Deep Pal Explained

Deep Pal
Birth Name:Abhijit Pal
Birth Date:16 April 1953
Bombay, Bombay State, India
Death Place:Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Occupation:Cinematographer, Director of Photography & Steadicam Operator
Years Active:1974 - 2020
Relatives:Colin Pal (father)
Niranjan Pal (grandfather)
Bipin Chandra Pal (great-grandfather)

Deep Pal (16 April 1953 – 7 October 2021) was an Indian cinematographer. He was the son of publicist Colin Pal and grandson of director Niranjan Pal. He started his career with Basu Bhattacharya doing camerawork for 1974 Hindi film Avishkaar, before moving on to an independent career as a documentary filmmaker. Pal is known as being one of the pioneers of Steadicam camerawork in India. Pal's first major Steadicam work was in Shiva, which was considered a pathbreaking film on visual technique in Telugu cinema. His later work included Bandit Queen (1994) directed by Shekhar Kapur[1] and Dil Se.. (1998) directed by Mani Ratnam.[2] He died of cancer on 7 October 2021.[3]

Filmography

As a cinematographer

While his primary recognition was for his work in bringing image-stabilizing technology to camerawork in India,[4] prior to a Steadicam, he cinematographed and directed his own documentary films including Cages (1984) on prostitution in Falkland Road in Mumbai, and Give us this Day our Daily Lunch (1985) based on the Dabbawala food delivery system in Bombay.[5]

In 1993, he was Director of Photography (DOP) in the Hindi Feature Film Pehla Nasha, the first directorial venture of filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker.

YearFilmDirector
1993Pehla NashaAshutosh Gowariker
2015StrippedSrivinay Salian

As a steadicam operator

YearFilmDirector
1997BorderJ.P. Dutta
1999LaawarisShrikant Sharma
1999Sooraj R. Barjatya
2001The Roshans: Hrithik Live in ConcertAkashdeep
2002Filhaal...Meghna Gulzar
2007AmalRichie Mehta

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bandit Queen . TCM . 9 October 2021.
  2. Web site: Deep Pal . https://web.archive.org/web/20160308234746/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2be1841e76 . dead . 8 March 2016 . BFI . 1 February 2019 .
  3. Web site: ACE STEADICAM OPERATOR DEEP PAL DEAD . FilmInformation . 9 October 2021.
  4. Web site: From Studios to Locations to VFX Suites . Outlook . 9 October 2021.
  5. Web site: Give Us This Day Our Daily Lunch . https://web.archive.org/web/20160309000108/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b71f1babc . dead . 9 March 2016 . BFI . 9 October 2021.