Bollywood Loses Another Gem: Ishwar Bidri, the ‘Border’ Cinematographer Breathes His Last

Bollywood: Ishwar Badri, the veteran cinematographer breathed his last at a Karnataka hospital. The 87-year-old cinematographer was under treatment for several health complications. His son Sanjeev Bidri confirmed the news of his passing away. 

“He suffered a cardiac arrest when we were at a marriage function at Belgaum, Karnataka on December 20. We immediately rushed him to the KLES Hospital. He again suffered a cardiac arrest at the hospital and given his age, it led to multiple health issues. He passed away today at 9:50 AM”, stated Sanjeev on being asked about his father’s passing away.

The deceased cinematographer, hailing from Banhatti town of Karnataka, was praised for shooting several action dramas, including ‘Hathyar’, ‘Yateem’, ‘Batwara’ among the big hits of the ’80s, along with many other popular ’90s movies. Filmmaker J.P. Dutta, with whom the cinematographer collaborated in many blockbusters, remembered Bidri referring to him as a ‘great asset’ to his team.

“It has been a very long journey, we started in 1976. My first film Sarhad never got to see the light of the day. Then we worked on Ghulami, Yateem, Batwara, Hathyar, and Border. He was a decent, honest man. He is one of the most hardworking cameramen I ever worked with. Coming from Guru Dutt Sahab’s school of cinema, he was a great asset to me. I was much junior to him. He had seen me growing up as a filmmaker and my entire journey”, expressed an emotional Dutt to the reporters.