Marcus Bartley

Marcus Bartley (22 April 1917 – 14 March 1993)[1] was an Anglo-Indian cinematographer known for his works predominantly in Telugu cinema along with a few Hindi, Malayalam, and Tamil films. He was the cinematographer of all time classics like Shavukaru (1950), Pathala Bhairavi (1951), Missamma (1955), Maya Bazaar (1957), Gundamma Katha (1962), Chemmeen (1965), Ram Aur Shyam (1967). He won the National Film Award for Best Cinematography in 1970 for Shanti Nilayam. He also won the Gold Medal at the Cannes Film Festival for Best Cinematography, becoming the first Indian to win the award.[2]

Marcus Bartley
Born22 April 1917
Died14 March 1993(1993-03-14) (aged 75–76)
OccupationCinematographer

Early life

Marcus Bartley was born into an Anglo-Indian family of renowned doctors in Yercaud.[2] While at school, Bartley was an amateur photographer.

Career

In 1940, Bartley headed to Bombay and joined The Times of India as press photographer, and then became a newsreel cameraman for British Movietone under the auspices of The Times of India. Bartley did not have any formal training in photography. He worked hard and learned the craft on the job.[2]

Bartley arrived in Madras and joined Pragati Studios. His maiden film was Swarga Seema in 1945. This film showed his genius at Black and White photography. The movie strengthened the friendship between him and the B. N. Reddy, K. V. Reddy, and Nagi Reddi. Successively, Bartley worked in many studios such as National Studios, Newtone Studios and Vauhini Productions.

He wielded camera for all the forty odd Vauhini movies including such great hits as Yogi Vemana (1947), Gunasundari Katha (1949), as well as Vijaya's productions Shavukaru (1950), Pathala Bhairavi (1951), Pelli Chesi Chudu (1952), Chandraharam (1954), Missamma (1955), Maya Bazaar (1957), Appu Chesi Pappu Koodu (1958), Gundamma Katha (1962), Sri Rajeswari Vilas Coffee Club (1976) etc. Most of the superhits of those times were made with his photographic hand at the camera. His specialty was the shots under the moonlight.[3]

Ramu Kariat signed him for the Malayalam film Chemmeen (1965). The film was released in 1965, to universal critical acclaim. The photography by Bartley was highly praised. Bartley didn't receive the National Award that year as portions of the film had to be completed by another cameraman. Cameraman U Rajagopal who also shot the film later acknowledged that he was only called in to complete patchwork.[2]

Working style

Bartley was known as a perfectionist. He didn’t believe in hierarchies and treated everyone the same.[2] He would work with the screenwriter and director, understanding the screenplay, so he could work on his lighting style. He would work for nights before the commencement of shooting, lighting the set to make it perfect.[2]

Personal life

He spoke fractured Telugu and Tamil and did not understand Hindi.[2] Bartley had long suffered with diabetes, but refused to go to a doctor and treated himself. In the final years of his life, Arriflex made him their authorised service person and Bartley would spend much time repairing lenses. He was shifted to Vijaya Hospital by Nagi Reddi where he was given personal attention.[2]

Awards

Filmography

References
  1. "Sri Marcus Bartley's Biography". Marcusbartley.info. Archived from the original on 19 February 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  2. Shah, Rochelle (5 April 2017). "Marcus Bartley: A life in pictures". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  3. Ace lensman recalls magic moments in the Hindu
  4. "Fifty and still refreshing in the Hindu". Archived from the original on 9 August 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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