shadowless diffused skylight into the studio set made a huge worry for Ray , this led Subrata to innovate what became subsequently his most important tool bounce lighting. Mitra placed a framed painter white cloth over the set resembling a patch of sky and arranged studio lights below to bounce off the fake sky.

Filmography

Subrata Mitra is the most respected cinematographer around the world, his work influenced many European cinematographers.

Awards

Subrata Mitra has won many accolades at International film festivals.

  • 1986:National film awards for best cinematography : New Delhi Times.
  • 1992: Eastman Kodak Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Cinematography
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