Prakash Jha
Encyclopedia
Prakash Jha is an India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

n film producer-director-screenwriter, who is most known for his political and socio-political films such as Damul
Damul
Damul is a 1985 Hindi film directed by Prakash Jha, based on a story by Shaiwal, a native of Gaya district of Bihar. , and Annu Kapoor, Sreela Mazumdar, Manohar Singh, Deepti Naval, Ranjan Kamath and Pyare Mohan Sahay in lead roles.-Plot:The story is about a bonded labourer who is forced to steal...

(1984), Mrityudand
Mrityudand
Mrityudand is an Indian Hindi movie released in 1997. It was directed and produced by Prakash Jha and stars Madhuri Dixit, Shabana Azmi, Ayub Khan, Mohan Agashe and Om Puri....

(1997), Gangaajal
Gangaajal
Gangaajal was 2003 Hindi film, directed by Prakash Jha, and was the brain child of Mr. Mahendra Lalka, starring Ajay Devgan, Gracy Singh, and Mukesh Tiwari...

(2003), Apaharan
Apaharan
Apaharan is a 2005 Hindi film released on the 2 December 2005 and is directed by Prakash Jha and stars Ajay Devgan and Nana Patekar in the lead roles...

(2005) and multistarrer hit movie Raajneeti (2010). He is also the maker of National Film Award winning documentaries like, Faces After The Storm (1984) and Sonal (2002).

He now runs a production company, Prakash Jha Productions.

Early life and education

Prakash Jha was born in a Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...

 Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...

 family and was raised at his family's farm in Baraharwa, Bettiah, West Champaran, Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....

, India. He did his schooling from Sainik School Tilaya
Sainik School
The Sainik Schools are a system of schools in India established and managed by the Sainik Schools Society. They were conceived in 1961 by V. K. Krishna Menon, the then Defence Minister of India, to rectify the regional and class imbalance amongst the Officer cadre of the Indian Military, and to...

, Koderma district
Koderma District
Koderma district is one of the twenty-four districts of Jharkhand state, India, and Koderma is the administrative headquarters of this district.Koderma district was created on 10 April 1994, after being carved out of the original Hazaribagh district...

 and Kendriya Vidyalaya
Kendriya Vidyalaya
Kendriya Vidyalaya, is a system of central government schools under the Ministry of Human Resource Development ....

 No. 1, Bokaro Steel City
Bokaro Steel City
Bokaro Steel City is one of the largest Industrial city situated in the State of Jharkhand, in India. Bokaro is the 48th cleanest city in India and second in Jharkhand after Jamshedpur and one of the best cities to live in India...

 (now in Jharkhand
Jharkhand
Jharkhand is a state in eastern India. It was carved out of the southern part of Bihar on 15 November 2000. Jharkhand shares its border with the states of Bihar to the north, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to the west, Orissa to the south, and West Bengal to the east...

). Later, he joined Ramjas College
Ramjas College
Ramjas College is a constituent college of the University of Delhi located in Delhi, India. The college admits both undergraduates and post-graduates, and awards degrees under the purview of the University...

, Delhi University to do B.Sc (Hons) in Physics; though he left studies after one year, 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 of the film Dharma and got hooked on to filmmaking.

Soon he joined the Film and Television Institute of India
Film and Television Institute of India
Film and Television Institute of India , is an autonomous Institute under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt. of India. It is fully aided by Central Government of India. It is situated in the premises of the erstwhile Prabhat Film Company in Pune, India...

 (FTII
FTII
FTII may refer to:* Film and Television Institute of India, Pune* a title indicating that the bearer is a Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Taxation in the United Kingdom...

), Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...

 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 never went back to complete the course.

Career

While still midway through his course, he started working on films independently, in 1974, 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 Sharif 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
National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film
The National Film Award – Best Non-Feature Film is given by the Directorate of film festivals under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The winners are given a Swarna Kamal and a cash prize of Rs.1,00,000.-Winners:...

 for the year.

Finally, he made his debut, as a feature film director, Hip Hip Hurray in 1983, scripted by Gulzar
Gulzar (lyricist)
Sampooran Singh Kalra , known popularly by his pen name Gulzar , is an Indian poet, lyricist and director. He primarily writes in Hindi-Urdu and has also written in Punjabi and several dialects of Hindi such as Braj Bhasha, Khariboli, Haryanvi and Marwari.Gulzar was awarded the Padma Bhushan in...

 and starring, Raj Kiran and Deepti Naval as leads. Next came, the film he received most recognition with, Damul
Damul
Damul is a 1985 Hindi film directed by Prakash Jha, based on a story by Shaiwal, a native of Gaya district of Bihar. , and Annu Kapoor, Sreela Mazumdar, Manohar Singh, Deepti Naval, Ranjan Kamath and Pyare Mohan Sahay in lead roles.-Plot:The story is about a bonded labourer who is forced to steal...

(1984), which won the National Film Award for Best Film
National Film Award for Best Film
The National Award for Best Feature film is one of the National Film Awards presented annually by the Directorate of Film Festivals, India, and was constituted in the year 1954. This is one of the Golden Lotus Awards given among National Film Awards...

 and the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie
Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie
The Filmfare Awards are the oldest and most prominent film awards given for Hindi films in India. The yearly awards started in 1953. Movie awards were first given by popular vote...

 in 1985. The film was based on the bonded labour issue in Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....

.

In 1986, he directed, Parinati, based on the story by Vijaydan Detha
Vijaydan Detha
Vijaydan Detha also known as Bijji is a noted writer from Rajasthan and a recipient of Padma Shri award. He is also recipient of several other awards such as Sahitya Akademi Award and Sahitya Chudamani Award....

.

Over the years he has made over 25 documentaries, nine feature films, two television features and three television series.

In 2010, he directed Raajneeti, which was a contemporary take on the epic, Mahabharat. It starred Ajay Devgan
Ajay Devgan
Ajay Devgan , born Vishal Veeru Devgan on 2 April 1969, is an Indian film actor, director, and producer.He made his film debut with Phool Aur Kaante in 1991 and received a Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut for his performance in the film and for which he won a Filmfare Best Debut Award...

, Manoj Bajpai
Manoj Bajpai
Manoj Bajpai , also credited as Manoj Bajpayee, is an Indian film actor, known for playing offbeat and unconventional roles. He first shot into fame with his breakthrough role in Ram Gopal Varma's 1998 film Satya.-Early life:...

, Naseeruddin Shah
Naseeruddin Shah
Naseeruddin Shah is an Indian / Bollywood film actor and director. He is considered to be one of the finest actors of Indian cinema. In 2003, the Government of India honored him with the Padma Bhushan for his contributions towards Indian cinema.-Early life:...

, Katrina Kaif
Katrina Kaif
Katrina Kaif is a British Indian actress and former model who appears in Indian films, mainly in the Hindi-language film industry. She has also appeared in Telugu and Malayalam films. She was voted the sexiest Asian woman in the world by Eastern Eye in the years 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011...

, Arjun Rampal
Arjun Rampal
Arjun Rampal , born 26 November 1972, is an award-winning Indian actor who appears in Bollywood films, as well as a fashion model.- Film career :...

, Nana Patekar
Nana Patekar
Vishwanath "Nana" Patekar is an Indian actor and filmmaker.-Biography:Born Vishwanath Patekar in Murud-Janjira, Maharashtra, to Dinkar Patekar and his wife Sanjanabai Patekar. He is an alumnus of the Sir J.J...

 and Ranbir Kapoor
Ranbir Kapoor
Ranbir Kapoor is an Indian actor who appears in Bollywood movies.Making his acting debut in the 2007 film Saawariya, for which he won the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut, Kapoor went on to earn critical praise for his performance in Wake Up Sid...

 and was a critical and commercial success. His next venture was Aarakshan
Aarakshan
Aarakshan is a 2011 Hindi film starring Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone. Directed by Prakash Jha, the film is a socio-political drama based on the controversial policy of caste based reservations in government jobs and educational institutions...

which starred Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan is an Indian film actor. He first gained popularity in the early 1970s as the "angry young man" of Hindi cinema, and has since appeared in over 180 Indian films in a career spanning more than four decades...

, Saif Ali Khan
Saif Ali Khan
Saif Ali Khan is an Indian actor known for his work in Bollywood films. He is the son of the late former Nawab of Pataudi, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, and actress Sharmila Tagore. He has two sisters: Saba Ali Khan and actress Soha Ali Khan....

 Deepika Padukone
Deepika Padukone
Deepika Padukone is an Indian actress and a former model. She appears mostly in Hindi as well as Tamil and Kannada language films. Born to Badminton player Prakash Padukone, she chose to become an actress and not pursue a career in sports.Padukone made her acting debut in the 2006 Kannada film...

 and Prateik Babbar.

On 24 August 2011, Jha announced that he will make a film on Anna Hazare
Anna Hazare
Kisan Baburao Hazare , popularly known as Anna Hazare is an Indian social activist and a prominent leader in the 2011 Indian anti-corruption movement, using nonviolent methods following the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi...

.

Politics

Prakash Jha fought and lost election to the Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...

 from his native Champaran in 2004. He again lost election to the Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...

 in 2009 as Lok Janashakti Party candidate from West Champaran.

Social initiatives

For the last five years Prakash Jha has been seriously involved with development initiatives in Bihar. He has been spearheading growth in infrastructure, health care and vocational training facilities in the state through the NGO Anubhooti.

Anubhooti

Prakash Jha is the chairman of Anubhooti, a registered society that has been working for cultural development , improvement of health care, disaster management and the upliftment of farmers and socio-economic backward people in Bihar since 1991.

Most recently, the organization has been working for flood survivors. After the Kosi flood on 18 August 2008, Anubhooti has provided complete relief to 6000 people since September 2008. Anubhooti has created a model village, Hindolwa village, for the flood affected and is working towards their complete rehabilitation.

Director

  • Satyagraha (Announced)
  • Satsang (Announced)
  • Aarakshan
    Aarakshan
    Aarakshan is a 2011 Hindi film starring Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone. Directed by Prakash Jha, the film is a socio-political drama based on the controversial policy of caste based reservations in government jobs and educational institutions...

    (2011)
  • Raajneeti (2010)
  • Apaharan
    Apaharan
    Apaharan is a 2005 Hindi film released on the 2 December 2005 and is directed by Prakash Jha and stars Ajay Devgan and Nana Patekar in the lead roles...

    (2005)
  • Gangaajal
    Gangaajal
    Gangaajal was 2003 Hindi film, directed by Prakash Jha, and was the brain child of Mr. Mahendra Lalka, starring Ajay Devgan, Gracy Singh, and Mukesh Tiwari...

    (2003)
  • Rahul
    Rahul (film)
    Rahul is an Indian Emotional Drama film directed and produced by Prakash Jha. The film stars Neha, Neena Kulkarni and Gulshan Grover in leadroles.-Sypnosis:...

    (2001)
  • Dil Kya Kare (1999)
  • Mrityudand
    Mrityudand
    Mrityudand is an Indian Hindi movie released in 1997. It was directed and produced by Prakash Jha and stars Madhuri Dixit, Shabana Azmi, Ayub Khan, Mohan Agashe and Om Puri....

    (1997)
  • Bandish (1996)
  • Parinati
    Parinati
    Parinati is a 1986 Hindi film directed by Prakash Jha.this film is based on a follk tale .it was nandita das`s first movie.-Awards:* Silver Lotus - Best Costume Design - 1988...

    (1989)
  • Damul
    Damul
    Damul is a 1985 Hindi film directed by Prakash Jha, based on a story by Shaiwal, a native of Gaya district of Bihar. , and Annu Kapoor, Sreela Mazumdar, Manohar Singh, Deepti Naval, Ranjan Kamath and Pyare Mohan Sahay in lead roles.-Plot:The story is about a bonded labourer who is forced to steal...

    (1985)
  • Hip Hip Hurrey (1984)

Producer

  • Satyagrah (Announced)
  • Aarakshan
    Aarakshan
    Aarakshan is a 2011 Hindi film starring Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan and Deepika Padukone. Directed by Prakash Jha, the film is a socio-political drama based on the controversial policy of caste based reservations in government jobs and educational institutions...

    (2011)
  • Yeh Saali Zindagi
    Yeh Saali Zindagi
    Yeh Saali Zindagi is a 2011 Hindi romantic drama film directed by Sudhir Mishra and starring Irrfan Khan, Arunoday Singh, Chitrangda Singh and Aditi Rao Hydari. The film was released on February 4, 2011.-Plot:...

    (2011)
  • Turning 30
    Turning 30
    Turning 30!!! is a 2011 Bollywood film produced by Prakash Jha and directed by Alankita Srivastav - a long time assistant of Jha.The movie features Gul Panag, Siddharth Makkar and Purab Kohli, with music composed by the music director duo of Sidharth-Suhas, whose past works include Dil Dosti and...

    (2011)
  • Raajneeti (2010)
  • Khoya Khoya Chand
    Khoya Khoya Chand
    Khoya Khoya Chand, is a Bollywood film directed by Sudhir Mishra which released on 7 December 2007. The film stars Shiney Ahuja and Soha Ali Khan in the lead roles with Rajat Kapoor, Sushmita Mukherjee, Sonya Jehan and Vinay Pathak in important roles...

    (2007)
  • Dil Dosti Etc
    Dil Dosti Etc
    Dil Dosti Etc. is a 2007 Bollywood film starring Shreyas Talpade, Imaad Shah, Nikita Anand, Smriti Mishra, Ishita Sharma and Dinesh Kumar in lead roles. It is directed by Manish Tiwary and produced by Prakash Jha.The movie got mixed reviews on its release...

    (2007)
  • Apaharan
    Apaharan
    Apaharan is a 2005 Hindi film released on the 2 December 2005 and is directed by Prakash Jha and stars Ajay Devgan and Nana Patekar in the lead roles...

    (2005)
  • Gangaajal
    Gangaajal
    Gangaajal was 2003 Hindi film, directed by Prakash Jha, and was the brain child of Mr. Mahendra Lalka, starring Ajay Devgan, Gracy Singh, and Mukesh Tiwari...

    (2003)
  • Mrityudand
    Mrityudand
    Mrityudand is an Indian Hindi movie released in 1997. It was directed and produced by Prakash Jha and stars Madhuri Dixit, Shabana Azmi, Ayub Khan, Mohan Agashe and Om Puri....

    (1997)
  • Bandish (1996)
  • Parinati
    Parinati
    Parinati is a 1986 Hindi film directed by Prakash Jha.this film is based on a follk tale .it was nandita das`s first movie.-Awards:* Silver Lotus - Best Costume Design - 1988...

    (1989)
  • Damul
    Damul
    Damul is a 1985 Hindi film directed by Prakash Jha, based on a story by Shaiwal, a native of Gaya district of Bihar. , and Annu Kapoor, Sreela Mazumdar, Manohar Singh, Deepti Naval, Ranjan Kamath and Pyare Mohan Sahay in lead roles.-Plot:The story is about a bonded labourer who is forced to steal...

    (1985)

Story Writer

  • Apaharan
    Apaharan
    Apaharan is a 2005 Hindi film released on the 2 December 2005 and is directed by Prakash Jha and stars Ajay Devgan and Nana Patekar in the lead roles...

    (2005)
  • Gangaajal
    Gangaajal
    Gangaajal was 2003 Hindi film, directed by Prakash Jha, and was the brain child of Mr. Mahendra Lalka, starring Ajay Devgan, Gracy Singh, and Mukesh Tiwari...

    (2003)
  • Dil Kya Kare (1999)
  • Damul
    Damul
    Damul is a 1985 Hindi film directed by Prakash Jha, based on a story by Shaiwal, a native of Gaya district of Bihar. , and Annu Kapoor, Sreela Mazumdar, Manohar Singh, Deepti Naval, Ranjan Kamath and Pyare Mohan Sahay in lead roles.-Plot:The story is about a bonded labourer who is forced to steal...

    (1985)

National Film Awards

  • 1984: National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film
    National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film
    The National Film Award – Best Non-Feature Film is given by the Directorate of film festivals under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The winners are given a Swarna Kamal and a cash prize of Rs.1,00,000.-Winners:...

    : Faces After The Storm (1984)
  • 1985: National Film Award for Best Feature Film: Damul
    Damul
    Damul is a 1985 Hindi film directed by Prakash Jha, based on a story by Shaiwal, a native of Gaya district of Bihar. , and Annu Kapoor, Sreela Mazumdar, Manohar Singh, Deepti Naval, Ranjan Kamath and Pyare Mohan Sahay in lead roles.-Plot:The story is about a bonded labourer who is forced to steal...

    (1985)
  • 1987: National Film Award for Best Arts/Cultural Film
    National Film Award for Best Arts/Cultural Film
    The National Film Award - Best Arts/Cultural Film winners:...

    : Kudiattam
    Kudiattam
    Kudiattam is a 1986 documentary film on 2000 year old Sanskrit drama tradition of Kerala state of India, Kutiyattam. The film is directed by Prakash Jha. The film features greatest Kutiyattam maestro of modern times Guru Natyacharya Māni Mādhava Chākyār. The film has won Indian government's...

  • 1988: National Film Award for Best Costume Design
    National Film Award for Best Costume Design
    The National Film Award for Best Costume Design winners:...

    : Parinati
  • 1988: National Film Award for Best Industrial Documentary: Looking Back
  • 2002: National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film
    National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film
    The National Film Award – Best Non-Feature Film is given by the Directorate of film festivals under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The winners are given a Swarna Kamal and a cash prize of Rs.1,00,000.-Winners:...

    : Sonal
  • 2004: National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues
    National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues
    The National Film Award - Best Film on Other Social Issues winners:...

    : Gangaajal
    Gangaajal
    Gangaajal was 2003 Hindi film, directed by Prakash Jha, and was the brain child of Mr. Mahendra Lalka, starring Ajay Devgan, Gracy Singh, and Mukesh Tiwari...

    (2003)
  • 2006: National Film Award for Best Screenplay
    National Film Award for Best Screenplay
    The National Film Award for Best Screenplay winners:-References:...

    : Apaharan
    Apaharan
    Apaharan is a 2005 Hindi film released on the 2 December 2005 and is directed by Prakash Jha and stars Ajay Devgan and Nana Patekar in the lead roles...

    (2005)

Filmfare Awards

  • 1983: Best Documentary of the year: Faces After The Storm (1983)
  • 1985: Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie
    Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie
    The Filmfare Awards are the oldest and most prominent film awards given for Hindi films in India. The yearly awards started in 1953. Movie awards were first given by popular vote...

    : Damul
    Damul
    Damul is a 1985 Hindi film directed by Prakash Jha, based on a story by Shaiwal, a native of Gaya district of Bihar. , and Annu Kapoor, Sreela Mazumdar, Manohar Singh, Deepti Naval, Ranjan Kamath and Pyare Mohan Sahay in lead roles.-Plot:The story is about a bonded labourer who is forced to steal...

    (1985)
  • 2006:Filmfare Best Dialogue Award
    Filmfare Best Dialogue Award
    The Filmfare Best Dialogue Award is given by the Filmfare as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films. Here is a list of the award winners since 1958 and the films for which they won.-Superlatives:Most AwardsGulzar - 4...

    : Apaharan
    Apaharan
    Apaharan is a 2005 Hindi film released on the 2 December 2005 and is directed by Prakash Jha and stars Ajay Devgan and Nana Patekar in the lead roles...

    (2005)

Star Screen Awards

  • 2005: Star Screen Best Screenplay Award: Apaharan
  • 2011: Star Screen Best Screenplay Award: Raajneeti

Other Awards

  • 1983: International Film Festival of India, Special Jury Award: Faces After The Storm
  • 1984: All India Film Awards Association, Best Director: Hip Hip Hurray
  • 1986: Baba Saheb Ambedkar Award, Social Understanding
  • 1998: Screen Cinema Award, Best Actor in a Negative Role: Mrityudand - Death Sentence
  • 1998: Screen Cinema Award, Best Dialogue: Mrityudand - Death Sentence
  • 1998: Screen Cinema Award, Best Screenplay: Mrityudand - Death Sentence
  • 1998: Zee Cine Award, Best Dialogue: Mrityudand - Death Sentence
  • 1998: Zee Cine Award, Best Director: Mrityudand - Death Sentence
  • 1998: Sansui Film Awards, Best Film (Critics Choice): Mrityudand - Death Sentence
  • 1998: Sansui Film Awards, Best Actress: Mrityudand - Death Sentence

International Awards

  • 1988: Presented as An Outstanding Film at the London Film Festival at the London Film Festival: Parinati - The Inevitable
  • 1998: Special Jury Award, Cinema Tout Ecran, Geneva for Best Feature: Mrityudand - Death Sentence
  • 1998: Audience Award, Best Feature, Bangkok Film Festival: Mrityudand - Death Sentence

International Acclaim

  • Damul - Bonded Until Death invited for competition and participation at Montreal, Berlin, Chicago, Moscow and several other festivals (1986-1987)
  • Parinati - The Inevitable invited to several film festivals including the London International Film Festival (1988)
  • Parampara - Traditions and Abhivyakti - An Expression represented India at the Festival of India in France and Japan.
  • Mrityudand - Death Sentence invited to several festivals like London, Dublin, Melbourne, Riocine (Brazil), Bangkok, New York Human Rights Festival, Cinema Tout Ecran (Geneva) and others.
  • Apaharan - Opening film of the Indian Film Festival in Israel (2005)

External links


  • Interview - Director Prakash Jha at Rediff.com
    Rediff.com
    Rediff.com India is a news, information, entertainment, and shopping portal. It was founded in 1996 as "Rediff On The NeT" and is headquartered in Mumbai, India with offices in New Delhi and New York City, USA....

    .
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