{{Short description|Indian cinematographer, documentary filmmaker}} {{BLP sources|date=October 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2026}} {{Use Indian English|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox person | name = Ranjan Palit | birth_date = | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | image = | spouse = Vasudha Palit (wife)<ref>{{Cite news|title = In front of the lens|author=Dr. Shoma A Chatterji |url=https://indiatogether.org/camera-reviews |publisher=India Together|date =22 March 2011}}</ref> | children = | occupation = cinematographer<br>documentary filmmaker | years_active = 1982–present | alma_mater = FTII | website = }} '''Ranjan Palit''' is an Indian cinematographer, documentary filmmaker, and director known for his work spanning nearly four decades.
==Career== Ranjan has received multiple national awards, including two for best cinematography, as well as awards for best film on social issues and best narration.<ref>{{Cite news|title = Ranjan Palit awards|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Ranjan-Palit/awards |publisher=Times of India| date = 8 October 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title = Cinematographer Ranjan Palit: Fascism is lurking in our living rooms|author=Priyanka Dasgupta |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/cinematographer-ranjan-palit-fascism-is-lurking-in-our-living-rooms/articleshow/50530416.cms |publisher=Times of India| date =17 January 2017}}</ref>
He is a two-time winner (1990, 1996) of the Golden Conch Award for best documentary film at the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF), in addition to several international awards.<ref>{{Cite news|title = In front of the lens|author=Dr. Shoma A Chatterji|url=https://indiatogether.org/camera-reviews |publisher=India Together | date =22 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title = Ranjan Palit (1956-present)|url=https://www.bengalfilmarchive.com/new-documentary-4.php?i=NTU=| date =8 October 2025}}</ref>
In 2021, he received a lifetime achievement award for documentary filmmaking at the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK).<ref>{{Cite news|title =IDSFFK: Lifetime achievement award for documentary filmmaker and cinematographer Ranjan Palit |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/idsffk-lifetime-achievement-award-for-documentary-filmmaker-and-cinematographer-ranjan-palit/article37790348.ece |work=The Hindu | date =1 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title =IDSFFK: Lifetime achievement award for documentary filmmaker and cinematographer Ranjan Palit | url=https://www.heraldgoa.in/cafe/75-but-forever-young/26393/|publisher=Herald Goa| date =23 September 2025}}</ref>
Ranjan conducts classes on cinematography and documentary filmmaking, including at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) and the Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute (SRFTI).<ref>{{Cite news|title = Cinematographer Ranjan Palit: Fascism is lurking in our living rooms|author=Priyanka Dasgupta |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/cinematographer-ranjan-palit-fascism-is-lurking-in-our-living-rooms/articleshow/50530416.cms |publisher=Times of India| date =17 January 2017}}</ref>
He has shot more than 100 documentaries and 20 feature films, in addition to numerous advertisements.<ref>{{Cite news|title = Ranjan Palit (1956-present)|url=https://www.bengalfilmarchive.com/new-documentary-4.php?i=NTU=| date =8 October 2025}} </ref>
He earned his diploma in cinematography from FTII in 1982.<ref>{{Cite news|title = A Magic Mystic Marketplace|url=https://www.yidff.jp/97/cat051/97c065-e.html| publisher=Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival Organizing Committee|date =1996}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title = In Ranjan Palit's debut feature 'Lord of the Orphans', fact, fiction and family history|author=Nandini Ramnath|url=https://scroll.in/reel/896280/in-ranjan-palits-debut-feature-lord-of-the-orphans-fact-fiction-and-family-history| publisher=Scroll |date =29 September 2018}}</ref>
==Personal== Ranjan's wife Vasudha Palit is a documentary filmmaker.{{citation needed|date=October 2025}}<ref>{{Cite news|title = In front of the lens|author=Dr. Shoma A Chatterji |url=https://indiatogether.org/camera-reviews |publisher=India Together|date =22 March 2011}}</ref>
==Filmography== '''As cinematographer''' – documentaries *''Such a Morning (1985)'' – additional cinematography *''Hamara Shahar - Bombay, Our City'' (1985) *''Babulal Bhuiya Ki Qurbani'' (1987)<ref>{{Cite news|title = In Ranjan Palit's debut feature 'Lord of the Orphans', fact, fiction and family history|author=Nandini Ramnath|url=https://scroll.in/reel/896280/in-ranjan-palits-debut-feature-lord-of-the-orphans-fact-fiction-and-family-history| publisher=Scroll |date =29 September 2018}}</ref> *''When Hamlet Went to Mizoram'' (1990)<ref>{{Cite news|title = When Hamlet Went to Mizoram|url=https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/shakespeare/search/index.php/title/av66504| publisher=Learning on Screen|date =8 October 2025}}</ref> *''Egaro Mile'' (1991)<ref>{{Cite news|title = Egaro Mile|url=https://www.arsenal-berlin.de/en/berlinale-forum/archive/program-archive/2019/archival-constellations/egaro-mile-1/| publisher=Arsenal Berlin|date =8 October 2025}}</ref> *''Kamlabai'' (1992)<ref>{{Cite news|title = In Ranjan Palit's debut feature 'Lord of the Orphans', fact, fiction and family history|author=Nandini Ramnath|url=https://scroll.in/reel/896280/in-ranjan-palits-debut-feature-lord-of-the-orphans-fact-fiction-and-family-history| publisher=Scroll |date =29 September 2018}}</ref> *''The Boy in the Branch'' (1993)<ref>{{Cite news|title = Best documentaries Youtube, Vimeo filmmaker Chaitanya Tamhane wants everyone to watch|url=https://www.filmcompanion.in/features/best-documentaries-youtube-vimeo-filmmaker-chaitanya-tamhane-wants-everyone-to-watch-the-disciple-court| publisher=Film Companion|date =20 April 2021}}</ref> *''Tales from the Planet Kolkota'' (1993)<ref>{{Cite news|title = Tales from the Planet Kolkota|url=https://www.idfa.nl/en/film/66f1b60c-36bc-4d1d-8cc4-05a5180cd0ea/tales-from-planet-kolkata/ | publisher=IDFA|date =8 October 2025}}</ref> *''Et cetera'' (1997)<ref>{{Cite news|title = Et cetera|url=https://mubi.com/en/films/et-cetera-1997/cast| publisher=MUBI|date =8 October 2025}}</ref> *''For Maya'' (1997)<ref>{{Cite news|title = Et cetera|url=https://mubi.com/en/films/et-cetera-1997/cast| publisher=MUBI|date =8 October 2025}}</ref> *''Skin Deep'' (1998) *''Karvaan'' (1999)<ref>{{Cite news|title = Karvaan|url=https://iffr.com/en/iffr/2000/films/karvaan|publisher=iffr| date =8 October 2025}}</ref> *''In the Forest Hangs a Bridge'' (1999)<ref>{{Cite news|title = In the Forest Hangs a Bridge|url=https://mubi.com/en/in/films/in-the-forest-hangs-a-bridge |publisher=MUBIiffr| date =8 October 2025}}</ref> *''Mukundo'' (2000) *''Almoriana'' (2000)<ref>{{Cite news|title = Vasudha Joshi (1957-present)|url=https://www.bengalfilmarchive.com/new-documentary-3.php?i=NzU=|publisher=Bengal Film Archive| date =8 October 2025}}</ref> *''Performing Death'' (2001) *''A Night of Prophecy'' (2002)<ref>{{Cite news|title = In Ranjan Palit's debut feature 'Lord of the Orphans', fact, fiction and family history|author=Nandini Ramnath|url=https://scroll.in/reel/896280/in-ranjan-palits-debut-feature-lord-of-the-orphans-fact-fiction-and-family-history| publisher=Scroll |date =29 September 2018}}</ref> *''The Men in the Tree'' (2002)<ref>{{Cite news|title = The Men in the Tree|url=https://iffr.com/en/iffr/2023/films/the-men-in-the-tree | publisher=Iffr|date =8 October 2025}}</ref> *''Life of Buddha'' (2003) *''Journeyings and Conversations'' - ''Kaya Poochhe Maya Se'' (2004)<ref>{{Cite news|title=Journeyings and conversations|url=https://www.idfa.nl/en/film/81d880c1-ce47-4641-9e28-f1dfa693e944/journeyings-and-conversations/|publisher=IDFA|date =8 October 2025}} </ref> *''Moustaches Unlimited'' (2005)<ref>{{Cite news|title = Moustaches, warts and all |url=https://archive.nepalitimes.com/news.php?id=14030|publisher=Nepal Times| date = 5 October 2007}}</ref> *''Flying in a Blue Dream'' (2006) *''The Lightning Testimonies'' (2007)<ref>{{Cite news|title = Remembrance of things to come|author=Rajni George|url=https://openthemagazine.com/art-culture/remembrance-of-things-to-come| publisher=Open magazine|date =29 August 2019}}</ref> *''Hope Dies Last in War'' (2007)<ref>{{Cite news|title = A saga of hope & despair|author=Shoma A. Chatterji|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20091108/spectrum/main6.htm| publisher=Tribune India |date =8 November 2009}}</ref> *''Jashn-e-Kashmir'' (2007)<ref>{{Cite news|title = Jashn-e-Kashmir |url=https://mubi.com/en/in/films/jashan-e-azadi | publisher=MUBI|date =8 October 2025}}</ref> *''To Catch the Wind'' (2008)<ref>{{Cite news|title = 'A warm lovely person who was passionate about so many things'|url=https://meghalayamonitor.com/a-warm-lovely-person-who-was-passionate-about-so-many-things/|publisher=Meghalaya Monitor | date = 26 January 2025}}</ref> *''Indian Hill Railways'' (2010)<ref>{{Cite news|title = BBC Four - Indian Hill Railways (Episode 1/3) - The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway ( IRFCA )|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpoQO9ggzC4 | publisher=Trains Unlimited|date =8 October 2025}}</ref> *''The Identities'' (2012) *''Celluloid Man'' (2012) *''Textures of Loss'' (2012)<ref>{{Cite news|title = Textures of Loss|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2364360/fullcredits/| publisher=IMDb|date =8 October 2025}}</ref> *''The Revolutionary Optimists'' (2013)<ref>{{Cite news|title = The Revolutionary Optimists|author=Sophia Stein|url=https://www.culturaldaily.com/the-revolutionary-optimists/| publisher=Cultural Daily |date =18 April 2013}}</ref> *''Ek Inquilab Aur Aaya: Lucknow 1920-1949'' (2017)<ref>{{Cite news|title=Ek Inquilab Aur Aaya: Lucknow 1920-1949 |url=https://psbt.org/films/ek-inquilab-aur-aayalucknow-1920-1949/| publisher=PSBT|date =2017}}</ref> *''Red Ribbon'' (2017) *''Mirzaa'' (2017) *''CzechMate: In Search of Jiri Menzel'' (2018) *''XO'' (2023)<ref>{{Cite news|title = XO (2023): The intricate crossroads of life|author=Dipankar Sarkar|url=https://northeastfilmjournal.com/xo-2023-the-intricate-crossroads-of-life| publisher=North East Film Journal|date =7 June 2024}}</ref> *''251'' (2023)<ref>{{Cite news|title = 251|url=https://www.instagram.com/debrajnaiya/p/CupGrKdv1zN/|date =8 October 2025}}</ref> *''The Lotus and the Swan'' (2023)<ref>{{Cite news|title = The Lotus and the Swan – A Television Documentary on Gurcharan Singh by Nirmal Chander |author=Partha Chatterjee|url=https://theaidem.com/the-lotus-and-the-swan-a-television-documentary-by-nirmal-chander/|publisher=The Aidem|date =1 August 2023}}</ref>
'''As cinematographer''' - TV series *''Nakaab'' (2021)<ref>{{Cite news|title = 'Nakaab' review: Sleaze and silliness in series about an actor's mysterious death|url=https://scroll.in/reel/1005484/nakaab-review-sleaze-and-silliness-in-series-about-an-actors-mysterious-death| publisher=Scroll|date =16 September 2021}}</ref> *''Freedom'' (2023)<ref>{{Cite news|title = In Ranjan Palit's new film, a 'watchdog society' filled with persecution and paranoia|author=Devarsi Ghosh|url=https://scroll.in/reel/1042929/in-ranjan-palits-new-film-a-watchdog-society-filled-with-persecution-and-paranoia| publisher=Scroll|date =31 January 2023}}</ref>
'''As cinematographer''' - feature films *''Way Back Home'' (2003) *''In Othello'' (2003) *''Byatikrami'' (2003) *''Dreaming Lhasa'' (2005) *''Karma'' (2006)<ref>{{Cite news|title = Even after 15 years of its release, Tsering Rhitar Sherpa's Karma is still impactful|author=Ankit Khadgi|url=https://kathmandupost.com/movie-review/2020/11/28/even-after-15-years-of-its-release-tsering-rhitar-sherpa-s-karma-is-still-impactful| publisher=The Kathmandu |date =28 November 2020}}</ref> *''7 Khoon Maaf'' (2011) *''Aparajita Tumi'' (2012) *''Shyamal Uncle Turns off the Lights'' (2012) *''Pataakha'' (2018) *''22 Yards'' (2018) *''Purbo Poschim Dokkin'' (2019) *''Ghost Stories'' (2020) *''Tangra Blues'' (2021) *''Nine Hills One Valley'' (2022)<ref>{{Cite news|title = Paban Kumar's Nine Hills One Valley set for World premiere|url=https://www.thesangaiexpress.com/Encyc/2021/11/21/IMPHAL-Nov-20Haobam-Paban-Kumar-s-second-narrative-feature-in-Manipuri-and-Tangkhul-language-Nin.amp.html| publisher=The Sangai Express|date =21 November 2021}}</ref> *''Bhuban Babur Smartphone'' (2022) *''Zwigato'' (2022) *''Tees'' (2024)<ref>{{Cite news|title = Dibakar Banerjee on his shelved film 'Tees': 'Not so futuristic after all'|author=Nandini Ramnath|url=https://scroll.in/reel/1074226/dibakar-banerjee-on-his-shelved-film-tees-not-so-futuristic-after-all| publisher=Scroll |date = 9 October 2024}}</ref>
'''As director''' – documentaries *''Bhiwandi'' – FTII student diploma film<ref>{{Cite news|title = A Magic Mystic Marketplace|url=https://www.yidff.jp/97/cat051/97c065-e.html| publisher=Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival Organizing Committee|date =1996}}</ref> *''Voices from Baliapal'' (1988) – co-directed with Vasudha Joshi<ref>{{Cite news|title = Vasudha Joshi (1957-present)|url=https://www.bengalfilmarchive.com/new-documentary-3.php?i=NzU=|publisher=Bengal Film Archive| date =8 October 2025}}</ref> *''Follow the Rainbow'' (1991) – co-directed with Vasudha Joshi<ref>{{Cite news|title = Vasudha Joshi (1957-present)|url=https://www.bengalfilmarchive.com/new-documentary-3.php?i=NzU=|publisher=Bengal Film Archive| date =8 October 2025}}</ref> *''A Magic Mystic Marketplace'' - ''Abak Jaye Here'' (1996)<ref>{{Cite news|title = A Magic Mystic Marketplace|url=https://www.yidff.jp/97/cat051/97c065-e.html| publisher=Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival Organizing Committee|date =1996}}</ref> *''Forever Young'' (2008)<ref>{{Cite news|title = In Ranjan Palit's debut feature 'Lord of the Orphans', fact, fiction and family history|author=Nandini Ramnath|url=https://scroll.in/reel/896280/in-ranjan-palits-debut-feature-lord-of-the-orphans-fact-fiction-and-family-history| publisher=Scroll |date =29 September 2018}}</ref> *''In Camera – Diaries of a Documentary Cameraman'' (2010)<ref>{{Cite news|title = In Ranjan Palit's debut feature 'Lord of the Orphans', fact, fiction and family history|author=Nandini Ramnath|url=https://scroll.in/reel/896280/in-ranjan-palits-debut-feature-lord-of-the-orphans-fact-fiction-and-family-history| publisher=Scroll |date =29 September 2018}}</ref> *''D'Cruz and Me (2018)''<ref>{{Cite news|title = D'Cruz and Me |url=https://scroll.in/reel/896280/in-ranjan-palits-debut-feature-lord-of-the-orphans-fact-fiction-and-family-history| publisher=PSBT|date = 2018}}</ref>
'''As director''' - feature films *''Lord of the Orphans'' (2020)<ref>{{Cite news|title = In Ranjan Palit's debut feature 'Lord of the Orphans', fact, fiction and family history|author=Nandini Ramnath|url=https://scroll.in/reel/896280/in-ranjan-palits-debut-feature-lord-of-the-orphans-fact-fiction-and-family-history| publisher=Scroll |date =29 September 2018}}</ref> *''A Knock on the Door'' (2023)<ref>{{Cite news|title=A Knock on the Door|url=https://iffr.com/en/iffr/2023/films/a-knock-on-the-door | publisher=Iffr|date =2023}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0657707/ Ranjan Palit at IMDb]
Category:Hindi film cinematographers Category:Bengali film cinematographers Category:Best Cinematography National Film Award winners Category:20th-century Indian photographers Category:Indian documentary filmmakers Category:Film and Television Institute of India alumni Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people)