M. S. Sathyu

Mysore Shrinivas Sathyu (Kannada ಮೈಸೂರು ಶ್ರೀನಿವಾಸ ಸತ್ಯು )(born 6 July 1930 in Mysore, Karnataka) is a leading film director, stage designer and art director from India. His film Garam Hawa is based on the partition of India. He is a recipient of the Padma Shri in 1975.

Early life
Sathyu conducted his schooling and higher education at Mysore and Bangalore. In 1952 he quit college while working on his Bachelors of Science degree and instead plunged into the uncertain world of films in Bombay.

He freelanced as an animator in 1952-3. After being unemployed for nearly four years, he got his first salaried job as assistant director to film-maker Chetan Anand.

Career
His first assignment as an independent Art Director was for Haqeeqat, a film by Chetan Anand, which got him the Filmfare Award in 1964 and along with that came recognition. He also did work in theatre as a designer and director, including designing sets and lights for productions of Hindustani Theatre, Okhla Theatre of Habib Tanvir, Kannada Bharati and other groups of Delhi. In films, he has worked as an art director, camera-man, screenwriter, producer and director. His filmography includes over 15 documentaries and 8 feature films in Hindi, Urdu and Kannada.

His best known work, Garam Hawa (Scorching Winds, 1973), is one of the last cinema productions featuring 1950s Marxist cultural activists including Balraj Sahni and Kaifi Azmi. Garam Hawa won several Indian national awards in 1974, including a National Integration Award. It was invited for the competitive section at Cannes and also the Indian entry at the Oscars, and achieved a Filmfare award for best screenplay.

M. S. Sathyu currently is associated mainly with television and stage.

Mr. Sathyu is one of the patrons of Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA).

His Play ‘Dara Shikoh’ is considered a modern classic which was staged by Impresario Asia in Delhi in 2003-4. In the words of noted critic Ramesh Chand Charlie the Stage Play ‘Dara Shikoh’ is a turning point of traditional theatrical sensibilities. Use of Wali Deccani's period poetry provides this Play with a very rare artistic and historical context. Dazzling use of Kathak choreography by Rani Khanum and her Troupe, and authentic costumes including head gear, swords and period art work was a treat for the eyes. Exemplary use of Sufi music, context and ambiance was very alluring and mesmerising. This Play had a good run at cities like Delhi, Gurgaon and Banglore. There are reports that this Play is also being converted into a Feature Film under the Direction of Sathyu. It goes to his credit that this Play revived interest in the life and ideals of Dara Shukoh and later Gopal Gandhi's Dara Shikoh and Pakistan's Ajoka Group also brought Dara Shukoh to the stage.

Amrita: A sublime Love Story is another innovative Play which is based upon the life and writings of famous Punjabi writer Amrita Preetam. Written by Danish Iqbal this play brings into focus the perpetual mystic love of Amrita Preetam. This Play reciprocate his earlier Play 'Sahir' on Sahir Ludhiyanvi which was directed by Pramila Le Hunt.

Awards

 * 1966: Filmfare Best Art Direction Award: Haqeeqat (for black-and-white film category)
 * 1974:Cannes Film Festival: Golden Palm - Nominated.
 * 1974: National Film Award: Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration: Garam Hawa
 * 1975: Padma Shri
 * 1984: National Film Award: Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration: Sookha
 * 1984 Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie: Sookha
 * 1994: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award: Stagecraft

Theatre plays

 * Dara Shikoh written by Danish Iqbal
 * Mudrarkshas
 * Aakhri Shama
 * Rashmon
 * Bakri
 * Girija Ke sapne
 * Mote Ram Ke Sathyagrah
 * Amrita :a sublime Love Story written by Danish Iqbal

Films
Feature films


 * Ek Tha Chotu Ek Tha Motu
 * Garam Hawa (Hot Winds) 1973
 * Kanneshwara Rama (The Legendary Outlaw)
 * Bara/Sookha (Famine)
 * Ghalige
 * Kotta (1999)
 * Ijjodu ( Kannada) 2009

Short films and documentaries
 * Irshad
 * Black Mountain
 * Ghalib
 * Islam in India

Television
TV serials


 * Pratidhwani 1985
 * Choli Daaman 1987-88
 * Kayar (Coir) 1992
 * Antim Raja (The Last Raja of Coorg) 1986

Tele-films


 * Aangan
 * Ek Hadsa Char Pehlu
 * Thangam