Modhura Palit
Modhura Palit is an Indian cinematographer and director. She is the first Indian to receive the Pierre Angénieux ExcelLens award at Cannes.
Career
She studied cinematography from Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute. Member of the Indian Society of Cinematographers, Indian Women Cinematographers Collective as well as of the Eastern India Cinematographers Association, she is part of the Busan Asian Film Academy, and she took part in the Looking China Youth Film Project in 2015. She was part of Berlinale Talents 2023 under Berlin International Film Festival. She has received PESGSPC" Honorary Membership for the Outstanding Contribution to International Art Photography by Cyprus Pascal English School and Greek School Photography Club and the PESGSPC Grand Progress Award "GPA - By FIAP. She was also in board of Jury in ImagineIndia International Film Festival Madrid. She is the recipient of the Shera Bangali Award for Cinema in 2024, presented by ABP Ananda.She has been working on over 30 short-films, tvc, documentaries, corporate films and feature films. Her work includes a wide range of films that have been both critically and commercially acclaimed. She is known for her masterful visual work in films like Ami O Manohar, Bahadur-the brave, Amar Colony, Tekka, Kishmish, Dilkhush, Naxalbari, Ek duaa, Dabaru, Kacher Manush, Kothamrito, The PaperBoy, Aator etc. Watchmaker – experimental feature film Modhura shot is part of Dhaka University film studies curriculum. The films she has worked in has won multiple awards in India and in other prestigious film festivals across the world. She is currently the most prolific female cinematographer working in eastern India, championing and inspiring the inclusion of more women in the technical field in filmmaking. She has recently made her directorial debut with the episode of Troilokyo in the Zee5 web series Ganoshotru, receiving critical and popular acclaim.
Reception and Awards
She was awarded the Pierre Angénieux ExcelLens in Cinematography at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival making her the first Indian to win this award. She received the award alongside legendary cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel, who received the lifetime achievement award for cinematography. With this award she is one of the only three Indians who have received technical awards at Cannes. The other two being V. Santaram and Santosh Sivan.Bahadur - the Brave won New Directors at San Sebastián International Film Festival and Silver Gateway Award at Jio Mami Mumbai Film Festival 2023.
Amar Colony won Special Jury award at PÖFF Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 2022 and Best Debut Director Award at Kerala International Film festival 2022
Ami O Manohar won best Debut Director award at Kerala International Film Festival 2018
Ek Duaa has won the special mention award at the National Film Awards in 2023.
“She served as an Academic Counselling Member at SRFTI.”