Bollywood Home » Film Makers in Bollywood » Govind Nihalani


Govind Nihalani is a director par excellence. He is known for making thought provoking films based on contemporary issues. He makes his characters identical with situations common to the masses. Today, Govind Nihalani's name is associated with movies which make you sit up and think on the burning issues of Indian society and time.

Govind Nihalani was born in Pakistan. He moved to India after partition. He started his career as a photographer. He worked with some great directors. These included Shyam Benegal and Girish Karnad. After learning the craft from them he started making his own movies in early 1980's. His intense and thought provoking movies caught the imagination of one and all.

The movies of Govind Nihalani are very unlike other contemporary directors. The movie hits you hard at the end and casts a spell on you long after you have it is over. In fact his movies effect starts only after the movie ends. They make you seek answers from within and even from history. He deals with such contemporary issues like dowry system and corruption among the masses and political nuisances within the Indian society.



Govind Nihalani's characters fall into a certain pattern. Beset with their own personal problems they are all morally correct in their own small world. The movies leads to a tussle with the outside and the inside world. The characters have a fire within themselves, anger against the society for its harsh impositions. His movies are a trip into the minds of his characters.

Among the film makers in Bollywood, the characters of Govind Nihalani ask the same questions that arise in our mind regarding the conditions in the society. Thus he slowly draws you into the movie and makes you breathe the character for real. The movie thus becomes an account of how they cope with that new change or problem. In all the movies characters emerge stronger.



His first directorial venture was Aakrosh. This movie had Om Puri, Naseeruddin Shah, Smita Patil and Amrish Puri in the lead roles. It shared the Golden Peacock for best film at the International Film Festival of India held in New Delhi in 1981. His film Ardh Satya was also very well received. Over the years he has directed many films all of which have left a mark in the minds of the people. Other famous movies include Tamas, Drohkaal, Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Ma, and Dev.

Detailed online information about Govind Nihalani is provided in sitagita.com  

Post Comment
Name :
Email :
Comments :