>Bamyers99 at 23:31, 29 April 2021

2021-04-29T23:31:02Z

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{{short description|Indian film cinematographer, director}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Apurba Kishore Bir
| image = Apurba Kishor Bir.jpg
| caption = Bir in 2016
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1948}}<ref>{{cite web |url= https://movies.nytimes.com/person/279930/Apurba-Kishore-Bir |archive-url= https://archive.today/20120712064009/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/279930/Apurba-Kishore-Bir |url-status= dead |archive-date= 12 July 2012 |title=Apurba Kishore Bir - About This Person - Movies & TV |quote=Born in 1948 in Orissa |department= Movies & TV Dept. |work= [[The New York Times]] |publisher= [[Baseline (database)|Baseline]] & [[All Movie Guide]] |access-date=16 January 2013}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Odisha]], India
| residence =
| ethnicity =
| education =
| alma_mater = [[Film and Television Institute of India]]<ref>{{cite web |url= http://dff.nic.in/ODIA_CINEMA_AND_ODIAS_IN_CINEMA_1.asp |title=::DIRECTORATE OF FILM FESTIVALS:: |work=dff.nic.in|quote= In 1974 three Oriya graduates from the FTII, Sadhu Meher (Actor), A.K. Bir (Cinematographer) and Ravi Patnaik (Editor), secured National Awards for the film, '27DOWN'. |access-date=16 January 2013}}</ref>
| occupation = Cinematographer, director
| years_active = 1973–present
| employer =
| organization =
| agent =
| known_for =
| notable_works =
| home_town =
| religion =
| children =
| parents = Ajoy Chandra Bir
|spouse = {{marriage|[[Prativa Bir]]|1982}}
| awards = [[National Film Award for Best Cinematography]]
| website = 
| footnotes =
| box_width =
}}
'''Apurba Kishore Bir''' (born 1948), also known as '''A. K. Bir''', is an Indian film cinematographer, screenwriter and director. An alumnus of the [[Film and Television Institute of India]], [[Pune]], he worked in various [[Advertising|Ad-films]] and documentaries before making his feature-film debut. He won the [[National Film Award for Best Cinematography]] for ''[[27 Down]]'', his debut film. His directional debut ''[[Aadi Mimansa]]'' won the [[Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration]]. Bir's other directional ventures ''[[Lavanya Preeti]]'' and ''[[Baaja]]'' were bestowed with the [[National Film Award for Best Children's Film]]. As of 2014, he has won nine [[National Film Awards]]—including three for Best Cinematography—and is one of the directors of [[National Film Development Corporation of India]].
[[File:Dan Wolma, Shri Laxmikant and Shri A.K. Bir at an open forum on the topic of Success of Film Festival Quality of Films, during the 42nd International Film Festival of India (IFFI-2011), in Panaji, Goa on December 01, 2011.jpg|thumb|right|225px|Bir (left) at [[International Film Festival of India|IFFI]] [[42nd International Film Festival of India|2011]] ]]

==Biography==
Born in Balikuti village of [[Odisha]], Bir had a great passion for painting. At the insistence of his father, he joined the [[Film and Television Institute of India]] with a specialisation in motion-picture cinematography.<ref name=Kodak>{{cite web|title=ONFILM Apurba Kishore Bir |url=http://motion.kodak.com/motion/Publications/InCamera/Sections/ONFILM/ONFILM_Apurba_Kishore_Bir.htm |publisher=[[Eastman Kodak]] |access-date=2 March 2014 |date=22 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141202030333/http://motion.kodak.com/motion/Publications/InCamera/Sections/ONFILM/ONFILM_Apurba_Kishore_Bir.htm |archive-date=2 December 2014 }}</ref> After passing out of the institute, he worked on short films and documentaries. ''[[27 Down]]'', his debut feature-film as a cinematographer, won him the [[National Film Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematographer]] award at the [[21st National Film Awards]].<ref name=Kodak /><ref name=timeout>{{cite web|title=Apurba Kishore Bir on 27 Down |url=http://www.timeoutmumbai.net/film/features/apurba-kishore-bir-27-down |work=[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]] |access-date=2 March 2014 |location=Mumbai |date=11 December 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227085908/http://www.timeoutmumbai.net/film/features/apurba-kishore-bir-27-down |archive-date=27 February 2014}}</ref> Nearly 70 percent of the film was shot using a handheld camera.<ref name=timeout /> Bir was one of the first-unit cameramen for [[Richard Attenborough]]'s [[Gandhi (film)|Gandhi]].<ref name=odishatoday>{{cite web |url= http://odishatoday.com/viewnews.php?news_id=2361 |title=Oriya cinematographer Apurba Kishore Bir appointed independent director of NDFC |work=odishatoday.com |year=2012|quote=The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has appointed noted Oriya cinematographer AK Bir as one of the independent directors of National Film Development Corporation |access-date=17 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Director's Biography: A K Bir|url=http://cfsindia.org/tag/a-k-bir/|publisher=[[Children's Film Society]]|access-date=2 March 2014}}</ref> He won two more awards for "Best Cinematography" for ''[[Daasi (1988 film)|Daasi]]'' (1988) and ''[[Aadi Mimansa]]'' (1991). The latter also marked his directional debut.<ref name="Agrawal1993">{{cite book|last=Agrawal|first=S. P.|title=Development Digression Diary of India : 3d Companion Volume To Information India 1991–92|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ltoaVsL8f8cC&pg=PA18|date=1 January 1993|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|isbn=978-81-7022-305-4|page=18}}</ref> It won the [[Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration]]. As a director Known for his work in [[Parallel Cinema]]. Bir's films focused on children as two of his films—''[[Lavanya Preeti]]'' and ''[[Baaja]]'' won the [[National Film Award for Best Children's Film]] in 1993 and 2002 respectively. The former received the "Best Asian Film" award at the [[Osaka International Film Festival]] in addition to an "International Jury's Critic Award" and a screening at the [[Berlin International Film Festival]].<ref name=Kodak /> ''Hamari Beti'', for which he wrote the screenplay apart from photography and direction, was screened at the competitive section of the "World Film Section" of [[Chicago International Film Festival]] in 2006.<ref name=odishatoday /> In 2012, Bir was appointed as one of the directors of the [[National Film Development Corporation of India]].<ref name=odishatoday /> He headed the "Technical Sub-committee" and was the chairman of the feature film jury of the 45th [[International Film Festival of India]] in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=Technical Sub-committee of IFFI 2014|url=http://www.iffi.nic.in/Technical%20Sub%20Commitee.asp|publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals|access-date=23 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141123223135/http://www.iffi.nic.in/Technical%20Sub%20Commitee.asp|archive-date=23 November 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=45th International Film Festival of India, 2014 - Indian Panorama 2014: Final Selection for Feature and Non-Feature Films|url=http://www.iffi.nic.in/writereaddata/IP%202014%20-%20Press%20Release.pdf|publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals|access-date=23 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030173353/http://www.iffi.nic.in/writereaddata/IP%202014%20-%20Press%20Release.pdf|archive-date=30 October 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Filmography==
{{colbegin}}
* ''[[27 Down]]'' (1973)
* ''[[Gharonda]]'' (1977)
* ''[[Godhuli]]'' (1977)
* ''[[Ondanondu Kaladalli]]'' (1978)
* ''[[Khatta Meetha (1978 film)|Khatta Meetha]]'' (1978)
* ''[[Prem Vivah]]'' (1979)
* ''[[Dooriyaan]]'' (1979)
* ''[[Hamari Bahu Alka]]'' (1982)
* ''[[Gandhi (film)|Gandhi]]'' (1982; was a part of the first-unit cameramen)<ref>{{cite web |url= http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-16/edit-page/29546101_1_film-makers-regional-cinema-oriya |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121025004141/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-16/edit-page/29546101_1_film-makers-regional-cinema-oriya |url-status= dead |archive-date= 25 October 2012 |title=Regional films hold the clue to Indian ethos |year=2011|quote=Bir also handled the second camera in the first unit of Richard Attenborough's Oscar-winning film Gandhi |work= [[The Times of India]] |access-date=16 January 2013}}</ref>
* ''[[Rangula Kala]]'' (1983)
* ''[[Aadat Se Majboor]]'' (1983) (screenwriter)
* ''Tum Laut Aao'' (1983)
* ''[[Maa Ooru]]'' (1983; documentary film)
* ''Ram Avtar'' (1988)
* ''[[Daasi (1988 film)|Daasi]]'' (1988)
* ''[[Pestonjee]]'' (1988)
* ''[[Matti Manushulu]]'' (1990)
* ''[[Aadi Mimansa]]'' (1991, also director)
* ''[[Diksha (film)|Diksha]]'' (1991)
* ''Lavanya Preeti'' (1991, also screenwriter and director)
* ''[[Aranyaka (film)|Aranyaka]]'' (1994) (also screenwriter and director)
* ''[[Shesha Drushti]]'' (1997, also director)
* ''Nandan'' (1998, also director)
* ''[[Baaja]]'' (2002, also screenwriter and director)
* ''[[Shararat (2002 film)|Shararat]]'' (2002)
* ''[[Hari Villu]]'' (2003)
* ''[[Shikhar (film)|Sikhar]]'' (2005)
* ''Hamari Beti'' (also screenwriter and director)
* ''Jianta Bhuta'' (2008)
* ''Huppa Huiyya'' (2010)
{{colend}}

==Awards==

===National Film Awards===

====Best Cinematography====
* [[21st National Film Awards|1973]]: ''[[27 Down]]''
* [[36th National Film Awards|1988]]: ''[[Daasi (1988 film)|Daasi]]''
* [[39th National Film Awards|1991]]: ''[[Aadi Mimansa]]''

====Best Regional Film (Oriya)====
* [[45th National Film Awards|1997]]: ''[[Shesha Drushti]]''
* [[46th National Film Awards|1998]]: ''[[Nandan (film)|Nandan]]''

====Best Children's films====
* [[41st National Film Awards|1991]]: ''[[Lavanya Preeti]]''
* [[52nd National Film Awards|2002]]: ''[[Baaja]]''

====Best Film on National Integration====
[[41st National Film Awards|1991]]: ''[[Aadi Mimansa]]''

===Other awards and honours===
* 1991 – Aravindan Award for Best First Film of a Director ''Aadi Mimansa''<ref name=46thNFA>{{cite web|title=46th National Film Festival 1999|url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm46NFAAward.aspx|publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals|access-date=22 November 2014|page=75|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203091624/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm46NFAAward.aspx|archive-date=3 December 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 1993 – International Jury's Critic Award at Udaipur International Film Festival for ''Lavanya Preeti''<ref name=46thNFA />
* [[Orissa State Film Awards|Jayadeba Award]]<ref>{{cite web |url= http://dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhubaneswar/27069-apurba-kishore-bir-to-get-jayadev-award.html |title=Apurba Kishore Bir to get Jayadev Award |work=The Pioneer|location=India |year=2011|quote=Apurba Kishore Bir will get Jayadev Award, the highest honour of Oriya cinema for lifetime achievement, for the year of 2010 |access-date=16 January 2013}}</ref>
* ''Lavanya Preeti'' – Best Asian Film award at the Osaka International Film Festival.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://cfsindia.org/tag/labanya-preeti-loving-hearts/ |title=Labanya Preeti (Loving Hearts) | Children's Film Society, India |work=cfsindia.org|quote=The film won the Best Asian Film award at the Osaka International Film Festival |access-date=17 January 2013}}</ref>
* 2011 – Taranga Cine Awards for Best Cinematography<ref>{{cite web|url=http://odiaone.com/news.php?id=17 |title=:: Odiaone News – Latest Ollywood happenings. News, Stories, Ollywood Masala and many more. |work=odiaone.com |year=2012 |quote=Best Cinematographer – A.K. Bir (Jianta Bhuta) |access-date=17 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504041743/http://odiaone.com/news.php?id=17 |archive-date=4 May 2012 }}</ref>
* 2013 – [[Padma Shri]]<ref>{{cite web |url= http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/padma-awards-for-sharmila-rajesh-khanna-sridevi/articleshow/18187987.cms |title=Padma awards for Sharmila, Rajesh Khanna, Sridevi – The Economic Times |work=The Times of India |year=2013 |quote=cameraman Apurba Kishore Bir, ... were named for Padma Shri. |access-date=26 January 2013}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0083208}}
* [https://archive.today/20130222180658/http://www.timeoutbengaluru.net/film/features/apurba-kishore-bir-27-down Apurba Kishore Bir on 27 Down]
* [http://cfsindia.org/tag/a-k-bir/ AK Bir at CFS India]

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}
{{National Film Award Best Cinematography}}
{{Padma Award winners of Odisha}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bir, Apurba Kishore}}
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Hindi film cinematographers]]
[[Category:Indian male screenwriters]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Odisha]]
[[Category:Odia film directors]]
[[Category:Hindi-language film directors]]
[[Category:Best Cinematography National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian film directors]]
[[Category:Film and Television Institute of India alumni]]
[[Category:Odia screenwriters]]
[[Category:Cinematographers from Odisha]]
[[Category:Directors who won the Best Children's Film National Film Award]]
[[Category:Producers who won the Best Film on National Integration National Film Award]]
[[Category:Directors who won the Best Film on National Integration National Film Award]]
[[Category:Odia film screenwriters]]

Apurba Kishore Bir - Revision history

>Bamyers99 at 23:31, 29 April 2021