Veteran cameraman Chandu Desai breathed his last in Bombay on 11th June due to coronavirus. He was 74 and is survived by a son and a daughter. He had cinematographed a number of films from the 1950s to the 1990s, mostly Gujarati and Rajasthani. He was especially known for his lighting and trick photography.
Chandu Desai learnt trick photography under ace Babubhai Mistry. He also picked up a lot from such greats as Narottam Patani, Arjun Desai, Arvind Dave, Mukund Pathare, J.P. Sahni and Narendra Mistry. He assisted cinematographer Narottam Patani. He turned independent with Kesar Chandan (Gujarati, 1986). He made such a mark in his very first film that he won the award for the best cinematography for Kesar Chandan in the Gujarat State Government film awards. He also won the Gujarat State Government awards for Maanvini Bhavai and Raj Ratan. In Maanvini Bhavai, he shot the drought and famine scenes with such brilliance that his camerawork came in for heavy praise from one and all. He had also shot Gujarati films like Panetar, Saajan Ne Sathware, Bhadarne Kanthe, Lakho Vanjare, Rasiyo Balam, Maadi Jaya Nu Mameru, Panetar No Rang, Pratiggya, Oh Ho Ketlo Saaro Maaro Var and Vaagi Prem Katari. Chandu Desai had cinematographed many Rajasthani films, prominent among them being Derani Jethani, Bai Chali Sasariye, Beti Huyee Parayee Re, Ramkudee Jhamkudee, Dadosa Ri Laadli, Bhomlee, Lichhmi Aayee Aangne, Beera Bego Aaije Re, Jio Mhara Lal, Dev, Binanie and Baba Ramdev (1994). He entered the Rajasthani film scene with Ramraj Nahta’s Veer Tejaji in which he worked as a camera assistant to cinemstographer Arvind Dave. In fact, it was Mohan Singh Rathore who brought Chandu Desai to Rajasthani cinema. Rathore and Desai went on to work together in 12 films! Chandu Desai also handled the camerawork for TV serials like Adalat and Gandevta.
Subhash J. Shah’s Pehli Preet No Pehlo Phagan (Gujarati, 2004), starring J.D. Majethia, would have been the last film of Chandubhai as cinematographer but he made an exception for Mohan Singh Rathore’s Rajasthani film, Aulad, in 2013. He cinematographed some Hindi films too. For Rajshri’s Hum Pyar Tumhi Se Kar Baithe, his services were used for lighting the sets. The film’s cameraman was Laxminarayan.
Chandubhai’s real name was Chandrakant Narmadashankar Desai. He was born on 5th July, 1945 in Talaja village of Bhavnagar district of Gujarat but he spent most of his childhood in Bombay.
Chandu Desai was also an actor and did bit roles in films like Vat Vachan Ne Ver (Gujarati).
(Major inputs by ace film historian M.D. Soni of Jaipur)