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Satyajit Ray was born in Calcutta on May 2, 1921. His father, Late Sukumar Ray was an eminent poet and writer in the history of Bengali literature. In 1940, after receiving his degree in science and economics from Calcutta University, he attended Tagore's Viswa-Bharati University. His first movie Pather Panchali (1955) won several International Awards and set Ray as a world-class director. He died on April twenty-third, 1992.- Director
- Cinematographer
- Producer
Bimal Roy (July 12, 1909 - January 8, 1966) was an Indian film director. He is particularly noted for his realistic and socialistic films such as Do Bigha Zamin (1953), Bandini (1963), Biraj Bahu (1954), Madhumati (1958) which he employed to portray realism. He won a number of awards throughout his career, including eleven Filmfare Awards, two National Film Awards, and the International Prize of the Cannes Film Festival. Madhumati won 9 Filmfare Awards in 1958, a record held for 37 years.Nascido em Bangladesh- Actor
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Considered to be a man ahead of his time, Guru Dutt was one of the greatest icons of commercial Indian cinema. Although he made less than ten films, they are believed to be the best to come from Bollywood's Golden Age, known both for their ability to reach out to the common man and for their artistic and lyrical content, and they went on to become trend-setters that have influenced Bollywood ever since. But for all his genius, there was a shroud of tragedy that overshadowed his career and life.
Dutt was born in Mysore on July ninth, 1925, the eldest son of a headmaster and a housewife who was a part-time writer. As a child, he had to deal with a strained relationship between his parents, hostility from his mother's family, and the death of a close relative. He received his early education in Calcutta, and in 1941, he joined the Uday Shankar India Culture Center, where he received basic training in the performing arts under dance maestro Uday Shankar. Afterward, in 1944, he had a short stint as a telephone operator.
Dutt entered the Indian film industry in 1944, working as a choreographer in Prabhat Studios. There, he became friends with Dev Anand (whom he met when they worked on the film Hum Ek Hain (1946)) and Rehman Khan. These early friendships helped ease his way into Bollywood. After Prabhat went under in 1947, Dutt moved to Mumbai, where he worked with the leading directors of the time: Amiya Chakrabarty in Girls' School (1949) and Gyan Mukherjee in Sangram (1946).
He got his big break when Dev Anand invited him to direct a film in his newly formed company Navketan Films. Dutt made his directorial debut with Gamble (1951), which starred Dev Anand. The film was an urban crime thriller that paid homage to classic film noir. However, it also carried its own elements that ensured it was not a remake of a Hollywood film: notably, songs were used to further the story's narrative, and close-up shots were used frequently. The film was a success and became a trend-setter for future crime films. On the personal front, Dutt met his wife, playback singer Geeta Dutt (née Roy), during the song-recording sessions of Gamble (1951), and they married May twenty-sixth, 1953.
Dutt's next releases were Jaal (1952) and Baaz (1953). Dutt made his acting debut in the latter film, which he also directed. But while they were average successes, he finally tasted success with Aar-Paar (1954), another crime thriller, but with a far more polished story and look. Then came Mr. & Mrs. '55 (1955), a frothy romantic comedy focusing on women's' rights; and C.I.D. (1956), yet another crime thriller in which Waheeda Rehman made her debut.
His next films, Thirst (1957) and Paper Flowers (1959), are regarded as his best work. Thirst (1957) was his masterpiece, about a poet trying to achieve success in a hypocritical, uncaring world. It was a box-office hit and is ranked as his greatest film ever. In contrast, Paper Flowers (1959) was a miserable flop at the box office: the semi-autobiographical story of a tragic love affair set against the backdrop of the film industry was deemed too morbid for the audience to swallow and went right over audience's heads. Although in later years the film received critical acclaim for its cinematography and has gained a cult following, Dutt, who had put his soul into the film, was devastated over its failure and never directed another film.
Although he had sworn off directing, Dutt continued to produce and act in films, notably the period dramas Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960) and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962). The latter film, interestingly, is controversial because it is debated whether Dutt had ghost-directed the film. Dutt's personal life had become complicated: he had gotten romantically involved with his protégé Waheeda Rehman and his wife Geeta Dutt had separated from him as a result. Rehman too had distanced herself from him. Also, Dutt, an ambitious person, felt he had achieved too much too soon professionally - there was nothing better to be achieved, and this caused a vacuum in his life. Unable to cope with all the trauma and emptiness, he took to heavy drinking.
On October tenth, 1964, Dutt was found dead in his bed. The cause of death was deemed a combination of alcohol and sleeping pills, although a debate still lingers over whether his death was by accident or a successful suicide attempt. Geeta Dutt suffered a nervous break-down as a result of his death and also took to alcohol, eventually drinking herself to death, dying in 1972 as a result of cirrhosis of the liver.
His death was an irreplaceable loss to Indian cinema. And it was a tragic twist of fate that his films, most of which were discounted in his life-time, would be regarded as cult classics after his death. Guru Dutt would always be known, even if posthumously, as the Guru of Bollywood's Golden Age and one of the world's most important international auteurs.- Director
- Producer
- Actress
Accomplished Film Director/Writer/Producer Mira Nair was born in India and educated at Delhi University and at Harvard. She began her film career as an actor and then turned to directing award-winning documentaries, including So Far From India and India Cabaret. Her debut feature film, Salaam Bombay! was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1988; it won the Camera D'Or (for best first feature) and the Prix du Publique (for most popular entry) at the Cannes Film Festival and 25 other international awards. Her next film, Mississippi Masala, an interracial love story set in the American South and Uganda, starring Denzel Washington and Sarita Choudhury, won three awards at the Venice Film Festival including Best Screenplay and The Audience Choice Award. Subsequent films include The Perez Family (with Marisa Tomei, Anjelica Huston, Alfred Molina and Chazz Palminteri), about an exiled Cuban family in Miami; and the sensuous Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love, which she directed and co-wrote. Nair directed My Own Country based on Dr. Abraham Verghese's best-selling memoir about a young immigrant doctor dealing with the AIDS epidemic. Made in 1998, My Own Country starred Naveen Andrews, Glenne Headly, Marisa Tomei, Swoosie Kurtz, and Hal Holbrook, and was awarded the NAACP award for best fiction feature. Nair returned to the documentary form in August 1999 with The Laughing Club of India, which was awarded The Special Jury Prize in the Festival International de Programmes Audiovisuels 2000. In the summer of 2000, Nair shot Monsoon Wedding in 30 days, a story of a Punjabi wedding starring Naseeruddin Shah and an ensemble of Indian actors. Winner of the Golden Lion at the 2001 Venice Film Festival, Monsoon Wedding also won a Golden Globe nomination for Best Foreign Language Film and opened worldwide to tremendous critical and commercial acclaim. Nair's next feature was an HBO original film, Hysterical Blindness. Set in working class New Jersey in 1987, the film stars Uma Thurman, Juliette Lewis, Gena Rowlands. Thurman and Lewis play single women looking for love in all the wrong places, while Rowlands, who plays Thurman's mother, adds to her daughter's hysteria when she finds Mr. Right in Ben Gazarra. The film received great critical acclaim and the highest ratings for HBO, garnering an audience of 15 million, a Golden Globe for Uma Thurman, and 3 Emmy Awards. Following the tragic events of September 11, 2001, Nair joined a group of 11 renowned filmmakers, each commissioned to direct a film that was 11 minutes, 9 seconds and one frame long. Nair's film is a retelling of real events in the life of the Hamdani family in Queens, whose eldest son was missing after September 11, and was then accused by the media of being a terrorist. 11.09.01 is the true story of a mother's search for her son who did not return home on that fateful day. In May 2003, Nair helmed the Focus Features production of the Thackeray classic, Vanity Fair, a provocative period tale set in post-colonial England, in which Reese Witherspoon plays the lead, Becky Sharp. The film is scheduled to release in Fall 2004. Nair's upcoming projects include Tony Kushner's Homebody/Kabul for HBO, and Hari Kunzru's The Impressionist, and there are also plans to take Monsoon Wedding to Broadway. Mirabai Films is establishing an annual filmmaker's laboratory, Maisha, which will be dedicated to the support of visionary screenwriters and directors in East Africa and India. The first lab, which is only for screenwriters, will be launched in August 2005 in Kampala, Uganda.- Director
- Actor
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Shekhar Kapur was born on 6 December 1945 in Lahore, Punjab, British India [now Pakistan]. He is a director and actor, known for Elizabeth (1998), Bandit Queen (1994) and The Four Feathers (2002). He was previously married to Suchitra Krishnamoorthi.Nascido no Paquistão- Writer
- Producer
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The man who revolutionized Tamil-language cinema, Mani Ratnam is the biggest director in south India and one of the most respected directors in all of India. Each of his films contain its own unique style, with beautifully photographed songs and unique back-lighting. However, his films contain substance as well as style--Ratnam has dealt with a wide variety of topics, from the classic Indian love story to political thrillers.
He was born in Madras in 1956. Filmmaking was in his blood; he was the son of film producer 'Venus Gopalratnam' and his brother was G. Venkateswaran, a film distributor turned producer. Ironically, however, he studied at Madras University and received a management degree at the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies in Mumbai, and had initially started out as a management consultant. His first film, Pallavi Anu Pallavi (1983), starring Anil Kapoor, didn't make many waves, although it won the State Award from Karnataka that year, but even though he made two films in Tamil and one in Malayalam, nothing worked for him until he broke through with Mouna Ragam (1986). Starring Revathi, the film told the tale of a woman who, although forced into an arranged marriage, chooses to maintain a platonic relationship with her husband. The film was noted for its sophisticated approach and execution of an extremely sensitive topic.
His next film, Nayakan (1987), was also arguably his greatest. A take-off on Francis Ford Coppola' legendary The Godfather (1972), it established Ratnam as the leading director of Tamil-language Cinema and won its leading actor Kamal Haasan the National Award for Best Actor. The film draws on 30 years of Tamil Nadu's celebrity images and directly played to the anti-Hindi feelings of Tamil Nadu when the protagonist, beaten up, tells the Hindi policeman in Bombay, "If I ever hit you, you will die!"
Then came the best of his early work - Agni Natchathiram (1988), Geethanjali (1989), and Anjali (1990). The first was a tale of conflict between two step-brothers. Shot with glossy camera work, the film resembled a cross between an advertisement and a music video, and set a trend for a whole new visual style in Tamil-language Cinema. The next, Geethanjali (1989), shot in Ooty to create a soft and poetic mood, was a touching love story between two terminally ill people with less than six months left. The third, Anjali (1990), about a disabled child brought back to her family with two normal children had been chosen by India to be sent to the Oscars for Best Foreign-language Film, but it did not receive a nomination. The next year saw his first, and only collaboration so far, with the Tamil superstar Rajni Kant in the film Thalapathi (1991). It also starred Mamooty, along side a host of other actor. This star studded film was a gritty tale of an orphan who grows up to become a notorious gang member in Chennai. The story was inspired by the great epic of Mahabharata.
It was Roja (1992) that made Ratnam a household name all over India. A patriotic love story set against the backdrop of Kashmiri terrorism, the film was dubbed in Hindi and became a huge national success. It enforced Ratnam as a director of style and substance, as well as proving a highly auspicious debut for the now-acclaimed music director A.R. Rahman, whom Ratnam had discovered. It helped that India's at-the-time election commissioner T. N. Seshan took the rare step of officially endorsing the film. Thiruda Thiruda (1993), a remake of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) was a misfire, but Ratnam bounced back with Bombay (1995), a politically charged romance between a Hindu man and a Muslim woman during the 1993 riots in Mumbai. The film underwent some controversy due to its slightly anti-Muslim viewpoint, but it contributed widely to the success of the film.
Continuing his political obsession, Ratnam made Iruvar (1997), based on the MGR-Karunanidhi affair, and Dil Se.. (1998), which starred superstars Manisha Koirala and Shah Rukh Khan. The latter was Ratnam's first Hindi-language film. Based on the northeast Indian problem, it told the story of a radio executive and a revolutionary. It had an excellent cast, beautifully crafted scenes, and most of all one of A.R. Rahman's greatest tunes--but did not go down too well with the audience, who hailed it as a strange and confusing film that headed nowhere. However, today it is held as ahead of its time, being that it was shot pre-9/11, and is now hailed as a contemporary classic.
He returned to familiar ground with Alai Payuthey (2000), which tackled the story of a couple in love that goes through the trials and tribulations of marriage. His subsequent film, Kannathil Muthamittal (2002), which told the tale of an adopted girl meeting her terrorist mother, saw Ratnam back in form as one of the greatest storytellers in Indian Cinema. His next film, Yuva (2004), saw Ratnam return to Hindi-language cinema after six years, but in spite of some fine flourishes, the film largely failed to work. However, don't take him too lightly: he is sure to return with something new next time....- Director
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Deepa Mehta is a transnational artist and a screenwriter, director, and producer whose work has been called "courageous", "provocative" and "breathtaking". Her visually lush and emotionally resonating films have played at every major international film festival; receiving numerous awards and accolades, and have been distributed around the world. Deepa was born in India and received a degree in philosophy from the University of New Delhi before immigrating to Canada. She began her career making documentaries in India.
In 1991, Deepa's first feature film Sam & Me, which stars Om Puri, won a Special Jury Mention in the Camera D'Or section at the Cannes Film Festival. Between 1992-1994 she directed two episodes of The Young Indiana Jones, produced by George Lucas for ABC. In 1993, Deepa directed her second feature film Camilla, a Canada-UK co-pro starring Jessica Tandy, Bridget Fonda, Elias Koteas, Maury Chaykin, Graham Greene, and Hume Cronyn. Fire, which Deepa wrote and directed, is the first film in her Elemental Trilogy (Fire, Earth, Water). Fire opened Perspective Canada at the 1996 Toronto International Film Festival, where it was runner-up for the People's Choice Most Popular Film Award. It played at the New York Film Festival and won many awards worldwide, including the Audience Award for Best Canadian Film at the Vancouver International Festival, the Special Jury Prize at the Mannheim-Heidelberg International Film Festival and Silver Hugo Awards for Best Direction and Best Actress in Chicago.
Earth, based on Bapsi Sidhwa's acclaimed novel about Partition, Cracking India, is the second film in the Elemental Trilogy. It premiered as a Special Presentation at the 1998 Toronto International Film Festival, and won the Prix Premiere du Public at the Festival du Film Asiatique de Deauville and the Critics' Award at the Verona Schermi d'Amore International Film Festival. Bollywood/Hollywood was a change of pace. Written and directed by Deepa, it is a lighthearted, affectionate comedy about two mismatched lovers. It opened Perspective Canada at the 2002 Toronto International Film Festival and was a tremendous crossover box office success. It remains one of the top 10 grossing English language Canadian movies. In 2003 Deepa co-wrote and directed the Canada-UK co-pro The Republic of Love, based on a Carol Shields novel.
After a disrupted and hazardous production history Deepa's final film in the Elemental Trilogy Water opened the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival, and was the first Canadian film acquired by US distributor Fox Searchlight. Water is a powerful, hauntingly tragic story, set in Benares (Varanasi) about a child widow who at the age of eight is forced to enter a house of widows where she has to live for the rest of her life. The movie was to have been shot in India in 2000, but Hindu fundamentalists fomented riots, burnt sets, and issued death threats against the director and actors, forcing production to shut down and the filmmakers to leave the country. Water was successfully remounted in Sri Lanka and completed shooting in June 2004, and features many of India's most renowned actors.
Water was an enormous success. It was nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film at the 79th Annual Academy Awards, and has screened at festivals around the world, winning many awards, and remains an audience favourite. The Vancouver Film Critics Circle named Deepa Mehta the Best Canadian Director of 2006. This fall (2015) is the 10th anniversary of Water's launch.
In 2006 Deepa made a documentary about domestic violence in Toronto's immigrant families called Let's Talk About It, which continues to be used in community outreach programs. She then thematically segued into the feature film Heaven On Earth, which explores arranged marriages and isolation. Starring Preity Zinta, the film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2008. It was awarded a Silver Hugo for Best Actress at the Chicago International Film Festival, and received the Best Screenplay Award at the Dubai International Film Festival. It also won the Youth Jury Award at the Schermi d'Amore Film Festival in Verona and the Audience Award at the River to River Florence Indian Film Festival.
In 2012, Deepa completed her epic cinematic adaptation of Salman Rushdie's famous novel about the history of India in the 20th century, Midnight's Children. A novel that won three Booker prizes. The movie, with 127 speaking parts, and covering five distinct time periods from 1917-1977, was a vast, ambitious undertaking and has screened all over the world, including the Telluride Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, Vancouver International Film Festival, and the BFI London Film Festival. Midnight's Children was chosen as the Best Feature Film of 2013 at the Directors Guild of Canada's Awards.
Deepa's work as an artist, as a progressive voice about social issues, and her generous mentorship have often been recognized. She has received numerous honorary degrees and many awards and honours, among them: The Life of Distinction Award from the Canadian Centre of Diversity, The Excellence in the Arts Award from the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, and the Woman of Distinction, President's Award from the YMCA. She is a recipient of the Governor General's Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award for Film. Most recently, in 2013, Deepa was appointed as an officer to the Order of Canada, Canada's highest civilian honour, for her work as a "groundbreaking screenwriter, director, and producer." She is also a recipient of the province of Ontario's highest honour, the Order of Ontario.- Producer
- Editor
- Writer
Sanjay Leela Bhansali is among the most celebrated Film Makers of the Bollywood. Having worked with the biggest stars of Indian Film Industry, Bhansali is the most sought-for director of the Bollywood. He started his career as an assistant director to Vidhu Vinod Chopra. If one has to name his 'niche' genre, it would definitely be Mega-Musicals. From Devdas to Bajirao Mastani, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam to Saawariya, love of cinema and music, proclaims through every movie he writes or direct.
His 1999 Romantic-Drama, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, starring heartthrob duo Salman-Aishwarya became one of the most critically cherished movies of the Genre. Amitabh Bachan, starrer Black was equally appreciated by the critics. But he made his presence felt with 2002 adaptation of the Hindi literary masterpiece, Devdas, for a silver-screen experience. He received a nomination for Best Foreign Film at BAFTA for the movie.
Devdas has become a name synonymous with a passionate, intense love that does not find consummation. This similar theme has been repeated numerous time in the literary work. And one of them is Romeo & Juliet. He translated this classic tale into Indian Folk Idiom.- Cinematographer
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Santosh Sivan was born on 8 February 1964 in India. He is a cinematographer and director, known for Asoka (2001), Halo (1996) and The Terrorist (1998).- Actor
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His passion for cinema immediately draws your attention, making you realize that Ashutosh Gowariker would not have been anywhere except behind the camera, however tempting the choice. An actor who took to film direction after almost a decade in front of the camera, Ashutosh has acted in Hindi films, Marathi films, television serials and commercials and although the transition from acting to direction was difficult, it was destined.
His diverse exposure as an actor whetted his appetite to helm a project, taking on the directorial reign for the first time with Pehla Nasha (First Love), a murder mystery in 1993. Though the film did not do very well at the box office, it helped Ashutosh find firm ground as a director. He followed this up with Baazi (The Game), a thriller, in 1995, which enjoyed average success, but led Ashutosh on a journey in search of a better script.
With Lagaan, which released in 2001, Ashutosh veered away from most norms in the making of a mainstream commercial Hindi film - a period drama, set in rural India; it's language a dialect; most of its characters were dressed in loincloths; it included a British cast; it was a musical, and a sports film put together! It was produced by Aamir Khan who also starred in it. Lagaan was nominated at the Academy Awards in the Best Film in a Foreign Language category for 2001 and earned plaudits worldwide for its meticulous execution and evocative performances.
His fourth feature film, Swades, was written, produced and directed by him, starring Shah Rukh Khan. The film released worldwide in 2004 to critical acclaim and attained huge success at the international box office.
February 2008 saw the release of his most ambitious magnum opus Jodhaa Akbar, an epic romance. This brought together two of the most respected actors, Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. The film won the Best Foreign Film in the International Film Festival of Sao Paulo in Brazil, South America and the Grand Prix Best Film and Best Actor in the International Film Festival Golden Minbar in Kazan, Russia, as well as sweeping all of the Indian Film Awards.
His next film saw him take on a new genre with What's Your Raashee?, being Ashutosh's first romantic comedy, based on the Gujarati novel Kimball Ravenswood by Madhu Rye. The film featured Harman Baweja and Priyanka Chopra.
Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey is a period thriller starring Abhishek Bachchan and Deepika Padukone, based on the book 'DO and DIE: The Chittagong Uprising 1930-34' by Manini Chatterjee.
His last release, Mohenjo Daro, set in the Indus Valley Civilization stars Hrithik Roshan and debutant Pooja Hegde along with a stellar supporting cast including Kabir Bedi and Arunoday Singh.
Ashutosh has now engaged in the filming of his newest magnum opus Panipat, which is slated to release on December 6th, 2019. Based on the legendary third battle of Panipat, which took place on 14th January 1761 between the Marathas and King of Afghanistan, Panipat promises to be his grandest outing yet.- Writer
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Pan Nalin is a writer, director, and producer of fiction and non-fiction movies. He is a self-taught filmmaker who achieved worldwide critical and commercial triumph with his debut feature Samsara (Miramax/Disney).
His latest movie; Last Film Show (Chhello Show) was India's Official Entry to the 95th Oscars. And it went on to be shortlisted by The Academy for the nomination as the Best International Film at the 95th Oscars.
Pan Nalin's new project Satori Trilogy has been recently optioned by Lucas Foster (Ford vs. Ferrari, Law Abiding Citizen, Jumper, Man on Fire, Mr. and Mrs. Smith...) Satori Trilogy is a high-voltage action-adventure epic about an Asian superhero. Satori Trilogy is now in development, and Lucas Foster is attached to produce it.
Pan Nalin has established himself as a true auteur that adapts to different genres and styles of filmmaking and has made movies in English, French, Hindi, Gujarati, Japanese, and Tibetan.
Pan Nalin's Last Film Show (Samuel Goldwyn Films / Shochiku) won the Best Picture, Golden Spike, at Seminci 66th Valladolid International Film Festival 2021 in Spain, Audience Choice Award First-Runner-up at the Tribeca Film Festival 2021, and Audience Favorite Award at the Mill Valley Film Festival. It also won The Snow Leopard for The Best Picture at the Los Angeles's Asia World Film Festival. The last Film Show is currently being theatrically released worldwide.
Pan Nalin won Audience Choice Award First-Runner-up for Angry Indian Goddesses (Netflix /Mongrel International) at the Toronto International Film Festival and Prix du Public at the Rome Film Festival. Since then Angry Indian Goddesses has been theatrically released in 40 countries and now streaming on Netflix worldwide.
Nalin was born in a remote village near Gir Forest in Gujarat, and he left his home at an early age to pursue filmmaking. He studied Fine Arts at the M.S. University of Baroda, where he adopted his artist's pseudonym "Pan Nalin." A year later Nalin went to study Design at the prestigious NID (National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad). While studying at NID, he discovered cinema beyond Bollywood movies. He saw for the first time Hollywood movies. Soon after he started managing NID's film club where he programmed movies from all over the world. He was one of the first students in the city to write and promote cinema from French New Wave, Italian Neo-Realism, German Expressionism, American Indies, and Hollywood Classics. Also while still at NID, Nalin started making movie clips with 16mm and 8mm cameras. Nalin worked as a videographer on Indian weddings to finance his passion for films.
After NID Nalin moved to Mumbai where he made TV commercials and corporate films. Soon after Nalin combined his love for travel with moviemaking and started filming documentaries for BBC, Discovery Channel, National Geographic, Canal Plus, and other leading international TV networks. His multiple award-winning feature documentary Ayurveda Art of Being (Kino / Pandora) was theatrically released worldwide with major success.
But making a debut feature with creative freedom was nearly an impossible task within the structure of the Indian movie industry. So Nalin went around the globe looking for funds for his first feature Samsara. After seven years of struggle, broke and homeless, Nalin was introduced to legendary producer Karl Baumgartner who fell in love with the screenplay of Samsara. Within a year Samsara went on to the floor, and it was produced by Baumgartner's company Pandora Film as a Germany-France-Italy-India coproduction.
Samsara premiered at Toronto International Film Festival and on the same day, Harvey Weinstein acquired the movie for Miramax. Not only that, within the same week Samsara was acquired by 40 other countries. Samsara went on to become a massive commercial and critical success worldwide and won dozens of international awards. To date, it remains the highest-grossing Indian Independent film.
What followed was a first-ever India-Japan-France-Germany coproduction, Valley Of Flowers, where Nalin set out to make an "Eastern" epic love story with an Asian soul. Valley Of Flowers (TF1 International) went on to become a major underground hit with cult, critical and commercial success worldwide. Valley of Flowers was awarded Best Picture at IFFLA Los Angles, also four nominations at IAAC New York, including The Best Picture and The Best Director.
Nalin's feature documentary Faith Connections was an Official Selection at Toronto, won the Audience Choice Award at IFFLA Los Angeles and has been theatrically released worldwide.
Nalin's tragi-comedy screenplay Slightly Sane, won the CJ Entertainment's Award for The Best International Project at Asia Film Market in Busan, South Korea.
Nalin recently completed The Disappearance of Eva Hansen, a spiritual thriller set in the Himalayas. It's the first New Zealand - India coproduction starring David Wenham and Emmanuelle Beart.
Pan Nalin is currently developing English language features and series with Gotham Group in Los Angeles.
Other English language picture in the line-up includes an epic biopic Buddha The Warrior Within. Nalin also created Greeks, a multi-season drama TV series in association with producer Fred Fuchs, which is in development. Nalin has been scripting Paris set spy-thriller Codename: Madeleine inspired by the real-life story of Noor Inayat Khan during WWII.
Pan Nalin has been a member of the Jury at many leading International Film Festivals. Nalin has been often invited to seminars, panel discussions, and conclaves. Nalin has also conducted Masterclasses on film direction and screenwriting.
Pan Nalin is a member of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (Oscars), in its prestigious Director's Branch of Class of 2022. Nalin is also a member of the French Academy of Arts and Techniques of Cinema (Cesars) in its coveted Directors wing.- Writer
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Rajkumar Hirani is an Indian film director and editor. Hirani has directed five Hindi films, including Munna Bhai M.B.B.S., Lage Raho Munnabhai, 3 Idiots, PK and Sanju, and all of which have been commercial and critical successes. Most of which have won several awards, including the national awards. Among his awards, include 11 Filmfare Awards. He is the founder and owns the production house Rajkumar Hirani Films.- Producer
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Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra is a director, writer and producer who established Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra Pictures (Romp) in India. Romp has cultivated in them an attitude to pioneer the way for the new wave and new age cinema from India, by identifying talent (writers & directors) from India and telling Indian stories to the world.
Rakeysh has written, produced and directed the film Rang de Basanti (Color of Sacrifice) (2006), with an ensemble of Indian and International cast. Rang De Basanti won 4 National Awards (President's Medals), was India's official entry to the Oscars 2006- 2007 It was also nominated by British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) in the Best Foreign language film category 06-07.
Rakeysh went onto make Delhi -6 (2009) which is set against the backdrop of the caste and religious divide of the Indian social fabric. Delhi -6 has achieved tremendous critical acclaim and was an official selection at the prestigious Venice Film Festival . It won two National Awards (President Of India Medals). The Variety has termed it as un-bollywood , and "a step forward from Rang De Basanti , ushering an era of new age Indian cinema."
In 2011, Rakeysh's documentary film Bollywood: The Greatest Love Story (which was co-directed by Jeffery Zimbalist) was an official selection at the Cannes 2011 to celebrate 100 years of Indian Cinema. It is a docu feature, an avantgarde take on how Indian cinema has reflected the changing socio-political landscape since India got independence from the British Raj.
His film Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013) was set in the backdrop of when India gained freedom from the British in 1947, and the bloody ethnic violence that led to the massacre of thousands and the displacement of millions. This story is about the triumph of the undying human spirit, based on the life of the greatest Indian Olympian Milkha Singh , also known as "The flying Sikh". The film made a clean sweep at all the popular film awards in India, including two National Film Awards (President of India Medals).
Mirzya - (2016) which is a contemporary take on the legend of Mirza-Sahiban, a tragic love story told as a musical spectacle premiered at the London Film Festival. It was showcased at Chicago Film Festival , Busan Film Festival etc.
He has recently finished his latest project named 'Mere Pyaarey Prime Minister' which is under post production and due to release Summer of 2018. It is the story of an 8 year old boy's desire to build a toilet for his mother.
Rakeysh is also producing the under production film 'Fanney Khan', starring Anil Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Rajkumar Rao. It is also expected to release by Summer of 2018.- Composer
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Vishal Bhardwaj is an Indian film director, writer, composer, singer and producer. He has directed ten feature films, produced five and composed music for more than forty. His directorial work includes Makdee, The Blue Umbrella, Kaminey, 7 Khoon Maaf, Matru Ki Bijli Ka Mandola, Rangoon, Pataakha as well as the internationally acclaimed Shakespeare Trilogy - Maqbool, Omkara and Haider (adapted from Macbeth, Othello and Hamlet, respectively). Prominent films written and produced by him are Ishqiya, Dedh Ishqiya and Talvar (based on the Noida double murder case).
He has received 3 international awards: Makdee (2002) received the Best Film award at the Chicago International Children's Film Festival, Omkara (2006) won the Best Artistic Contribution in Cinema award at the Cairo International Film Festival and Haider (2014) won the People's Choice award at the Rome Film Festival. He has also received 7 National Awards: Best Music Direction for Godmother (1999), Best Children's Film for The Blue Umbrella (2005), Special Jury Award for Omkara (2006), Best Music Direction for Ishqiya (2010), Best Dialogues and Best Music Direction for Haider (2014) and Best Screenplay for Talvar (2015).- Producer
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Anurag Singh Kashyap (born 10 September 1972) is an Indian film director, producer and screenwriter. Kashyap made his directorial debut with as yet unreleased Paanch, with Kay Kay Menon as the lead. As a filmmaker, he is known for Black Friday (2004), a controversial and award-winning Hindi film about the 1993 Mumbai bombings, followed by No Smoking (2007), Dev D (2009), Gulaal (2009), That Girl in Yellow Boots (2011) and Gangs of Wasseypur (2012). As a screenwriter, he wrote the scripts for the Filmfare Award-winning Satya (1998) and the Academy Award-nominated Canadian film Water (2005). He founded his film production company, Anurag Kashyap Films Pvt. Ltd. in 2009.- Actor
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Raj Kapoor was the son of well-known Indian actor Prithviraj Kapoor, who acted both in film and on stage. After apprenticing in the Bollywood production studios of the 1940's, at 24 years of age Raj Kapoor produced, directed and acted in Aag (1948), with his new company, RK Films. His next production, Barsaat (1949), was a smash hit. In 1951, he also produced, directed and starred in Awaara (1951), which was another megahit, and costarred Nargis, who had appeared in Aag and Barsaat. Awaara also gained popular acclaim in Russia, where the movie and songs were dubbed into Russian. The theme song, Awaara Hoon, was popular in the East for many years. Kapoor has been dubbed "a great showman," and a filmmaker in the purest Romantic tradition, as he strove to entertain as well as address social themes close to his heart. Awaara dealt with the question of what forms an individual's moral grounding, ("nurture or nature") while incorporating comedy and stirring love scenes; in Shree 420 (1955) he addressed issues of poverty, unemployment and national pride in the new Indian state at the same time maintaining the audience's interest in the romantic plot. While never revolutionary in tone, many of his films explore the ability of the individual to overcome economic and environmental injustice while maintaining his/her innocence and integrity. He is quoted as believing that the individual's struggles ultimately lead to the desire for love, to care and be cared for. This is consistent with his admiration of Charles Chaplin, and Kapoor's own "tramp" (Awaara, Shree 420, Mera Naam Joker (1970) is modeled somewhat on his mentor, though with a definite individual flair.
His films demonstrate an understanding of music and direction that continue to influence Bollywood filmmaking today. Also a musician, his understanding of the musical feel of his movies gives them a storytelling fluidity equal to that of the best American movie musicals. He surrounded himself with the foremost talents in filmmaking, acting, writing (Kwaja Ahmad Abbas'), music composition (Jaikishan Dayabhai Panchal, 'Shankarsinh Raguwanshi'), and playback singers, including Mukesh, 'Mohamed Rafi', and Lata Mangeshkar. Kapoor continued to make films of varying critical and popular success up until his death in 1988, and apparently considered Mera Naam Joker his personal favorite. He is still a well-known name not only in India, but in the Middle East, SE Asia, and Eastern Europe. His descendants have attempted to continue the RK Films banner.Nascido no Paquistão- Director
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Mehboob Khan was born on 9 September 1907 in Bilimora, Baroda, Bombay Presidency, British India. He was a director and producer, known for Mother India (1957), Son of India (1962) and The Savage Princess (1952). He was married to Sardar Akhtar. He died on 28 May 1964 in Bombay, Maharashtra, India.- Director
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By no means is he any glamorous director, yet Hrishikesh Mukherjee is one of the most popular and beloved filmmakers in Indian cinema. His magic lay not in the glamor or largeness so often associated with cinema, but in its simplicity and warmth.
He began his career in Bombay, 1951, as an editor and assistant director to Bimal Roy, another great director himself. His first directorial venture, Musafir (1957), centering on an old house where three unrelated stories dealing with birth, marriage and death occur in a series, was a disaster. But director Raj Kapoor was impressed and strongly recommended Hrishida as director for Anari (1959). Starring Kapoor himself and Nutan, the film was a critical and commercial success.
His next film, Anuradha (1960), about an idealistic doctor who neglects his wife to focus on his work, got him the President's Medal Award. But from then on throughout the 1960s decade, none of Hrishida films were particularly distinguishable, barring Asli-Naqli (1962), a Muslim melodrama; Anupama (1966), which was based on a true incident; Aashirwad (1968), a family drama; and Satyakam (1969), about an idealist seeing his dreams crumble after Indian independence.
Then Hrishida made what is considered his masterpiece - Anand (1971). This classic film gave a complex but compassionate look at the balance between hope, fear, life and death and saw Rajesh Khanna's greatest performance as a terminally ill man who wishes to live life to the full before he dies. It was an auspicious beginning to the 1970s, for that time proved to be an exceptionally good time for Hrishida as he gave the public excellent films like Guddi (1971), a semi-satiric look at the film industry and generally considered as Jaya Bhaduri's debut film; Abhimaan (1973), the Bachchans' greatest ever performance together; and Chupke Chupke (1975), a comedy about a newlywed professor's joke on his pompous brother-in-law. These films gave an extremely skilled and detailed look at the middle-class mentality.
Few people understood human nature as well as Hrishida - in all his films he examined their aspects, particularly their failings and foibles and the outworn values people always seem to hold on to. However in the 1980s, the advent of the superstar Amitabh Bachchan and of larger-than-life films saw Hrishida's brand of filmmaking die out. Recently he attempted a comeback with _Jhooth Bole Kauwa Kaate (1999)_, but sadly it was a futile effort as the film was a commercial and critical failure. However, the magic of his films still lingers after three decades, and he will be best remembered for his film Anand (1971), which told that people who die but remain in heart and mind do not die, but become immortal. No one justifies this truth more than Hrishida.- Director
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Asif was born Asif Karim in Etawah, Uttar Pradesh to Parents Dr. Fazal Karim and Bibi Ghulam Fatima. He was the youngest of his siblings with Sikander Begum, wife of versatile Actor/Director/Producer Nazir Ahmed Khan being the Eldest and Masood Karim, the first Muslim President of Sindh Club second in line. Asif Karim went to Bombay to his brother-in-law Nazir Ahmed Khan and later took the name K. Asif. He became a Successful director due to his perfectionism in weaving his imagination into an art form and gave birth to Mughal-e-Azam, a legendary film in the Sub-Continental Cinema which needs no introduction. He passed away at very early age- Director
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Ritwik Ghatak was born on 4 November 1925 in Dacca, Bengal Presidency, British India [now in Dhaka, Bangladesh]. He was a director and writer, known for Reason, Debate and a Story (1974), Musafir (1957) and The Cloud-Capped Star (1960). He was married to Surama Ghatak. He died on 6 February 1976 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.Nascido em Bangladesh- Writer
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Abrar Alvi was born on 1 July 1927 in Ayodhya, India. He was a writer and actor, known for Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962), Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi (1966) and Professor (1962). He died on 18 November 2009 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.- Writer
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Vijay Anand was a celebrated filmmaker, writer, editor, and actor in Hindi cinema. Known as "Goldie," the younger brother of filmmaker Chetan Anand and matinée idol Dev Anand, Vijay Anand was born in Gurdaspur, Punjab, India on January 22, 1934 to a father, who was a lawyer. He lost his mother when he was only six, and he along with his other siblings went to live with his eldest brother Chetan and his wife Uma who raised him like their own child. In fact, Uma urged him to write and had a great influence on him. A very literate man, he graduated from St. Xavier's College in Mumbai, where he had wrote several college plays. While still a teenager, he co-wrote the script with his sister-in-law Uma for his filmmaker brother Chetan Anand. The film was "Taxi Driver" (1954) where his other brother Dev Anand played the title role, and it was inspired by the crime thrillers of Hollywood. It was released through their home production company Navketan and became Goldie's first big hit. "Nau Do Gyarah" (1957) was Vijay Anand's directorial debut, which was based on his own script. The film starred his brother Dev Anand and Dev's wife Kalpana Kartik. It became another hit. Goldie showed an exceptional visual style, especially when it came to picturizing song sequences. His next film was the story of a black marketer and his redemption in "Kaala Bazaar" (1960). The film starred his brother Dev again, along with Waheeda Rehman, who became a regular heroine for most of Navketan films during that era. This was also the only film where all three brothers (Chetan, Dev, and Vijay Anand) acted together. "Tere Ghar ke Saamne" (1963) with Dev Anand and Nutan was a romantic comedy that became another hit. Goldie also wrote the screenplay for "Hum Dono" (1961) and supposedly ghost-directed the film as well. His masterpiece as a filmmaker came with "Guide" (1965). Based on RK. Narayan's novel The Guide, the film is unforgettable for its bold themes about how a man (Dev Anand) and woman (Waheeda Rehman) live together outside the sanctity of a marriage. Composer S.D. Burman's songs were given stunning visuals. The film became a huge hit and won several major awards, including two Filmfare Awards for Vijay himself for directing and for writing the dialogue for the film. With Guide, Vijay Anand became the Hindi film industry's big star filmmaker. He was a visionary, a genius who could make intellectually stimulating films that could also generate profits and win industry awards. His next film also brought him everlasting glory. He directed and edited "Teesri Manzil" (1966) for producer and writer Nasir Husain. The film starred Shammi Kapoor and Asha Parekh and gave composer R.D. Burman (S.D. Burman's son) his first major success. The film's suspenseful story, combined with the stars' romantic chemistry, and Burman's trendsetting songs, made it into another box office smash and a perpetual favorite among moviegoers. Vijay Anand was at the pinnacle of his fame, when he went back to Navketan to direct the hit film "Jewel Thief" (1967). But there was a wrinkle. He found his "Jewel Thief" leading lady Vyjayantimala to be a distracted diva, especially after he enjoyed the professionalism and dedication of his previous leading ladies Nutan, Waheeda Rehman and Asha Parekh. Nevertheless, Vyjayantimala gave a heartfelt and polished performance in "Jewel Thief," and it seemed like Vijay Anand can do no wrong. But his next film proved otherwise. After three hit films in a row (Guide, Teesri Manzil, Jewel Thief), Vijay Anand experienced his first flop. Initially, "Kahin Aurchal" (1968) had the makings of a hit, as it starred Dev Anand and Asha Parekh, who were both top box office draws in 1968, along with music composers Shanker-Jaikishen. But the film's financier Tolaram Jalan wanted a flop film to adjust his income taxes, and so he took the film from Vijay Anand and released it in a single matinée show and then pulled it. This experience pained the filmmaker, especially since the film never resurfaced again. He bounced back with "Johnny Mera Naam" (1970), which grabbed the top stop at the box office in 1970. It starred Dev Anand and Hema Malini. Vijay Anand won two Filmfare Awards, one for editing and the other one for his screenplay, but his professional accomplishment was tempered by a personal loss, since his father had just passed away. He then directed "Tere Mere Sapne" (1971) based on the A.J. Cronin's novel "The Citadel." He also played a supporting role as an alcoholic doctor. While, the film became his personal favorite, it wasn't a major success at the box office and became a turning point in his career. His subsequent films like "Blackmail" (1973), "Chhupa Rustom" (1973), "Bullet" (1976) were major disappointments. Also, Dev Anand was establishing himself as his own director, so Goldie wasn't getting many directing opportunities at Navketan. Furthermore, he was going through personal problems, as he married his much younger relative in 1978 and turned to a spiritual leader Godman Rajneesh. He did return to directing films with multi-starrers like Ram Balram (1980) and Rajput (1982) but filming took a long time, because of the stars' busy schedules and Anand felt he made too many compromises. He still made occasional films, such as Hum Rahe Na Hum (1984) and Main Tere Liye (1988) but these films lacked the famous Vijay Anand style and weren't hits.
Vijay Anand also acted in films for other directors, such as Double Cross (1973) and Ghungroo ki Awaaz (1980). Waheeda Rehman and Rakhee proclaimed him to be an genius filmmaker but also told the press that his acting skills paled in comparison to his directing skills. He acted in two major hit films, Kora Kagaz(1974) and Main Tulsi Tere Aangan ki (1978), but in both instances his acting was overshadowed by his leading ladies, Jaya Bhaduri and Nutan, who both won Filmfare Awards in the Best Actress category. In the early 1990s, he was seen in the television serial Tehqiqaat playing Sam the Detective. In 1997, his older brother Chetan Anand's death devastated him. In 2001, he took over as the new censor board chief after Asha Parekh finished out her controversial three year term. Earlier, she hadn't given clearance to his nephew Shekar Kapur's film "Elizabeth" (1998) and several film industry insiders expected some tension between them, especially after Parekh admitted that she and Anand didn't see eye-to-eye on policing adult films. But she invited him to her sixtieth birthday celebration in 2002, and they both celebrated the occasion as old friends and colleagues. Anand was in the process of making another film with brother Dev Anand, when he died on February 23, 2004 due to a heart attack. He left behind his wife, Sushma and son Vaibhav, an aspiring filmmaker. His grief-stricken older brother Dev Anand wept openly at the funeral.- Director
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Mani Kaul was born on 25 December 1944 in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. He was a director and writer, known for Duvidha (1973), Naukar Ki Kameez (1999) and Uski Roti (1970). He died on 6 July 2011 in New Delhi, India.- Director
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Ramesh Sippy was born on 23 January 1947 in Karachi, Sind Province, British India. He is a director and producer, known for Sholay (1975), Saagar (1985) and Shaan (1980). He is married to Kiran Juneja.- Director
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Muzaffar Ali was born on 21 October 1944 in Lucknow, United Provinces, British India. He is a director and writer, known for Umrao Jaan (1981), Congregation (1986) and Gaman (1978).- Director
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Adoor Gopalakrishnan is India's most acclaimed contemporary filmmaker. Born in 1941 in Kerala, a state in south India, he belongs to a family with strong links to the performing arts, especially Kathakali, a highly-stylised form of dance drama. From the age of eight Adoor began acting for the stage, later producing and directing over twenty plays, several written by him. He is the author of two books on the theatre as well as a book on the cinema, "The World of Cinema", for which he won a national award in 1983. In 1962 Adoor enrolled in the Film and Television Institute in Pune and graduated in 1965 with a diploma in Scriptwriting and Direction. The same year he founded the Chitralekha Film Society of Trivandrum as well as the Chitralekha Film Cooperative. Both played a key role in the development of film culture in Kerala. In 1972 Adoor made Swayamvaram/One's Own Choice, his first full-length feature film. It launched the New Cinema in Kerala and became one of the major films of the Indian New Wave. He has since made seven more films (along with over 25 shorts and documentaries), all of which have won major national and international awards: Kodiyettam/Ascent (1977); Elippathayam/Rat Trap (1981); Mukhamukham/Face to Face (1984); Anantaram/Monologue (1987); Mathilukal/The Walls (1990); Vidheyan/The Servile (1993), and Kathapurushan/Man of the Story (1995). Elippathayam received the prestigious British Film Institute Award in 1982; Mukhamukham won the FIPRESCI prize in 1985; Kathapurushan was honoured in India in 1995 with the National Award for Best Film. Retrospectives of Adoor's films have been held in Pesaro, Helsinki, La Rochelle, Nantes, Munich, and New York. All of Adoor's films draw on the history and culture of his native Kerala. Kerala's transition from feudalism to modernity serves as a backdrop to his complex meditations on the psychology of power, the nature of oppression, the corruption of patriarchy, and the coexistence of the modern and the feudal in post-Independence democratic India. Elippathayam, his masterpiece, vividly captures the descent into paranoia of a man trapped within his feudal universe. In Mukhamukham, a study in failed idealism, a Communist leader gives up on revolution and decides to go to sleep instead. Vidheyan, a parable-like story, deals with the abuse of power, the plight of the outsider, and the nature of a master-servant relationship. The more recent films--especially Anantaram, Mathilukal and Kathapurushan--display a new concern with interiority and reflexivity, foregrounding time, memory, consciousness, and the nature of storytelling itself. Adoor's genius lies in his ability to create visually complex films that operate on multiple levels, that are culture-specific and yet universal in significance.- Writer
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G.V. Iyer was born in September 1917 in Nanjangud, Mysore, British India. He was a writer and director, known for Adi Shankaracharya (1983), Bhagvad Gita: Song of the Lord (1993) and Bhoodana (1962). He died on 21 December 2003 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.- Director
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Singeetam Srinivasa Rao was born on 21 September 1931 in Udayagiri, Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh, India. He is a director and writer, known for Pushpaka Vimana (1987), Mayuri (1984) and Little John (2001).- Producer
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Aditya Chopra is a successful writer, producer, director, master storyteller, a visionary and also the driving force behind creativity at Yash Raj Films. He became an avid film buff from his early childhood. At the age of 18, his own film career kicked off. He started working as an assistant to his father in CHANDNI (1989), LAMHE (1991) and DARR (1993).
Aditya Chopra made his directorial debut at the age of 23, with DILWALE DULHANIA LE JAYENGE (DDLJ) (1995) which is still running theatrically, after it was originally released on 20 October 1995 and created a landmark of being the longest running film in Indian Cinema. He won every conceivable award for this film, including 10 Filmfare Awards (highest for a film until that year) and the coveted National Award for the Best Film for providing Popular and Wholesome Entertainment.
His other directorial ventures include the highly successful films MOHABBATEIN (2000), RAB NE BANA DI JODI (2008) and also the feisty romance BEFIKRE (2016). The Chairman and Managing Director at YRF - Aditya Chopra's trend setting excellence over the years has elevated the production house to the position it holds today.- Director
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Indra Kumar, born Indra Irani, is an Indian film actor, director, and producer.
Born in a simple family, his siblings made a big name for themselves in the Hindi film industry. He owes his upbringing and success to his eldest sister Aruna Irani, who looked after all her siblings after their mother passed away.
He studied at Utpal Shaangvi Global School, Mumbai, and then at Ascend International School, Mumbai. He made his acting debut in Kismat (1969) and was also a part of Biwi Kiraya Ki (1975).
Kumar's Gujarati debut was in Gangapur Ni Ganga (1980). In 1981, he also appeared in an Assamese movie Charotar Ni Champa (1982).
Kumar launched his production house in 1985, named Maruti Films Pvt Ltd, in partnership with Ashok Navalkumar. His debut as a producer was in Mohabbat (1985), and he has produced films like Kasam (1988) and Daddy Cool: Join the Fun (2009).
Kumar's directorial debut was the blockbuster movie Dil (1990), with Aamir Khan and Madhuri Dixit, which earned Rs.180 million and was nominated for eight awards.
Kumar's next movie, Beta (1992), starring Aruna Irani, Madhuri Dixit, and Anil Kapoor, got him his first nomination for Best Director at Filmfare for the movie.
Kumar's movie Raja (1995), starring Madhuri Dixit and Sanjay Kapoor, earned him another Best Director nomination at Filmfare Awards in the year 1996.
His movie Ishq (1997) with superstars Aamir Khan, Juhi Chawla, Ajay Devgnand Kajol earned Rs. 500 million worldwide.
Kumar then made movies like Mann - Soul's Heart (1999), Aashiq (2001), and Masti (2004). In the year 2007, he directed another blockbuster movie Dhamaal (2007), with superstars Sanjay Dutt, Arshad Warsi, and Riteish Deshmukh, which grossed over Rs. 800 million worldwide.
Four years later, Kumar released Double Dhamaal (2011), which also included Kangana Ranaut and Mallika Sherawat. His next movie was Grand Masti (2013), which was a sequel to the Masti franchise. This movie earned approximately Rs 1.3 billion.
Kumar went on to make the movie Super Nani (2014) and Great Grand Masti (2016).
In 2019, Kumar released Total Dhamaal (2019), with Anil Kapoor, Ajay Devgn, Madhuri Dixit, and Arshad Warsi, which collected almost Rs. 2 billion in 12 days.
Kumar's next movie was Thank God (2022), starring Ajay Devgn and Sidharth Malhotra.- Actor
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Kamal Haasan was born November 7, 1954 in Paramakudi, Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu. He debuted as a child artiste in the film "Kalathoor Kannamma" (1960). Since then, he has starred in nearly 220 films in the major Indian languages - Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi. He has been a part of the film industry for 60 years, as of 2020. His journey in cinema has seen him do various roles - from child artiste, to romantic lead to one of the most respected and revered heroes of the film industry today.
He has famously said that he is a reluctant actor. He has an avid interest in every aspect of film making and is known for his work as a choreographer, director, and writer, as well.
He wrote his first script at age 18 for the film "Unarchigal" (1976), which was then followed by films that have gone on to become cult classics - Rajapaarvai (1981), Sathya (1988), Apoorva Sahotharargal (1989), Thevar Magan (1992), Mahanadi (1994), Kurudhippunal (1995), Avvai Shanmugi (1996), Hey Ram (2000), Pammal K Sambandam (2002), Panchathanthiram (2002), Anbe Sivam (2003), are a few of the films etched in popular memory for having set the bar for craftsmanship in the fields of screenplay, script, and dialogue.
He is also a prolific writer of fiction and non-fiction in Tamil and his published work is testament to his constant exploration of structure and form.
Kamal Haasan's strong convictions in his art have led to some of Indian cinema's most path-breaking films like Pushpak / Pushpaka Vimaanam / Pesum Padam (1987). Kamal Haasan also worked as a choreographer while transitioning as a well-known child artiste to the lead actor in a feature length film. Some of his best-known work as a dancer can be seen in Saagara Sangamam (1983) and the popular hit Punnagai Mannan (1986).
Kamal Haasan is also a student of Carnatic music, studying under musical maestro Dr. Balamuralikrishna. One of his biggest hits as a playback singer was the song "Inji Iduppazhagi" for the film Thevar Magan.
His career as a director began with the film Chachi 420 (1997), the Hindi remake of Avvai Shanmugi. Since then he has called the shots for critically acclaimed films like "Hey Ram" and "Virumaandi".
He has never hesitated to state his opinions and encourage debate about topics that are socially relevant. He is a rationalist in thought and moderate in opinion and a humanist in philosophy. The need to be socially conscious is seen in the way his fan clubs have revamped themselves into entities that carry out charity and volunteer work.- Director
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Manish Jha was born on 3 May 1978 in Bihar, India. He is a director and writer, known for Matrubhoomi: A Nation Without Women (2003), A Very Very Silent Film (2002) and Anwar (2007).- Director
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Sudhir Mishra was born on 22 January 1959 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. He is a director and writer, known for Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi (2003), Calcutta Mail (2003) and Dharavi (1992).- Director
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Ketan Mehta is one of the most internationally acknowledged filmmakers from India. He has a received many National and International awards for his well-known films like 'The Rising - Ballad of Mangal Pandey', 'Mirch Masala', 'Maya Memsaab', 'Sardar', 'Holi' and 'Bhavni Bhavai'. Received Best Film on Human Rights for Bhavni Bhavai, Best Film for Mirch Masala at the Hawaii International Film Festival and the Audience Choice Award at Locarno for the Ballad of Mangal Pandey.
Ketan Mehta, a graduate in Film making from India's premier film institute FTII (Film and Televsion Institute of India) has more than 25 years' experience in the film industry.
His films have been shown at film festivals across the world and he has been a jury member at many international film festivals.
He has served as a consultant on many Government of India bodies including Doordarshan, Directorate of Film Festivals and is currently a Member of the Board of Directors of NFDC (National Film Development Corporation of India). He has been a Content Producer for ISRO and been involved in their satellite project for a number of years.
He is also the President of IIFW - (Independent Indian filmmakers's worldwide) a global association of Independent film makers and the promoter of Maya Entertainment ltd, India's leading Computer Animation and Digital visual effects studio.- Actor
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Aamir Khan was born on March 14, 1965 in Mumbai. He is one of the most successful Indian Bollywood actors who is also known as "Mr. Perfectionist of Bollywood". With his recent successes in both the Indian and Chinese film markets, he has shouldered his way into becoming one of the world's biggest superstars. Undergoing rapid transformations in his body structure to better embody the variegated characters in his energetic films, Aamir has garnered praise from all parts of the globe. His most visible transformations can be seen in such movies as Lagaan (2001), Fanaa (2006), Taare Zameen Par (2007), Ghajini (2008), 3 idiots (2009), Talaash (2012), Dhoom 3 (2013), PK (2014), Dangal (2016) and Secret Superstar (2017). His recent successes with movies like Dangal, PK , Talaash and TV serial Satyamev Jayate have attracted attention from more serious moviegoing crowds. However, he is perhaps better known for his fabulous comedic roles, as exemplified by his iconic performances in cult comedies such as Andaz Apna Apna, Passion, and Dil Chahta Hai, to name a few. Aamir is also no slouch at TV commercial work.
2001's Lagaan released in China nationwide, beginning what would be a series of Aamir Khan films that would firmly plant Indian filmmaking into the minds of Chinese audiences. 3 Idiots became a cult hit in China farther along in the 2000's, followed by Like Stars on Earth and Ghajini, both of which went on to gain huge followings. Aamir Khan's streak of Chinese box office hits continued into and throughout the 2010's with the rapid-fire release of Dhoom 3 (2013), PK (2014), Dangal (2016) and Secret Superstar (2017).
Aamir was first introduced as a child artist in the 1970's hit Procession of Memories (1973) - he was the youngest child in the trio.
His performance in Earth (1998) as the Ice-Candy man has received rave reviews from Indian and international critics. Using classic "method acting" and an adopted technique inspired by his seniors Sanjeev Kumar, Rajesh Khanna, Dev Anand and Shammi Kapoor, Aamir acts in all genres of Indian films - comedy, action, drama and romance. He is regarded as a complete Indian actor of the post 1990 generation of actors for his diverse choice of roles and films. In 2007 he turned director with the film Like Stars on Earth (2007), which not only brought him immense critical acclaim but was also a huge box office success. Many of his films are considered as cult classics like Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001), Dil Chahta Hai (2001), Rang De Basanti (2006), Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992) and Andaz Apna Apna (1994). He divorced his first wife Reena Dutta on December 09, 2001 and married Kiran Rao in December 28, 2005 and divorced her on July 03, 2021.
In 2008 his first all out commercial action film Ghajini (2008) went on to become the highest grossing film of its time in Indian Cinema and 4th highest inflation adjusted, grossing a total of Rs.226 on the worldwide box office and the first film to cross 100 crores on the domestic Indian box office, making a total of Rs.115 crores. This record didn't last long, though, since his next release 3 Idiots (2009) went on to shatter not only the highest grosser record but many more. It not only made the highest opening first day, first weekend and first week records but subsequently continued to shatter many records on the following weekends and weeks, making many circuits on the way. It made a total of Rs.202 crores domestically and Rs.400 crores on the worldwide box office, becoming the highest overseas grosser to date, a staggering feat given that no other film had even come close to making Rs.100 crores on the domestic box office until then, except for his own Ghajini (2008) the previous year.
Aamir is said to be the actor who first started the trend of actors working in one film at a time, when the others worked in four or five at the same time. He is also known to shun popular film trade magazine awards like Filmfare, Star Screen, etc. as he doesn't have trust in their credibility and transparency. Recently he was awarded the third highest civilian honor Padama Bhushan by the government of India.
Aamir's expansive range of characterizations remains unparalleled amongst his contemporaries. Because of this diversity and his formidable ability to portray different characters believably on screen, he is today regarded not only as one of the biggest stars in Bollywood but also as one of the finest actors in all of Indian Cinema.- Director
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Feroz Abbas Khan is known for Gandhi, My Father (2007), Dekh Tamasha Dekh (2014) and Main Kuch Bhi Kar Sakti Hoon.- Writer
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Producer-director Vidhu Vinod Chopra was born on 5th September, 1952 in Srinagar, Kashmir, India. After attending the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune, he made his directorial debut with the short film Murder At Monkey Hill in 1976. This won him the National Award, an honor given by the Government of India. Two years later, in 1978, he made a short documentary film called An Encounter with Faces, which was nominated for the Academy Awards in 1979. This poignant documentary highlighting the plight of India's destitute children also won the Grand Prix at the Tampere International Short Film Festival (1980). Chopra then went on to make his first mainstream Hindi-language film called Sazaaye Maut (Death Row) in 1981 (this was based on Murder at Monkey Hill). Later movies directed by him like Khamosh, Parinda, 1942: A Love Story, Kareeb, and Mission Kashmir were hailed by critics and audiences alike ( all can be hyperlinks). Moving away from direction in 2003, he wrote his first script and also made his first solo production under his company, Vinod Chopra Films, with Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. The movie, directed by Rajkumar Hirani, went on to become one of the most popular and successful films in Indian cinema. The second movie in the Munna Bhai series, Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006) propagated Mahatma Gandhi's nonviolence principles and portrayed them in a new light. The 'Gandhisim' wave that spread across India, post the release of the movie was unprecedented. Chopra also wrote and produced the film Parineeta (2005) with another newcomer director, Pradeep Sarkar. It received critical and popular acclaim. After a hiatus of seven years, Chopra took up the director's baton yet again with the dramatic action-thriller Eklavya: The Royal Guard (2007). 3 Idiots (2009), another Vinod Chopra Films production directed by Rajkumar Hirani, remained India's #1 biggest worldwide box office performer until 2017, and it grossed more than $100 million. It was the first film in India to do so. It went on to win many awards, including Best Film at the Filmfare Awards. It also found popular appeal in markets like Taiwan and Korea. After the success of 3 idiots, Vinod Chopra worked with another new director, Rajesh Mapuskar, and co-wrote the film Ferrari Ki Sawaari (2012). The film was successful at the box-office and was lauded by the audience for its beautiful message. In 2014, he produced PK, another film directed by his longtime collaborator Rajkumar Hirani. Vinod Chopra made his Hollywood directorial debut with his film Broken Horses in 2015. This film was co-produced by the American company, Mandeville Films. He went on to produce several other films, including Wazir (2016), Sanju (2018), and Ek Ladki Koh Dekha Toh Aisa Laga (2018). His production company, Vinod Chopra Films is one of the leading film production houses in India.- Writer
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Neeraj Pandey (born 17 December 1973) is an acclaimed Indian film director, producer and screenwriter. In his first movie A Wednesday, his work was largely praised by audiences as well as the critics. A Wednesday also won many awards in different categories. His second film Special 26 (2013) was equally appreciated by the public and the critics. Not just a filmmaker but a writer too, Neeraj has written a novel named 'Ghalib Danger' in 2013. He also directed the movie Baby (2015) starring Akshay Kumar which received critical acclaim from the audience and was a huge success.The movie Rustom which was produced by Neeraj, was released on 12 August 2016 and received mixed reviews by critics but was a runaway commercial success. His last movie was a biopic on cricketer M.S.Dhoni titled M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story which was loved by the audience.. He aims at making more commercial content in the sports genre. Neeraj has carved a niche for himself in the film industry with his adept handling of different topics and is one of the most sought after Directors of his generation.
In 2016, his Production House Friday Filmworks and Reliance Entertainment entered into a joint venture and formed Plan C Studios.
He has also directed a Web Short 'Ouch' with Manoj Bajpayee and Pooja Chopra which is nominated for Filmfare Short Film Award 2017. As the co-producer, his recent blockbuster Toilet- Ek Prem Katha is getting critical appreciation from the film industry and the audience. His upcoming movie is Aiyaary which is set to release on 2018 starring Sidharth Malhotra and Manoj Bajpayee- Actress
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Nandita Das, born in Mumbai, India, is a highly acclaimed Indian actress, director, and social activist known for her impactful performances in parallel and mainstream cinema. With a career spanning over two decades, Nandita Das has not only established herself as a versatile and talented actress but also as a filmmaker committed to socially relevant storytelling.
Nandita Das made her acting debut in Bollywood with the film "Parinati" (1989). However, it was her role in the critically acclaimed film "Fire" (1996), directed by Deepa Mehta, that brought her widespread recognition. The film, exploring the taboo subject of same-sex relationships, marked a turning point in her career and showcased her willingness to take on unconventional and socially relevant roles.
Over the years, Nandita Das has been associated with numerous impactful films, including "Earth" (1998) and "Bawandar" (2000). Her performances in these films earned her accolades for portraying strong and resilient characters, often dealing with complex social issues.
Nandita Das is known for her collaborations with filmmakers who focus on meaningful and thought-provoking storytelling. She worked with Mira Nair in "Firaaq" (2008), a film set against the backdrop of the 2002 Gujarat riots, and portrayed the legendary author Saadat Hasan Manto's wife in her directorial debut, "Manto" (2018).
In addition to her acting career, Nandita Das has made significant contributions as a director and producer. Her directorial venture "Firaaq" (2008) was widely praised for its sensitive portrayal of communal tensions. She has also been involved in various social and cultural initiatives, using her platform to advocate for human rights and equality.
Nandita Das has received several awards for her contributions to the world of cinema, including the National Film Award for Best Actress for her role in "Firaaq" (2008). Her work has been recognized internationally, and she continues to be a prominent voice in both the film industry and social activism.
Nandita Das remains an influential figure, contributing to cinema and societal conversations through her creative endeavors and advocacy work.- Director
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Shyam Benegal was born on 14 December 1934 in Tirumalagiri, Hyderabad State, British India. He is a director and producer, known for Ankur: The Seedling (1974), Bhumika (1977) and Trikal (Past, Present, Future) (1985). He is married to Nira Benegal.- Director
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Ram Gopal Varma was born in Hyderabad, the capital city of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. He initially was a video store owner before eventually becoming one of India's leading film directors. A film buff during his youth, Varma would watch both American and Indian cinema regularly. As a young man, he attended Siddhartha Engineering College in Vijayawada. Varma started his career in telugu cinema (the Hyderabad film industry), where he made a huge mark with his debut film Shiva, a violent and stylized actioner set in a college backdrop. At the age of 28, with little film training, Varma was able to convince Nagarjuna, a young Telugu star, to act in his debut picture. Nagarjuna was drawn by the narration of the script and intelligence displayed by the young Varma. Shiva was a landmark hit for the industry and was remade by Varma in the hindi language a year later.
His next was the exciting adventure film, Kshana Kshanam, starring Venkatesh and Sridevi. Varma followed this up with such films as - Raatri, a homage to 'The Exorcist' starring Revati and Om Puri (which Varma would remake over a decade later in Hindi as Bhoot) and Antham, a stylized crime drama, with Nagarjuna and Urmila Matondkar (which Varma would also rework later as Satya) - but was not able to attain the commercial success of his first feature. His next release Gaayam, with Jagapathi Babu and Urmila Matondkar, was a violent crime drama set in Hyderabad. The screenplay was co-written by tamil film director Mani Ratnam, and the script based on 'The Godfather'. It became a success for Varma. He then decided to start his own production banner, Varma Corporation Limited, and produced successful telugu films such as Money (remade later as Love Ke Liye Kuchh Bhi Karega), Money Money (its sequel), Gulabi and Anaganaga Oka Roju.
His first huge success in hindi cinema (the Mumbai film industry) was the commercial blockbuster Rangeela, a stylish romantic drama with Aamir Khan and Urmila Matondkar. A.R. Rahman, a tamil music composer, was introduced to hindi audiences by Varma with this film and won the award for best film music.
Varma followed up with the ground breaking gangster saga Satya, a violent crime epic set in the Mumbai underworld. The film was gritty and realistic, reinventing the crime genre in Indian cinema. Varma had done extensive research for the film, and reworked certain elements of his earlier film Antham. Satya was widely considered Varma's first true masterwork. Made on a shoestring budget and with new faces, the film won awards for actor Manoj Bajpai and music composer Vishal Bharadwaj. Satya became a turning point in Varma's career, winning best picture of the year, and Varma would be forever associated with Mumbai noirs.
Varma then, with fellow director Shekhar Kapur, created a joint film production company in 1998 called India Talkies. The first venture of the production house was the ambitious terrorist drama 'Dil Se', with Shahrukh Khan and Manisha Koirala. The film was a box office dud, and India Talkies would be short lived. Varma would return to focusing on his own production house Varma Corp.
The hard hitting masterpiece 'Shool' followed shortly after, written and produced by Varma. The film depicted the life of an honest police officer in the violent and harsh rural setting of Bihar. The film was a commercial and critical success with both Manoj Bajpai and Sayaji Shinde winning awards for their performances. Varma lightened things up next with the romantic drama 'Mast'. The film was inspired by Varma's own college days, and featured Aftab Shivdasani in an award-winning turn as a film crazy college student.
Varma decided afterwards to only direct films in the Mumbai film industry. He believed there was more talent in Mumbai than in southern film cities like Chennai and Hyderabad. Varma had always admired directors such as Shyam Benegal, Govind Nihlani, and Gulzar. He considers Kalyug, Ardh Satya, and Mere Apne among his favorite Indian films of all time. At a time when popular Indian Cinema featured either over the top action films or glamorous love stories, Varma's films were more rooted and realistic. Varma is known to frequently cut out song and dance sequences in his films, which are usually commonplace in Bollywood. His films almost always deal with the contemporary and urban, usually set in the city of Mumbai. He often uses Indian stage actors in his films rather than established bollywood stars. Mainly known for creating the 'Mumbai noir', Varma brought psychological depth and cinematic virtuosity to genre films.
More recently, Varma returned with the organized crime masterpiece 'Company'. The film was again set in the Mumbai underworld, and was based on real life Underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and his criminal outfit D-Company. The film featured award-winning performances by Ajay Devgan, Vivek Oberoi and Manisha Koirala. The film also won awards for best editing by Chandan Arora and best story by Jaideep Sahni. The film was lauded by critics and audiences alike.
His latest release Naach, which Varma called his best film yet, was a largely self reflective piece, about the relationship between an idealistic choreographer and an ambitious actor. The film had a weak commercial run but was liked by critics. In a recent interview with the Indian Express newspaper, the filmmaker criticized Indian audiences saying "I gave Ayn Rand to a Municipal School."
He spends most of his time these days producing small budget films for his successful production house Varma Corp. Though not always credited, he is involved in all aspects of his productions, often believed to 'ghost direct' many of the films. He produces films at a fast speed that is unfamiliar to the Indian Film Industry. He has had many recent successes including - 'Ab Tak Chhappan', based on the experiences of famed Mumbai police Daya Naik, 'D', a prequel to his earlier hit Company based on the early years of Dawood Ibrahim during his days under Pathan underworld boss Karim Lala, 'Ek Hasina Thi', a female revenge thriller, and finally 'Road'. He has also produced lighter films such as 'Love Ke Liye Kuchh Bhi Karega' and 'Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon'.- Writer
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Paresh Mokashi (born 6 February 1969) is an Indian Film Director, Writer, Theatre Director and actor. He is one of the acclaimed directors in Marathi Film Industry. For his first Feature Film ' Harishchandrachi Factory' he has been widely praised, which was also send for Foreign Language Category in Academy Awards from India. His recent work 'Elizabeth Ekadashi' was also critically praised.- Director
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Anusha is an Indian film director and screenwriter. Formerly a journalist, Anusha's directorial debut Peepli (Live) premiered at the Sundance Film Festival 2010 in the World Competition Section and was the first Indian film to be accepted in the 25 years of the festival's existence. The film was later nominated as India's official entry to the 83rd Academy Awards. Peepli (Live) won the Guild Award for Best Story, and the Best Film Award at the Durban Film festival. Anusha has also directed documentaries including Hijack IC-814 for National Geographic and Amul and Khadi for the BBC. She is currently developing an original series project with a leading Indian OTT platform.- Producer
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Vipul Amrutlal Shah was born on 3 April 1973 in Kutch, Gujarat, India. He is a producer and director, known for Holiday (2014), The Kerala Story (2023) and Aankhen (2002). He is married to Shefali Shah. They have two children.- Writer
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Siddharth Anand is one of India's most successful film director of his generation and the biggest director of his genre - action entertainer - in our country. With films like War, Bang Bang and the all-time biggest Hindi film, Pathaan, he has stamped his dominance as a force to reckon with in Hindi cinema.
Siddharth Anand has successfully directed and co-written impressive, larger-than-life and adrenaline-pumping action films around Indian espionage with superstars over the years. His latest release - YRF Spy Universe's Pathaan starring superstar Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and John Abraham has clocked in unprecedented numbers and has become a historic all-time blockbuster, globally setting the box office on fire. He has been empowered by Aditya Chopra to direct WAR and now Pathaan, two of the biggest IP's in Indian cinema today!
Siddharth began his career in films as the screenplay co-writer for Saif Ali Khan-Rani Mukerji starrer Hum Tum (2004), a romantic drama that won a National Film award. He made an impact as a director with his contemporary romantic comedies Salaam Namaste (2005) and Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008) for Yash Raj Films. In 2007 Siddharth directed the sports drama Ta Ra Rum Pum which was widely loved by kids and family audiences. These films featured leading movie stars in much loved roles, Salaam Namaste had Saif Ali Khan and Preity Zinta delivering crackling chemistry, Bachna Ae Haseeno had Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, Bipasha Basu and Minissha Lamba in an entertaining avatar and Ta Ra Rum Pum had evergreen hit jodi Rani Mukerji and Saif Ali Khan. His protagonists made unusual choices like living in or re-thinking commitment, breaking away from the romantic movie mould. He pivoted into action on a grand scale with Bang Bang (2014) with Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif in the lead. Besides featuring eye popping action with elaborate sequences, this film raised the bar of production values in Hindi cinema.
Siddharth catapulted himself into the list of A-list directors of India with War (2019), a project that had him involved for five years in crafting a massive action extravaganza. It featured Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff, the hottest action heroes of Hindi cinema in a constant chase across the globe, fighting in unexplored terrains like the Arctic circle. Siddharth's latest release - Pathaan is a part of the grand spy universe of Yash Raj Films. The film showcases mind-boggling action sequences on a scale that matches international cinematic standards. It also has a heartfelt story that utilizes the most loved sides of Shah Rukh Khan's personality. Making him the only director to have conceptualised 2 humongously successful franchise films to his credit.
With Pathaan, Siddharth Anand has set countless records including delivering the highest grossing Hindi film in history, highest grossing YRF's Spy Franchise film, only Hindi film director to have delivered five 50+ crore nett box office days and also five 100+ crore worldwide gross box office days with War and Pathaan, with the SRK starrer delivering 4 out of 5!
Sid is also the true-blue pandemic proof director as War was the last outright blockbuster from Hindi film industry before the pandemic and Pathaan has become an all-time blockbuster which he has delivered post pandemic!
Siddharth is currently working on an aerial action film, Fighter, with Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone next.- Director
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Vijay Lalwani is known for Karthik Calling Karthik (2010) and The Final Call (2019).- Writer
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Abhishek, a renowned Indian filmmaker who co-wrote and directed the critically acclaimed dacoit action film, Sonchiriya, an RSVP production. He began his career as an associate director and co-writer to Vishal Bhardwaj for his debut Makdee (2002) & went on to assist him in his subsequent films, and most notably co-wrote Vishal's trendsetting Omkara (2006) and Kaminey (2009). Abhishek's directorial debut, the dark comedy Ishqiya (2010) and its sequel Dedh Ishqiya (2014), both starring Naseeruddin Shah received rave reviews. His following film, Udta Punjab (2016), highlighted the heroin epidemic in Punjab and was released to critical acclaim. He made his debut as a producer with Konkona Sen Sharma's A Death in the Gunj (2016), which premiered at MAMI Mumbai Film Festival.- Director
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Prakash Jha is an Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter who is primarily known for his socially and politically relevant films like Apaharan (2005), Aarakshan (2011), and Raajneeti (2010), among others.
Jha went to Sainik School Tilaya in his hometown of Bettiah in Bihar, India. After finishing his schooling, he attended Ramjas College, Delhi University. During his college days, he went on to work as an assistant manager in a restaurant.
Jha was inspired to enter the film industry after he met an art director during the shooting of the film Dharma (1973). Later, he went on to enrol at the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune, Maharashtra, to study filmmaking.
He worked on a biographical film called Sonal (1973) in the 1980s, which explored the life of the dancer Sonal Singh. He made another documentary called Faces After the Storm (1981), which was based on the communal riots of Bihar, India, focusing on the incident where Hindu extremists massacred numerous Muslims. However, the award-winning documentary was banned soon after its release.
In 1984, Jha made his directorial debut with the film Hip Hip Hurray (1984), which revolves around the lives of a group of high school students. The film was critically acclaimed and was featured in a book 40 Retakes: Bollywood Classics You May Have Missed.
He founded a cultural society called Anubhooti in 1991 to work on social issues like health care, disaster management, upliftment of the poor, and much more.
His 2001 film Gangaajal (2003) marked a turning point in his career- renowned actors like Ajay Devgn and Gracy Singh were cast in this film.
Jha has received several awards and accolades for his work in the film industry, like the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi for Damul (1985), the Filmfare Award for Best Screenplay for Apaharan (2005), the apsara award for best dialogue for Aarakshan (2011), etc. He has also achieved great international acclaim for his films like Lipstick Under My Burkha (2016), Parampara (1986), Parinati Parinati (2020) (2020), etc. Lipstick Under My Burkha Lipstick Under My Burkha (2016) (2016) premiered at the Stockholm International Film Festival. Aparahan was the opening film at the Indian Film Festival in Israel.
Jha has also been involved in Indian politics. He started his political career by joining the Janta Dal in the early 1990s. He contested the Lok Sabha elections in 2009 as a Janta Dal candidate from his hometown, Bettiah, in Bihar.- Producer
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Kiran Rao graduated with an economics major from the Sophia College for Women (Mumbai) in 1995. She also received her Masters at AJK Mass Communication Research Center at Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi.
Kiran Rao started her career as an assistant director in 2001. She met actor Aamir Khan on sets of Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001). They were married in December 2005. Kiran Rao is the second wife of Aamir Khan. After suffering a couple of miscarriages, the couple had a son born via surrogate on December 1, 2011.
Since 2001, she has been assisting in prominent movies. She scripted, directed, and produced the acclaimed Mumbai Diaries (2010).- Producer
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A close friend of Shahrukh Khan, he assisted Yash Chopra's Yash Raj Films during the early days of of his career, making his directorial debut with the mega-hit Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998). He also had a popular chat show named Koffee with Karan (2004) The success of "KKHH" made him one of the most high-profile directors in the Hindi-language Mumbai Film industry, popularly known as Bollywood.
Also a close friend of Aditya Chopra, he has been a creative member of Yash Raj productions such as Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), Veer-Zaara (2004), Dil To Pagal Hai (1997), and Mohabbatein (2000).
Johar's success has guaranteed him worldwide distribution of his production company, Dharma Productions, for many years to come.- Writer
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Abhishek Sharma was born on 22 July 1987 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. He is a writer and director, known for Tere Bin Laden (2010), Ram Setu (2022) and Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran (2018).- Director
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Onir is an Indian filmmaker, producer, screenwriter and editor.
Born as Anirban Dhar in Samchi, Bhutan, Onir spent much of his childhood going to the cinema. Earlier, Onir studied comparative literature at Jadavpur University in 1989, he received a scholarship to study film editing at SFB/TTC in Berlin. He later returned to India and worked as an editor, scriptwriter, art director, music album producer and song/music video director.
Onir directed and produced his first Documentary film on painter Bijon Chaudhary, "Falling Hero" in 1992. In 1999 he worked as the film editor, song designer and song director of the film "Daman" directed by Kalpana Lajmi. He is best known for his film "My Brother...Nikhil", based on the life of Dominic D'Souza, starring Sanjay Suri, Juhi Chawla and Purab Kohli. It was one of the first mainstream Hindi films to deal with AIDS and same-sex relationships.
In January 2006, he started shooting his second feature film "Bas Ek Pal" with Juhi Chawla, Urmila Matondkar, Jimmy Shergill, Rehaan Engineer and Sanjay Suri. The film was released on Sep 15, 2006.
In 2007 he started his third film "Sorry Bhai!" under his and Sanjay's home production Anticlock Films. Sorry Bhai! starred Shabana Azmi, Boman Irani, Sanjay Suri, Chitrangada Singh and Boman Irani.
In 2009, Anticlock Films started the unique citizen-funded film project called "I Am" which was Onir's fourth feature film. The film had four stories that are interlinked by characters and shot across four cities in India. The funds for the films have been through Facebook and Blogs. "I Am" is probably the first and largest crowd-sourced film through social networks in India. Over 400 people across 47 cities across the world have come together to make this film. "I Am" was released to wide critical acclaim on April 29, 2011. He won the Indian National Film Awards for Best Film (Hindi) for the anthology "I Am" in 2011. "I Am" is considered one of the first and largest crowd-funded and crowd-sourced films through social media in India. The film dealt with single motherhood, child sexual abuse, displacement and LGBTQI+ rights.
Onir produced "Chauranga" (Four Colours) which won the Incredible India Award as the best script at the Goa Film Bazaar, International Film Festival of India, won best film India Gold at MAMI and IFFLA. This film is about a class conflict set in rural India and directed by Debutant Director Bikas Mishra. The script was also a part of Berlin Talent Campus 2010.
The feature-length documentary "Raising the Bar", an Indi-Australian documentary featuring the lives of 6 children and young people living with down syndrome premiered at the Melbourne Indian Film Festival in 2016.
"SHAB" (The night) directed by Onir released in 2017. The film premiered at New York Indian Film Festival, screened at Melbourne Indian Film Festival, Sydney Indian Film Festival, Florence River to River Indian Film Festival and Stuttgart India Film Festival.
His 6th feature film as director "Kuchh Bheege Alfaaz" (Rain-soaked words) was released in Feb 2018. The film had its Festival premiere at the London South Asian Film Festival in March 2018. The film is currently streaming on Netflix.
In 2018, he made a short documentary, 'Widows of Vrindavan', about unwanted mothers who try and seek solace in pursuit of divine love. The documentary portrays the lives of widows living at Maitri Ghar (House), their journey to Vrindavan, their childhood, their crushed dreams and what keeps them alive now. Widows of Vrindavan is a film about these widows trying to find dignity and hope as they await death. The documentary premiered at the Indisches Film festival Stuttgart in 2019. It received the Best Documentary (Audience choice award) at the 9th Jagran Film Festival.
In 2018 he received Likho Award (Trailblazer Award) Onir has received the Diversity Award from Film Victoria Australia and La Trobe University at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2019.
Onir received the Engendered Spirit of Independent Cinema Award 2020 at the Engendered Human Rights Film Festival in Delhi. Onir directed the Indo-Italian documentary film on contemporary art, SAMA: Symbols and Gestures in Contemporary Art of Italy and India (2021) which underlines the artistic parallels between India and Italy.
Onir's memoir; "I Am Onir and I Am Gay" which he has co-written with his sister Irene Dhar Malik was published by Penguin Viking in 2022. In August Onir's semi-autobiographical film "Pine Cone" premiered at 'The KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival where he won the 'Rainbow Warrior Award' for his film "Pine Cone". In August, 2023, "Pine Cone" had its Australian premiere at the 'Indian Film Festival Of Melbourne' where it won the 'Rainbow Stories Award'. Consecutively it was also screened at the 'Samabhav Travelling International film Festival' in Bhutan where Onir won the 'Trailblazing Award'.
He is also working on a SonyLiv web series on Pulwama Attack based on Rahul Pandita's book.
Onir is also working on a sequel to his 2011 National Award winning film "I Am", titled "We Are".Nascido no Butão- Producer
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Vikramaditya Motwane is a writer, director and producer (unfortunately not always in that order) and a partner in Phantom Films with Anurag Kashyap, Vikas Bahl and Madhu Mantena. His directorial debut Udaan (2010) was selected to compete in the 'Un Certain Regard' category at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival. He's since directed Robber (2013), Trapped (2016) and Bhavesh Joshi Superhero (2018) and was the showrunner and co-director on Sacred Games (2018), Netflix's first Indian original.- Actress
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Aparna Sen is a renowned name in Bengali as well as Indian cinema. She has excelled both as an actor in film and theatre and as a director of parallel cinema.
Aparna was born in 1945 in Kolkata. Her father is film critic and film maker Late Chidananda Das Gupta. She studied at Modern High School and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Presidency College, Kolkata. Her first film appearance happened in Satyajit Ray's Three Daughters (1961) when she was sixteen. Since then, Aparna has acted in many films in lead roles.
In 1981, Aparna made her debut as a film director with 36 Chowringhee Lane (1981) which won national and international awards. Since then, Aparna has directed series of films on a wide variety of subjects. Most of her films have been well acclaimed nationally and internationally. Aparna moved to Mumbai and continues to make films in Hindi and English.
Aparna acted in little theatre groups and commercial theatres for a period of time. She was also editor of a popular Bengali magazine (Sananda) for long time.- Director
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Dibakar Banerjee was born on 21 June 1969 in New Delhi, India. He is a director and writer, known for Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! (2015), Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar (2021) and Shanghai (2012).- Director
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Raj Kumar Gupta made his debut as a writer & director with the critically acclaimed and commercially successful 'Aamir' (2008). Shot with a shoestring budget, guerilla style on the streets of Mumbai, this edgy thriller established Raj Kumar as a filmmaker to look out for and garnered several award nominations in the Best Debut Director category that year. After penning the screenplay of 'Barah Aana' (2009), Raj Kumar Gupta wrote and directed 'No One Killed Jessica' (2011), based on the true story of the murder of Jessica Lal and the controversial trial of the case. This powerful drama featuring Rani Mukerjee and Vidya Balan drew rave reviews and set the box-office ringing. Nominated for several awards including the prestigious Filmfare & Screen Awards in the Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay categories, 'No One Killed Jessica' catapulted the filmmaker into the big league. In 2013, Raj Kumar Gupta shifted gears by surprising his audience with the suspense comic caper 'Ghanchakkar'. Starring Emraan Hashmi and Vidya Balan, the film drew an extremely divided response from both critics and viewers, but confirmed that the filmmaker wasn't going to play by the conventional rules set by the industry. Raj Kumar Gupta made his debut as a producer in 2016 with a short film titled "Aaba" under his production house Raapchik Films Pvt. Ltd. which premiered at Berlin Film Festival 2017 in the Generation K Plus Category and went on to win the prestigious International Jury Prize for Best Short film in its category.- Director
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Amole Gupte is an Indian screenwriter, actor, and director, known for his work on Bollywood films like Taare Zameen Par (Like Stars on Earth), Stanley ka dabba, Kaminey and others. He is also an actor in Bheja Fry 2 (2011), stanley Ka Dabba (2011),Urumi (2011) Phas gaye re obama (2010) and Kaminey.- Writer
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Imtiaz Ali is an Indian film director, actor and writer. In 2005, he made his directorial debut with the film Socha Na Tha. However, it was his second film Jab We Met (2007) that brought him success and fame. His 2009 film Love Aaj Kal gained much critical success, and was declared a super hit at the box office. His movie Rockstar (2011) was also a commercial and critical success. Imtiaz Ali had his origins in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand.He was brought up in Patna and Jamshedpur. He had his early education in Patna- D.B.M.S. English school, Jamshedpur,and later attended University of Delhi in Delhi, where he took part in college theater. He started Ibtida the dramatic society of Hindu College. Thereafter he moved to Mumbai and did a diploma course from Xavier Institute of Communication.- Writer
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Akshat is an Indian filmmaker who most recently wrote and directed the feature Kaalakaandi, starring Saif Ali Khan. His previous film, the smash hit Delhi Belly, was produced by Aamir Khan and won multiple awards for its writing. He also wrote the lyrics for several tracks for the soundtrack album. He wrote, directed and produced the short film Mama's Boys, a modern take on the epic Mahabharat.- Writer
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Born on 21st May 1966 in Kolkata, Sujoy Ghosh is an Indian film writer, director, actor and producer who is well known for his critically acclaimed movies like Jhankar Beats, Kahaani, Ahalya and Badla.
The film maker started the trend of multiplex movies in Bollywood with his directorial debut Jhankaar Beats in 2003 which went on to become a superhit. Ghosh's mystery thriller film Kahaani which released in the year 2012 was his path-breaking female lead movie for which he bagged many awards including a National Film Award for Best Screenplay and a Filmfare Award for Best Director. In 2016, his film Kahaani 2 was released which is a sequel to Kahaani. With his 15 minuter short film - Ahalya (2015), he started the trend of mainstream directors making digital short films.
His latest crime-thriller Badla, starring Amitabh Bachchan and Taapsee Pannu received a widespread acclaim and emerged as the content film of the year for its nail-biting plot that left the audiences at the edge of their seats till the very last moment. This is his second film with Amitabh Bachchan, first being Aladin and second being the 2016 thriller film Te3n which was produced by Sujoy. Alongside writing and directing films, Sujoy also acts with the Bengali mystery-thriller Satyanweshi (2013) being his debut film as an actor where he played the role of Byomkesh Bakshi.
Not many know but the popular phrase of the IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders - "Korbo Lorbo Jeetbo Re" was penned by Sujoy himself. With the quality driven content in his films, Sujoy Ghosh is one of the leading filmmakers in the country.- Director
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Gauri Shinde was born on 6 July 1974 in Pune, Maharashtra, India. She is a director and writer, known for English Vinglish (2012), Dear Zindagi (2016) and Chup (2022).- Director
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Ritesh Batra created a world sensation in 2013 with his wonderful The Lunchbox (2013), a bittersweet romantic comedy as well as a sensitive portrait of the city of Mumbai, torn between tradition and progress. Loved by all and everywhere on the planet, "Dabba" is strikingly the young director's first feature film. A great start for Batra, which augurs well for his career to come. Born in Mumbai in 1979 and raised there, Mr. Batra moved to New York where he studied cinema. Before his now famous "Dabba", he tried his hand at making shorts which were shown in many an international film festival. His latest to date, Café Regular, Cairo (2012) earned him the International Film Critics Association Award (FIPRESCI) and received special mentions from the jury at the Chicago and Tribeca Film Festivals. In 2009 his project then titled "Story of Ram" was selected by the Sundance Screenwriters and Directors Lab later to bloom into "Dabba" (The Lunchbox). After shooting the film, Batra chose to stay in Mumbai with his wife Claudia. In 2013, he was working on a series of shorts and on "The Photograph", his next feature.- Writer
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Tareque Masud was born in Nurpur Village of Faridpur District in Bangladesh. At an early age he was sent off to madrassa (Islamic school) by his deeply religious father. He studied in the madrassa system until 1971, when the upheaval brought about by the 9-month Liberation War interrupted his education. After Bangladesh won independence from Pakistan, he entered general education, completing his HSC from Adamjee Cantonment College and eventually graduating from Dhaka University with a degree in History.
Tareque was involved in the film society movement from his university days and started his first film Adam Surat (1991) (The Inner Strength), a documentary on the legendary Bangladeshi painter S.M. Sultan, in 1982. His 1995 feature length documentary on the '71 Liberation War, Muktir Gaan (1995) (Song of Freedom) brought record audiences and became a cult classic. He also made many other films on the war, including Muktir Kotha (1999) (Words of Freedom), Narir Kotha (Women and War) (2000) and Naroshundor (The Barbershop)(2009) . In 2002, he completed his feature film The Clay Bird (2002) (The Clay Bird), which was based on his childhood experience in the Madrassa. The film won the Critics' Prize (FIPRESCI Prize) at the Cannes Film Festival (2002), was the first Bangladeshi film to compete in the Oscars, and was released in many countries around the world.
In addition to his film making work, he was also a pioneer of the independent film movement in Bangladesh. Tareque was a founding member of the Short Film Forum, the leading platform for independent filmmakers. In 1988, he organized the country's first International Short and Documentary Film Festival, which is held on a biannual basis to this day. He was also known as the 'Cinema Feriwalla' (Vendor of Movies) for the way in which he showed his films, touring remote towns and villages throughout the country with his mobile projection unit. His wife, American-born Catherine Masud, was his creative and life partner. They met at the time he was completing work on Adam Surat (1991)and spent the next two decades making films together through their production house 'Audiovision [bd]'. Together they wrote scripts, often co-directed, and toured the country and the world with their films. Catherine also edited all of their work. Masud died on August 13, 2011 in a tragic road accident while returning from work on location for his upcoming feature film Kagojer Phul (The Paper Flower), on the 1947 partition of Bengal. Also killed in the accident was his longtime cinematographer and friend Mishuk Muneer, along with three other colleagues. Catherine Masud and four others survived the accident. Since his death, Catherine has established the 'Tareque Masud Memorial Trust', which is dedicated to the task of archiving and memorializing Masud's work through publications, educational projects, screening programs, and the completion of their unfinished oeuvre.Bangladesh- Director
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Vimukthi Jayasundara was born on 29 July 1977 in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka. He is a director and writer, known for Dark in the White Light (2015), The Forsaken Land (2005) and Ahasin Wetei (2009).Sri Lanka