- Prakash Jha
Infobox actor
name = Prakash Jha
imagesize =
caption =
birthname =
birthdate = Birth date and age|1952|2|27|mf=y
location =West Champaran ,Bihar ,India
deathdate =
deathplace =
occupation =producer ,director screenwriter
yearsactive = 1976- present
spouse =Deepti Naval (divorced)
othername =
awards = 1985:National Film Award for Best Film : "Damul " (1985) 1985:Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie : "Damul " (1985)2004:National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues : "Gangaajal " (2003) 2006:National Film Award for Best Screenplay : "Apaharan " (2005)2006:Filmfare Best Dialogue Award : "Apaharan " (2005)Prakash Jha (
Hindi : प्रकाश झा) is anIndia n film producer-director-screenwriter, who is most known for his political and socio-political films, "Damul " (1984), "Mrityudand " (1997), and "Gangaajal " 2003. He is also the maker ofNational Film Award winning documentaries like, "Face After Storm" (1984) and "Sonal" (2002).He now runs a production company, 'Prakash Jha Productions' [ [http://www.prakashjhaproductions.com/ Prakash Jha Productions website] .]
Biography
Early life and education
Prakash Jha was born in
1952 and raised at his family's farm inWest Champaran ,Bihar , India. He did his schooling from Sainik School Tilaya,Koderma district , (now inJharkhand )', and later, he joinedRamjas College ,Delhi University to do B.Sc (Hons) in Physics; though he left studies after one year [http://passionforcinema.com/prakash-jha-hrishikesh-mukharjee-cried-after-watching-my-film/ Prakash Jha Interview Part I] passionforcinema.com.] , and decided to go to Bombay and become a painter, though while he was preparing for J.J. School of Arts, he happen to witness the shooting film "Dharma" and got hooked on to filmmaking.Soon he joined the
Film and Television Institute of India (FTII ),Pune in 1973, to do a course in Editing, though midway through it, the institution was closed for while, due to student agitation, so he came to Bombay, and started working, and completed the course in 1976 [http://books.google.com/books?id=-OpkAAAAMAAJ&q=Prakash+Jha&dq=Prakash+Jha&pgis=1 Prakash Jha] "The Cinemas of India", by Yves Thoraval. Macmillan India, 2000. ISBN 0333934105, 9780333934104. "Page 191-192."] .Career
While still midway through his course, he started working on films independently, in
1974 [ [http://www.rediff.com/movies/2003/feb/03jha.htm Interviews] "Movies", "Rediff.com ",February 03 ,2003 .] , and made his first documentary, 'Under the Blue' in 1975, and continued to do so for next 8 years .During this period he made some highly politically charged documentaries, like the one of 'Bihar Sarif riots', titled, "Faces After Storm" (1984), which received considerable attention, as it was banned within 4-5 days of its released though later it won the
National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film for the year.Finally, he made his debut, as a feature film director, "Hip Hip Hurray" in 1983, scripted by
Gulzar and starring, Raj Kiran and Deepti Naval as leads [ [http://www.telegraphindia.com/1051204/asp/look/story_5541502.asp Filmmaker sees hope in Bihar] Telegraph",December 4 ,2005 .] . Next came, the film he received most recognition with,Damul (1984), which won theNational Film Award for Best Film and theFilmfare Critics Award for Best Movie in 1985. The film was based on thebonded labour issue inBihar .In 1986, he directed, "Parinati", based on the story by
Vijaydan Detha [ [http://passionforcinema.com/prakash-jha-deepti-naval-and-i-never-cherished-any-negativity-between-us/ Prakash Jha Interview] passionforcinema.com.] . Starting late 1980s, he made four TV series, like a 13 part "Classical dances from India", and the famous comedy seriesMungerilal Ke Haseen Sapne , starringRaghuvir Yadav .In 1989, he took a sabbatical from films, and moved to Bihar for four years, during period he formed two organizations, "Anubhooti", which trained young people from region, in film making, and "Samvedan", in
Champaran , to promote small and micro industries. His first come back film in his second inning, was Bandish (1996), starringJackie Shroff andJuhi Chawala , which followed byMrityudand (1997), starringMadhuri Dixit andShabana Azmi in lead roles and a story set in his homestate Bihar, andGangaajal , withAjay Devgan , this movie was a brain child ofMr. Mahendra Lalka (Retd. IPS), was yet again themed on Bihar, this time on1980 Bhagalpur blindings . His 2005,Apaharan , starringAjay Devgan andBipasha Basu , based on the growing "kidnapping industry in Hindi heartland", won him , theFilmfare Best Dialogue Award in2006 .
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