Bhubaneswar: Renowned cinematographer Dillip Ray, known for his significant contributions to Odia and Bengali cinema, passed away late Friday night following age-related illness. He was 69.
Ray had been unwell for the past few days and was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar. He breathed his last on the very day the Odisha State Film Awards for 2023-24 were being presented. He had served as a jury member for the awards.
A five-time winner of the Odisha State Film Award for Best Cinematography, Ray was a stalwart in the regional film industry. He had worked on over 70 Odia films and 15 Bengali films, along with projects in Chhattisgarhi cinema.
His notable Odia films include Tisandhya, Baje Bainsi Nache Ghungura, Chaka Bhaunri, Ei Ta Dunia, Mamata Ra Dora, Majhi Pahacha, Bidhira Bidhana, Maa Mote Shakti De, Suna Sansara, Ganga Jamuna, Chini, and Bhija Mati among others. He also lent his expertise to documentaries and television serials.
Ray held a diploma in Motion Picture Photography from the Film and Television Institute in Bengaluru.
Apart from multiple Odisha State Film Awards, he was honoured with the Filmfare Award, Doordarshan National Award, and several other film fraternity recognitions.
Tributes poured in from the Odia and Bengali film fraternity, with many describing his death as an irreparable loss to regional cinema.
Colleagues remembered him as a pioneering figure who played a key role in elevating Odia films. His last rites are scheduled to be held at Swargadwar in Puri.
