The Man Who Shot Deewaar

Most of Yash Chopra's iconic films, including Deewaar, Kabhi Kabhie and Silsila were shot by the prolific Kay Gee

- Amborish Roychoudhury

WHO was the cinematographer who shot Deewaar with that grim, moody and intense tone to match Amitabh Bachchan’s simmering volcano? Who filmed the breathtaking vibrance of Silsila, the poetic intensity of Kabhi Kabhie, and captured the soot and grime of Kaala Patthar? Almost all of Yash Chopra’s most riveting films from Ittefaq to Deewaar to Trishul to Daag credited one man as Director of Photography (DOP): Kay Gee. That’s an odd name. The Internet reveals next to nothing about him. Yash Chopra’s biography contains references to Kay Gee but never wonders what his real name might be. The Yash Raj Films website lists Raju Kaygee, Kay Gee’s son, who is a DOP himself and has been a part of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jaayenge (1995) and Yeh Dillagi (1994), among other films. After knocking on several doors, it was veteran filmmaker Ramesh Talwar who helped me to get in touch with Raju Kaygee. Finally, the name of Yash Chopra’s most prolific cinematographer was revealed: Kamalnath Ganpatrao Korgaonkar, Kay Gee (KG) for short.