Vinay Shukla
Encyclopedia
Vinay Shukla is an India
n film writer and director, who is maker of Hindi film Godmother
, which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi
in 1999.
- clearly established him as a craftsman capable of combining the nuances of good cinema within the popular narrative form.
. So, he joined the Film and Television Institute
at Pune. The high quality training and exposure to the best in world cinema at the institute set the ground for a deep and life-long interest in not just film-making in general, but more particularly the unique and vibrant narrative form that is at the center of popular Indian films. He passed out with a Gold Medal and immediately plunged into the first step of film-making- scriptwriting.
Twenty five odd films followed in regular succession. Vinay Shukla kept experimenting with different styles of story conception, screenplay formats and dialog construction in regular mainstream fare (Satyamev Jayate, Ram Jaane
, Virasat
...) as well as off-the-beaten-track subjects (Parinay, Tarang...) achieving success and/or acclaim along the way as well as popular awards.
Simultaneously, his interest in traditional performing arts and their narrative peculiarities continued to enrich his own understanding of the elements that the Indian film narrative form had borrowed from each. He was increasingly convinced that an awareness of popular Indian cinema among Bollywood
's writers and directors could lead to much more imaginative, engaging and entertaining forms that could also allow serious issues and themes to be tackled in the screenplay.
This conviction led to the most definitive example of this form in Vinay Shukla's career until now- Godmother
. The film had critics raving for a long time. It also received six National Awards
, including for Best Feature Film in Hindi
and Best Actress
and a Filmfare Award.
, Pune, which he helped set up in 2004, and also at the Whistling Woods, Mumbai. He has conducted scriptwriting workshops in Lucknow, at the Satyajit Ray Film Institute, Kolkata and was a mentor at MAISHA (Mira Nair's organisation), Kampala in 2006.
His most recent written & directed film Mirch released in December, 2010. The film revolves around four short stories subjected on issues of women emancipation, based on a story from the Panchatantra which travels in its various versions to modern times. Konkona Sen Sharma and Raima Sen star in two of these short stories. The film premiered at the I View Film Festival on September 26, 2010, where it won the Popular Choice Award for Outstanding Cinema.
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 writer and director, who is maker of Hindi film Godmother
Godmother (film)
Godmother is a Hindi movie directed by Vinay Shukla released in 1999, and ostensibly inspired by the life of Santokben Jadeja.-Cast:* Shabana Azmi - Rambhi* Milind Gunaji - Veeram* Nirmal Pandey - Jakhra* Govind Namdeo - Kesubhai...
, which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi
National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi
The National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi awards the best regional film in Hindi language. Initially the award was known as the President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Hindi. The winners in this category are:...
in 1999.
Profile
Vinay Shukla has been an active scriptwriter and director of Hindi films over the last three decades. His films have had the distinction of not only succeeding at the box office but also garnering critical acclaim and prestigious awards. His most well-known film, GodmotherGodmother (film)
Godmother is a Hindi movie directed by Vinay Shukla released in 1999, and ostensibly inspired by the life of Santokben Jadeja.-Cast:* Shabana Azmi - Rambhi* Milind Gunaji - Veeram* Nirmal Pandey - Jakhra* Govind Namdeo - Kesubhai...
- clearly established him as a craftsman capable of combining the nuances of good cinema within the popular narrative form.
History
His association with performance arts began at the age of nine when he began participating in radio plays at Akashwani, Jaipur. Thereafter, his creative urges led him into theater at the college and university levels. It was only expected that these experiences would eventually draw him towards the most powerful medium of our times- cinemaFilm
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
. So, he joined the Film and Television Institute
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...
at Pune. The high quality training and exposure to the best in world cinema at the institute set the ground for a deep and life-long interest in not just film-making in general, but more particularly the unique and vibrant narrative form that is at the center of popular Indian films. He passed out with a Gold Medal and immediately plunged into the first step of film-making- scriptwriting.
Twenty five odd films followed in regular succession. Vinay Shukla kept experimenting with different styles of story conception, screenplay formats and dialog construction in regular mainstream fare (Satyamev Jayate, Ram Jaane
Ram Jaane
Ram Jaane is a 1995 Indian Bollywood movie directed by Rajiv Mehra about an unnamed kid who grows up to become a gangster. He uses the name Ram Jaane after meeting with a priest who in response to the kid asking about his name said "Ram Jaane"...
, Virasat
Virasat (1997 film)
Virasat is a Hindi musical drama film by Priyadarshan that was released in India in 1997. It starred Anil Kapoor, Tabu, Amrish Puri, Pooja Batra, Milind Gunaji and Govind Namdeo. The story was by Kamal Hassan and Anu Malik was the music composer...
...) as well as off-the-beaten-track subjects (Parinay, Tarang...) achieving success and/or acclaim along the way as well as popular awards.
Simultaneously, his interest in traditional performing arts and their narrative peculiarities continued to enrich his own understanding of the elements that the Indian film narrative form had borrowed from each. He was increasingly convinced that an awareness of popular Indian cinema among Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
's writers and directors could lead to much more imaginative, engaging and entertaining forms that could also allow serious issues and themes to be tackled in the screenplay.
This conviction led to the most definitive example of this form in Vinay Shukla's career until now- Godmother
Godmother (film)
Godmother is a Hindi movie directed by Vinay Shukla released in 1999, and ostensibly inspired by the life of Santokben Jadeja.-Cast:* Shabana Azmi - Rambhi* Milind Gunaji - Veeram* Nirmal Pandey - Jakhra* Govind Namdeo - Kesubhai...
. The film had critics raving for a long time. It also received six National Awards
National Film Awards
The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it is administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorate of Film Festivals since 1973.Every year, a national panel...
, including for Best Feature Film in Hindi
National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi
The National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi awards the best regional film in Hindi language. Initially the award was known as the President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Hindi. The winners in this category are:...
and Best Actress
National Film Award for Best Actress
The National Film Award for Best Actress is an honor presented annually at the National Film Awards of India to an actress who has delivered the best performance in a leading role within the Indian film industry...
and a Filmfare Award.
Current status
Vinay Shukla lectures at the Screenplay Writing course at the FTIIFilm 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...
, Pune, which he helped set up in 2004, and also at the Whistling Woods, Mumbai. He has conducted scriptwriting workshops in Lucknow, at the Satyajit Ray Film Institute, Kolkata and was a mentor at MAISHA (Mira Nair's organisation), Kampala in 2006.
His most recent written & directed film Mirch released in December, 2010. The film revolves around four short stories subjected on issues of women emancipation, based on a story from the Panchatantra which travels in its various versions to modern times. Konkona Sen Sharma and Raima Sen star in two of these short stories. The film premiered at the I View Film Festival on September 26, 2010, where it won the Popular Choice Award for Outstanding Cinema.
Selected filmography
- Mirch (2010)
- Koi Mere Dil Se PoochheKoi Mere Dil Se PoochheKoi Mere Dil Se Poochhe is a Bollywood romance/thriller movie directed by Vinay Shukla released on January 11, 2002, starring Jaya Bachchan, Aftab Shivdasani, Sanjay Kapoor and Esha Deol in her film debut...
(2002) - GodmotherGodmother (film)Godmother is a Hindi movie directed by Vinay Shukla released in 1999, and ostensibly inspired by the life of Santokben Jadeja.-Cast:* Shabana Azmi - Rambhi* Milind Gunaji - Veeram* Nirmal Pandey - Jakhra* Govind Namdeo - Kesubhai...
(1999) - Ram-JaaneRam JaaneRam Jaane is a 1995 Indian Bollywood movie directed by Rajiv Mehra about an unnamed kid who grows up to become a gangster. He uses the name Ram Jaane after meeting with a priest who in response to the kid asking about his name said "Ram Jaane"...
(1995) - Sameera (1981)
- Hum Paanch (1980)