Kumar Shahani

Kumar Shahani Biography

Kumar Shahani is a renowned film director and screenwriter of Bollywood, best known for his contributions to parallel cinema. Maya Darpan (1972), Tarang (1984), Khayal Gatha (1989) and Kasba (1990) are his best known works. Tarang (1984) received National Film Award – Special Jury Award. Maya darpan in 1972 won National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi as well as Filmfare award for best film – Critics’ choice. Two more of his films have won Filmfare award for best movie given by critics - Khayal Gatha in 1989 and Kasba the following year. Khayal Gatha won FIPRESCI Prize at Rotterdam International Film Festival.

He was born in Sindh, now a part of Pakistan. Shahani was born in the year 1940. After partition his family shifted to Mumbai. He completed graduation from University of Bombay and alter joined FTII Pune to study screenplay and film direction. Since then he has directed many short films. In those days he received a scholarship for his advanced studies in France. After higher studies in France he returned back to India in the early 1970s. Maya darpan released in 1972 was his debut movie, which bagged him numerous awards including National award. His second feature film Tarang was released only 12 years later as he was not able to find a financer for his movie! The movie bagged him his second national award. In between he directed two short films.

After that he directed movies regularly and all were highly praised by critics and won him numerous national and international awards as well. He received Prince Claus Award in 1998. The Bamboo Flute and As the Crow Flies are among his last works which were highly praised.

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Updated: July 23, 2014