Bhubaneswar, June 27: Veteran cinematographer Dilip Ray passed away while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar on Friday night. He was 69 and had been ailing for the past few days.
Ray was a member of the jury for the 35th and 36th Odisha State Film Awards (2023–24), but could not attend the award ceremony due to his illness. His name was announced during the event, though he remained absent. Soon after the ceremony concluded, news of his demise reached the film fraternity. He breathed his last at around 9.30 pm.
The news of his death has sent shockwaves through the Odia film industry, with filmmakers, actors and admirers mourning the loss of one of the state's most accomplished cinematographers. Friends, relatives and well-wishers gathered at the hospital to pay their last respects and extend condolences to the bereaved family.
According to sources, his mortal remains will be taken to his residence at Sheikh Bazaar in Cuttack and later to his studio near Deer Park, where people from the film fraternity and the public will be able to pay their final respects before the last rites are performed.
Born in Cuttack in 1957, Ray completed a diploma in Motion Picture Photography from the Film and Television Institute in Bengaluru in 1982. He went on to build a distinguished career spanning over four decades in Indian cinema and television.
During his illustrious career, Ray worked on nearly 70 Odia films, 15 Bengali films and eight Chhattisgarhi films. He also contributed to several documentaries and television serials and directed documentaries and television series for Doordarshan.
A three-time recipient of the Odisha State Film Award for Best Cinematographer, Ray was honoured for Trisandhya (1986), Chini (2016) and Bhija Matira Swarga (2022). Widely respected for his artistic vision and technical excellence, he leaves behind a rich cinematic legacy that has significantly shaped Odia cinema.
