NVK Murthy

N.V.K. Murthy was born in Hyderabad, India, on August 16, 1925. He graduated from Maharaja's College in Mysore with a bachelor's degree in English literature. He joined the 'Quit India' Movement for independence from British colonial control in August 1942, while still a student at Maharaja's College, and was imprisoned. Later, he earned a master's degree in journalism from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, in the United States. He was Head of the Department of Journalism at Osmania University in Hyderabad, Producer of newsreels at the Films Division in Mumbai, Registrar of the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, Chief Executive of the Film Finance Corporation (FFC) of India in Mumbai, Director of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune,  during his illustrious career in India. In 1985, the Indian government honored him with the Padma Shri award for his contributions to film and television.

The documentary films he made on the Gandhi centenary celebrations stand out while he was a producer of newsreels at the films division in Mumbai. N.V.K. Murthy was a silent force in improving people's lives. He believed that learning, whether official or informal, was the best way to honor the human spirit, and he committed himself to continue his education throughout his life. That was his mark on the world. He passed on his knowledge and wisdom to others through his work as a teacher, documentary filmmaker, administrator, and his great chats, discussions, and speeches. He remained active till the end, passing away on August 2, 2017, with the same elegance and courage he had lived.