M. S. Sathyu
Encyclopedia
Mysore Shrinivas Sathyu (Kannada ಮೈಸೂರು ಸಿನಿವಾಸ್ ಸತ್ಯು )(born 6 July 1930 in Mysore, Karnataka) is a leading film director
, stage designer
and art director
from India
. His film Garam Hawa
is a film on the partition of India
. He is a recipient of the Padma Shri
in 1975.
He freelanced as an animator in 1952-3. After being unemployed for nearly four years, he got his first salaried job as assistant director to film-maker Chetan Anand.
was for Haqeeqat
, a film by Chetan Anand
, which got him the Filmfare Award in 1964 and along with that came recognition. He also did work in theatre as a designer and director, including designing sets and lights for productions of Hindustani Theatre, Okhla
Theatre of Habib Tanvir
, Kannada Bharati and other groups of Delhi
. In films, he has worked as an art director, camera-man, screenwriter
, producer and director. His filmography includes over 15 documentaries and 8 feature films in Hindi, Urdu and Kannada.
His best known work, Garam Hawa
(Scorching Winds, 1973), is one of the last cinema productions featuring 1950s Marxist cultural activists including Balraj Sahni
and Kaifi Azmi
. Garam Hawa won several Indian national awards
in 1974, including a National Integration Award. It was invited for the competitive section at Cannes and also the Indian entry at the Oscars, and achieved a Filmfare award for best screenplay.
M. S. Sathyu currently is associated mainly with television and stage.
Mr. Sathyu is one of the patrons of Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA).
His Play ‘Dara Shikoh’ is considered a modern classic which was staged by Impresario Asia in Delhi in 2003-4. In the words of noted critic Ramesh Chand Charlie the Stage Play ‘Dara Shikoh’ is a turning point of traditional theatrical sensibilities. Use of Wali Deccani's period poetry provides this Play with a very rare artistic and historical context. Dazzling use of Kathak choreography by Rani Khanum and her Troupe, and authentic costumes including head gear, swords and period art work was a treat for the eyes. Exemplary use of Sufi music, context and ambiance was very alluring and mesmerising. This Play had a good run at cities like Delhi, Gurgaon and Banglore.
There are reports that this Play is also being converted into a Feature Film under the Direction of Sathyu. It goes to his credit that this Play revived interest in the life and ideals of Dara Shukoh and later Gopal Gandhi's Dara Shikoh and Pakistan's Ajoka Group also brought Dara Shukoh to the stage.
Amrita: A sublime Love Story is another innovative Play which is based upon the life and writings of famous Punjabi writer Amrita Preetam. Written by Danish Iqbal this play brings into focus the perpetual mystic love of Amrita Preetam. This Play reciprocate his earlier Play 'Sahir' on Sahir Ludhiyanvi which was directed by Pramila Le Hunt.
IJJODU ( Kannada) 2009
Short films and documentaries
Tele-films
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, stage designer
Scenic design
Scenic design is the creation of theatrical, as well as film or television scenery. Scenic designers have traditionally come from a variety of artistic backgrounds, but nowadays, generally speaking, they are trained professionals, often with M.F.A...
and art director
Art director
The art director is a person who supervise the creative process of a design.The term 'art director' is a blanket title for a variety of similar job functions in advertising, publishing, film and television, the Internet, and video games....
from India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. His film Garam Hawa
Garam Hawa
Garm Hava is a 1973 Urdu film directed by M. S. Sathyu, based on an unpublished Urdu short story by Ismat Chughtai and adapted for screen by Kaifi Azmi, who also wrote its lyrics....
is a film on the partition of India
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
. He is a recipient of the Padma Shri
Padma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
in 1975.
Early life
Sathyu conducted his schooling and higher education at Mysore and Bangalore. In 1952 he quit college while working on his Bachelors of Science degree and instead plunged into the uncertain world of films in Bombay.He freelanced as an animator in 1952-3. After being unemployed for nearly four years, he got his first salaried job as assistant director to film-maker Chetan Anand.
Career
His first assignment as an independent Art DirectorArt director
The art director is a person who supervise the creative process of a design.The term 'art director' is a blanket title for a variety of similar job functions in advertising, publishing, film and television, the Internet, and video games....
was for Haqeeqat
Haqeeqat
Haqeeqat is a 1964 Hindi war-film directed by Chetan Anand. It was supported by the Government of India.The movie stars Balraj Sahni, Dharmendra, Rajender Kumar, Priya Rajvansh, Sanjay Khan and Vijay Anand. the music is by Madan Mohan and the lyrics by Kaifi Azmi. The movie was based on the 1962...
, a film by Chetan Anand
Chetan Anand (producer & director)
Chetan Anand was an acclaimed Hindi film producer, screenwriter and director from India, whose debut film, Neecha Nagar, bagged the Palme d'Or award, at the Cannes Film Festival in 1946....
, which got him the Filmfare Award in 1964 and along with that came recognition. He also did work in theatre as a designer and director, including designing sets and lights for productions of Hindustani Theatre, Okhla
Okhla
Okhla, is a neighbourhood around the old village in South Delhi district, though it is most known as the Okhla Industrial Area or Okhla Industrial Estate, an industrial suburb of New Delhi in South Delhi and mainly divided in three phases...
Theatre of Habib Tanvir
Habib Tanvir
Habib Tanvir was one of the most popular Indian Urdu, Hindi playwrights, a theatre director, poet and actor. He is the writer of plays such as, Agra Bazar and Charandas Chor...
, Kannada Bharati and other groups of Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
. In films, he has worked as an art director, camera-man, screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
, producer and director. His filmography includes over 15 documentaries and 8 feature films in Hindi, Urdu and Kannada.
His best known work, Garam Hawa
Garam Hawa
Garm Hava is a 1973 Urdu film directed by M. S. Sathyu, based on an unpublished Urdu short story by Ismat Chughtai and adapted for screen by Kaifi Azmi, who also wrote its lyrics....
(Scorching Winds, 1973), is one of the last cinema productions featuring 1950s Marxist cultural activists including Balraj Sahni
Balraj Sahni
Balraj Sahni , born Yudhishthir Sahni , was a famous Hindi film actor. He belonged to a Punjabi Khatri family from Bhera now in Punjab, Pakistan...
and Kaifi Azmi
Kaifi Azmi
Kaifi Azmi was an Indian Urdu poet. He is considered to be one the greatest Urdu poets of 20th century. Together with Pirzada Qasim, Jon Eliya and many others he participated in many memorable mushairas of 20th century.-Early life:...
. Garam Hawa won several Indian national awards
National Film Awards
The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it is administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorate of Film Festivals since 1973.Every year, a national panel...
in 1974, including a National Integration Award. It was invited for the competitive section at Cannes and also the Indian entry at the Oscars, and achieved a Filmfare award for best screenplay.
M. S. Sathyu currently is associated mainly with television and stage.
Mr. Sathyu is one of the patrons of Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA).
His Play ‘Dara Shikoh’ is considered a modern classic which was staged by Impresario Asia in Delhi in 2003-4. In the words of noted critic Ramesh Chand Charlie the Stage Play ‘Dara Shikoh’ is a turning point of traditional theatrical sensibilities. Use of Wali Deccani's period poetry provides this Play with a very rare artistic and historical context. Dazzling use of Kathak choreography by Rani Khanum and her Troupe, and authentic costumes including head gear, swords and period art work was a treat for the eyes. Exemplary use of Sufi music, context and ambiance was very alluring and mesmerising. This Play had a good run at cities like Delhi, Gurgaon and Banglore.
There are reports that this Play is also being converted into a Feature Film under the Direction of Sathyu. It goes to his credit that this Play revived interest in the life and ideals of Dara Shukoh and later Gopal Gandhi's Dara Shikoh and Pakistan's Ajoka Group also brought Dara Shukoh to the stage.
Amrita: A sublime Love Story is another innovative Play which is based upon the life and writings of famous Punjabi writer Amrita Preetam. Written by Danish Iqbal this play brings into focus the perpetual mystic love of Amrita Preetam. This Play reciprocate his earlier Play 'Sahir' on Sahir Ludhiyanvi which was directed by Pramila Le Hunt.
Awards
- 1966: Filmfare Best Art Direction Award: HaqeeqatHaqeeqatHaqeeqat is a 1964 Hindi war-film directed by Chetan Anand. It was supported by the Government of India.The movie stars Balraj Sahni, Dharmendra, Rajender Kumar, Priya Rajvansh, Sanjay Khan and Vijay Anand. the music is by Madan Mohan and the lyrics by Kaifi Azmi. The movie was based on the 1962...
(for black-and-white film category) - 1974:Cannes Film FestivalCannes Film FestivalThe Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
: Golden Palm - Nominated. - 1974: National Film Award: Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National IntegrationNargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National IntegrationThe Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration is a National Film Award - Silver Lotus, given to an Indian feature film director, for the best film relating to National Integration in India.The winners of the Award:-References:...
: Garam Hawa - 1975: Padma ShriPadma ShriPadma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
- 1984: National Film Award: Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National IntegrationNargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National IntegrationThe Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration is a National Film Award - Silver Lotus, given to an Indian feature film director, for the best film relating to National Integration in India.The winners of the Award:-References:...
: Sookha - 1984 Filmfare Critics Award for Best MovieFilmfare Critics Award for Best MovieThe Filmfare Awards are the oldest and most prominent film awards given for Hindi films in India. The yearly awards started in 1953. Movie awards were first given by popular vote...
: Sookha - 1994: Sangeet Natak Akademi AwardSangeet Natak Akademi AwardSangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar is an award given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama. It is the highest Indian recognition given to practicing artists. The award consists since 2003 of Rs. 50,000, a citation, an angavastram , and a tamrapatra...
: Stagecraft
Theatre plays
- Dara ShikohDara ShikohHis Highness, The Imperial Prince Dara Shikoh was the eldest son and the heir apparent of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal. His name دارا شكوه in Persian means "Darius the Magnificent"...
written by Danish Iqbal - Mudrarkshas
- Aakhri Shama
- Rashmon
- Bakri
- Girija Ke sapne
- Mote Ram Ke Sathyagrah
- AmritaAmritaAmrit is a Sanskrit word that literally means "immortality", and is often referred to in texts as nectar. The word's earliest occurrence is in the Rigveda where it is one of several synonyms of soma, the drink which confers immortality upon the gods. It is related etymologically to the Greek...
:a sublime Love Story written by Danish Iqbal
Films
Feature films- Ek Tha Chotu Ek Tha Motu
- Garam HawaGaram HawaGarm Hava is a 1973 Urdu film directed by M. S. Sathyu, based on an unpublished Urdu short story by Ismat Chughtai and adapted for screen by Kaifi Azmi, who also wrote its lyrics....
(Hot Winds) 1973 - Kanneshwara Rama (The Legendary Outlaw)
- Bara/Sookha (Famine)
- Ghalige
IJJODU ( Kannada) 2009
Short films and documentaries
- Irshad
- Black Mountain
- Ghalib
- Islam in India
Television
TV serials- Pratidhwani 1985
- Choli Daaman 1987-88
- Kayar (Coir) 1992
- Antim Raja (The Last Raja of Coorg) 1986
Tele-films
- Aangan
- Ek Hadsa Char Pehlu
- Thangam