Shirish Desai

Cinematographer Shirish Desai is known for his work in Hindi and Marathi films such as Naam Gum Jaayega (2005) and Bandh Nylon Che (2016), as well as for serving as an assistant cameraman in the films Droh Kaal (1994) and Sardari Begum (1996). An avid painter and photographer, he also lectures at the Bharati Vidyapeeth, Pune.

Hailing from Panjim, Goa, his grandfather had migrated from South India, traversed Maharashtra and reached Goa where the family settled. The family’s original surname was Iyer; Desai was the title conferred on them by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The family house in Goa dates back to 1942; their original house being in Quepem, Goa.

From a young age itself, he liked looking at things from a different perspective. His fascination with light became evident as a child when he would awake early on Sundays and sit in his balcony, watching the shadows created on the wall by the sun filtering through the foliage of the trees. 

Watching a classmate drawing, he was inspired to follow suit and started taking art lessons. After completing his SSC, he took admission in art college, and began painting. 

His interest in photography started from childhood. When he was in school, in the second standard, his father was contesting the elections. Many people, who were part of the campaign, would visit their home, one among whom was Dinesh Mangeshkar, a cousin of renowned singer Lata Mangeshkar. Mangeshkar had brought a camera along and would go on to teach young Shirish the basics of how to use it. He would also send back the prints of a few photographs that Shirish had clicked. Being interested in photography himself, his father also recognised his talent, and had created a dark room in his house to develop the prints of black and white photographs.

When his father was visiting Germany, on Shirish’s request, he brought him a camera, a Mamiya. Post this, he would take umpteen photographs and also make reels. Despite this being an expensive hobby, his father never sought to curtail it but rather encouraged him to pursue his interest.

Once, on his birthday, he went to watch Guru Dutt’s film Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959). He was considerably impressed by the film’s photography, and desired to know who the cinematographer was. However, the film was out of the theatre the following day. Not to be deterred, his father procured the film from Bombay and they discovered, via the film’s credits, the identity of the photographer – namely, V K Murthy (1959). That was when he decided that his goal would be to learn intensively from Murthy and also work in films. On the advice of his father, he completed his SSC and took up Science. However, this resulted in a year gone to waste due his inherent disconnect with the subject; subsequently, he joined art college.

In his last year of college, he got together with three or four of his friends to start the Vision Film Society. He started making retrospectives of filmmakers such as Satyajit Ray, Shyam Benegal, etc. He also started working in theatre at this time. Influenced by his friends, he developed an interest in music and also began learning to play the tabla. 

On one occasion, he and his friends went to watch the Shyam Benegal-directed film Junoon (1978), which was cinematographed by Govind Nihalani. It prompted him to decide to work with Nihalani, and he left for Bombay on the suggestion of his friends. 

In Bombay, taking along his portfolio of paintings and photography, he met the renowned filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan. The filmmaker reportedly rejected him, saying he couldn’t become a photographer but was good at painting and ought to pursue it. This reaction prompted him to return home; however, the next time he came to the city, he joined Sahyadri Films owned by Shyam Benegal. Seeing his photographs and reels, Benegal told him that he had no need to learn anything as he already knew it all but he could learn editing if he so wished. It was a part-time job, but Desai agreed as his aim was to enter the film industry. At the time, Benegal was shooting his serial Bharat Ek Khoj (1988). Desai would work as a light-man on this serial as well as on Govind Nihalani’s Tamas (1988). He worked as assistant cinematographer for the first time in the Doordarshan TV serial Ek Kahani (1986). He went on to work as assistant cinematographer in the film Andha Yudh (1987). 

It was during the time that he was working as a light-man, that he met V K Murthy, by a stroke of luck. After shifting residence to his new house, following an altercation with his previous landlord, he met Vinay Magdi, who informed him that his grandfather, a photographer, was in need of an assistant. The grandfather was none other than V K Murthy! To Desai, this was no less than a dream come true. 

He began working with V K Murthy, learning much from the veteran cinematographer over ten years. Along with this invaluable training, he also had the opportunity to learn from Ashok Mehta and Govind Nihalani. 

He would serve as an assistant cinematographer to Govind Nihalani on Droh Kaal (1994). A drama thriller, it revolved around a dedicated cop who heads an under-cover squad against a group of terrorists. The film starred Om Puri, Naseeruddin Shah and Mita Vashisht. 

He then worked as assistant cinematographer to Sanjay Dharankar for the Shyam Benegal-directed Sardari Begum in 1996. Written by Khalid Mohammed and Shama Zaidi, the film chronicled the youth, contacts and lifestyle of Sardari Begum, a popular singer and courtesan of her times, who dies after being hit by a stone during a riot. 

Debuting as a solo cinematographer, he served as DoP of the Amol Shetge directorial Naam Gum Jaayega (2005) starring Dia Mirza and Aryan Vaid in the lead roles. The film was a mystery thriller that did not see success at the box office.

He went on to cinematograph It’s Breaking News (2007), a Hindi-language crime film directed by Vishal Inamdar and produced by Smita Shreyas Mhaskar under the banner of Animaa Films. It told the story of corrupt police officers, the exploitation of an innocent girl and the media's resultant struggle to reveal the truth, complete with a sting operation and the channel’s own selfish motives, before justice is served. 

In 2016, he cinematographed the Marathi language family drama film Bandh Nylon Che, the plot of which revolved around impostor grandparents proving to be far more fun than the real ones. Directed by Jatin Wagle, it was presented by Maharashtra Times & Zero Hits and produced by Sunil Chandrika Nair and Siji Nair. The ensemble cast featured Mahesh Manjrekar, Medha Manjrekar, Subodh Bhave, Sunil Barve, Shruti Marathe, Sanjay Narvekar and Pranjal Parab in lead roles. The film was based on an award-winning one-act play by the same name. 

The 2020 Hindi satirical comedy film Yahan Sabhi Gyani Hain (2020) was cinematographed by him. Shot in Kanpur, the plot revolved around the delusional and dysfunctional Kanpuriya family, who are informed of having hidden ancestral treasure. In the process of finding the treasure, they discover the real lesson of life. Directed by Anant Tripathi, the cast of the film included Atul Srivastava, Neeraj Sood and Apoorva Arora, among others.

Shirish Desai has made several ad films for prominent brands such as Reid & Taylor. 

He also teaches abstract painting and cinematography to students at the Bharati Vidyapeeth, Pune.