# B. C. Gowrishankar
**B. C. Gowrishankar** (ಬಿ.ಸಿ.ಗೌರಿಶಂಕರ್; 25 February 1950 – 16 November 2004) was an Indian cinematographer and occasional director who worked mainly in [Kannada cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/kannada-cinema), winning six [Karnataka State Film Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/karnataka-state-film-awards) across a career of roughly 25 years.[1](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/b-c-gowrishankar-profile/) • [2](https://cinemaazi.com/people/b-c-gowrishankar)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born / died | 1950, Bangalore; 16 November 2004[2](https://cinemaazi.com/people/b-c-gowrishankar) |
| Profession | Cinematographer, director, writer; Kannada cinema primarily[1](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/b-c-gowrishankar-profile/) |
| Debut | *Anuroopa* (1977), followed by *Spandana* (1978) and *Arivu* (1979)[2](https://cinemaazi.com/people/b-c-gowrishankar) |
| Awards | Six Karnataka State Film Awards, 1977–78 to 1995–96, including Best Cinematographer (B&W) twice[1](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/b-c-gowrishankar-profile/) |
| Best-known films | *Anand* (1986), *Pushpaka Vimana* (1987), *Aata Bombata* (1990), *Mysore Mallige* (1992), *Om* (1995)[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1389583/) |
| Directing | Began directing in 1987; directed three films, including *Aata Bombata* starring Shankar Nag[4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/through-the-looking-glass-kannada-cinematographers-who-turned-directors-later-on/photostory/83986719.cms) |
| Family | Married the actress Mamatha Rao, whom he met while shooting *Hosa Belaku* (1982); daughter Rakshitha became a film actor and reality-show judge[2](https://cinemaazi.com/people/b-c-gowrishankar) • [4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/through-the-looking-glass-kannada-cinematographers-who-turned-directors-later-on/photostory/83986719.cms) |
## Training and early career
Gowrishankar was born in [Bangalore](https://www.edgepedia.org/bangalore) to B. Channabasappa and Shashimukhi. He received a diploma in cinematography from Jayachamarajendra Polytechnic, an institution whose alumni include the cinematographers V. K. Murthy and Govind Nihalani, and then worked at Kanteerava Studios in Bangalore for two years.[2](https://cinemaazi.com/people/b-c-gowrishankar) • [5](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/kannada/cinematographer/b-c-gowrishankar) He debuted as a cinematographer with *Anuroopa* (1977) and followed it with *Spandana* (1978) and *Arivu* (1979), films that established him as a technician with a marked visual sense and attention to detail.[2](https://cinemaazi.com/people/b-c-gowrishankar)
## Awards
His first Karnataka State Film Award came in the 1977–78 cycle as Best Cinematographer (B&W) for *Spandana*, and a second B&W award followed for *Arivu* in 1979–80. He won the overall Best Cinematographer award for *Minchina Ota* (1980), *Dhruva Thare* (1985), *Mysore Mallige* (1992), and *Om* (1995), a total of six state awards spanning his career.[1](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/b-c-gowrishankar-profile/)
## Style and notable work
__Single-source lighting and filters__ were recurring tools. For the song *Deepavu ninnade gaaliyu ninnade* in *Mysore Mallige* (1992), directed by Nagabharana, he lit the scene with only a single lamp to reinforce the meaning of the lyrics; for the crime drama *Om* (1995) he used a variety of filters to render the film's dark underworld.[2](https://cinemaazi.com/people/b-c-gowrishankar) His picturization of the song *Mani mani manigodu daara* in *Janumada Jodi* (1996) was noted for capturing texture and mood.[2](https://cinemaazi.com/people/b-c-gowrishankar)
Gowrishankar shot *Pushpaka Vimana*, the dialogue-free 1987 film listed by some databases as silent, and *Ondu Muttina Kathe* in the same year.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1389583/) • [6](https://d1f72a6kha0tf8.cloudfront.net/bc-gowrishankar) He also worked outside Kannada: he shot [Kamal Haasan](https://www.edgepedia.org/kamal-haasan)'s Tamil films *Apoorva Sagodharargal* (1989) and *Michael Madana Kama Rajan* (1990), and the Hindi film *Phool* (1993) starring [Madhuri Dixit](https://www.edgepedia.org/madhuri-dixit) and [Sunil Dutt](https://www.edgepedia.org/sunil-dutt).[2](https://cinemaazi.com/people/b-c-gowrishankar) The Times of India describes him as one of the foremost technicians of Kannada cinema, collaborating with Shankar Nag, Singeetham Srinivas Rao, and other leading filmmakers on films including *Minchina Ota*, *Pushpak*, and *Om*.[4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/through-the-looking-glass-kannada-cinematographers-who-turned-directors-later-on/photostory/83986719.cms)
## Directing
In 1987 Gowrishankar moved into directing. His three credited directorial films were *Kendada Male* (1987), *Elu Sutthina Kote* (1988), and *Aata Bombata* (1990), the last starring [Shankar Nag](https://www.edgepedia.org/shankar-nag); he also wrote, taking story and screenplay credit on *Elu Sutthina Kote* and the screenplay for *Aata Bombata*.[1](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/b-c-gowrishankar-profile/) • [4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/through-the-looking-glass-kannada-cinematographers-who-turned-directors-later-on/photostory/83986719.cms) Across a career of around 25 years he accumulated a filmography described by Cinemaazi as over 90 films as a cinematographer and potential director; databases list between 63 and 82 cinematographer credits, with his final work on *Kanchana Ganga* (2004).[1](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/b-c-gowrishankar-profile/) • [2](https://cinemaazi.com/people/b-c-gowrishankar) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1389583/)
## Family
While shooting *Hosa Belaku* (1982), he met and married the Kannada actress Mamatha Rao, who appeared in films including *Antharala* and *Hosa Belaku*.[2](https://cinemaazi.com/people/b-c-gowrishankar) • [5](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/kannada/cinematographer/b-c-gowrishankar) Their daughter Rakshitha became a popular actor and reality-show judge.[4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/through-the-looking-glass-kannada-cinematographers-who-turned-directors-later-on/photostory/83986719.cms)
## Legacy
Gowrishankar died on 16 November 2004, at the age of 54, with his directing career cut short.[1](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/b-c-gowrishankar-profile/) • [2](https://cinemaazi.com/people/b-c-gowrishankar) • [5](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/kannada/cinematographer/b-c-gowrishankar) He is remembered for the range of his cinematographic experimentation and a creativity grounded in technical skill.[2](https://cinemaazi.com/people/b-c-gowrishankar)
## References
1. [B C Gowrishankar – ಬಿ.ಸಿ.ಗೌರಿಶಂಕರ್, Kannada Movies Info](https://kannadamoviesinfo.wordpress.com/b-c-gowrishankar-profile/)
2. [B C Gowrishankar – Cinematography, Cinemaazi](https://cinemaazi.com/people/b-c-gowrishankar)
3. [B.C. Gowrishankar, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1389583/)
4. [Through the Looking Glass: Kannada Cinematographers who turned directors later on, Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/through-the-looking-glass-kannada-cinematographers-who-turned-directors-later-on/photostory/83986719.cms)
5. [Kannada Cinematographer B C Gowrishankar Biography, NETTV4U](https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/kannada/cinematographer/b-c-gowrishankar)
6. [BC Gowrishankar, Moviebuff](https://d1f72a6kha0tf8.cloudfront.net/bc-gowrishankar)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Cinematographers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license