Binod Pradhan is an Indian cinematographer, director, and actor known for his notable work in the Indian film industry. He has worked on several popular and critically acclaimed films as a cinematographer. Some of his award-winning films include “1942 A Love Story,” “Devdas,” “Rang De Basanti,” “Mission Kashmir,” and “Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.”

Binod Pradhan grew up in the picturesque hill town of Kalimpong, West Bengal. He developed a passion for photography from a young age, receiving his first box camera from his father, who ran a photo studio. He would experiment with capturing black-and-white pictures and coloring them using water-paints. His father recognized his talent, and Binod’s photographs were displayed in the studio. By the age of 14, he was already handling operations at the studio.

However, he realized that the isolated life in Kalimpong was limiting his opportunities to pursue photography as a career. Binod learned about the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune, and he applied with his portfolio, eventually being admitted into a three-year course in cinematography.

Binod’s entry into the film industry came when film director Prem Sagar visited FTII to judge the students’ work. Impressed by Binod’s talent, Prem Sagar offered him a job as an assistant at Sagar Arts. Binod then worked as an assistant to Prem Sagar on films like “Charas” and “Ram Bharose.” However, he felt the need to establish his own identity in the industry, leading him to explore other options.

Renowned cinematographer A. K. Bir, who was working on the film “Gharonda,” offered Binod the position of assistant cameraman in charge of the zoom and focus department. This experience proved to be invaluable for his growth as a cinematographer.

Binod faced a period of limited work opportunities and frequently changing addresses. He took up sporadic assignments, including documentaries, ads, and corporate films, to further enhance his technical skills. During this time, he lived with a Kutchi family and met Dolly, with whom he fell in love.

Despite facing resistance from Dolly’s parents, Binod eloped with her back to Kalimpong. They later had two sons named Binay and Deep Pradhan.

Binod’s career took a positive turn when director Kundan Shah gathered his FTII friends to work on the film “Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro,” which went on to become a cult classic.