.webp "Safat Ali, Studio 2000")
Farhan Israeli / Jodhpur
I met Safat Ali at "The Real Talk," and it was a memorable experience. Safat Ali had turned photography into an art form, won awards from all over the world, and, therefore, his presence overawed me.
However, Safat turned out to be a compassionate human being who offered a sensitive perspective on life.
In our conversation, he shared his creative journey, the secrets of photography, the complexities of the industry, and the stories behind some of his iconic shots.
Safat Ali's Rajasthani women
Like the death of Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan, who also belonged to Rajasthan, Safat Ali's death also sent shockwaves across the state.
Safat Ali's photographs brought rural Rajasthan alive in photographs and showed these to the world. His images of people, art, and the heritage of rural Rajasthan won him many awards and fame.
Safat Ali's Elderly Man
Safat Ali passed away on 28 July after a prolonged illness in Kochi, Kerala. He was first admitted to a private hospital in Ahmedabad, but when his condition worsened, he was shifted to Kerala.
His elder brother and a member of the Rajasthan State Consumer Commission, Liaqat Ali Umas, said that Safat was very dedicated to art since childhood - his journey, which started with drawing, reached the international heights of photography.
Safat Ali's Rajasthani Farmer
Safat Ali's art was not limited to the camera; he earned fame worldwide with his work in wildlife, portrait, nature, and story photography. He participated in national and international competitions and won medals.
He worked as a photography assistant on Bollywood films. His short film 'Butcher' was appreciated in many international film festivals.
Safat Ali's photograph
The establishment of Studio 2000 in Jodhpur became an important milestone in his career. This studio was famous for wedding and portrait photography.
His greatest legacy is the young photographers he nurtured and promoted. Mohammed Sakir Munna, Mohammed Sharif, Shaan, Iddu, Sufi, Aamir, Shamsher, Sameer, and Tazeem are some of the young photographers whom he trained and are earning a name.
Safat Ali's commercial photograph
The wife, Asifa Sultana, is the principal of a government higher secondary school. He is survived by his son, Sejan Ali, a VFX animation artist, and daughter, Ira Ali, a psychology student.
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He was laid to rest at Jodhpur's Ashiya Bai Cemetery (Fifth Road). Hundreds of people attended his funeral.
.webp "Justice GR Swaminathan")
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