Kumar Shahani
Encyclopedia
Kumar Shahani is a noted Indian Film director
, born in Larkana
, Sindh
(now in Pakistan
), on 7 December 1940. After the Partition of India
his family shifted to the city
of Bombay (now Mumbai
). He received a BA (hons) from the University of Bombay in Political Science
and History
and studied Screenplay
Writing and Advanced Direction at the Film and Television Institute of India
, where he was a student of Ritwik Ghatak. He also studied under the renowned Marxist historian
D. D. Kosambi
. He was awarded a French
Government Scholarship for further studies in France
, where he studied at the Institut des hautes études cinématographiques
(IDHEC) and assisted Robert Bresson
on Une Femme Douce. He returned to India
to make his first feature film Maya Darpan
in 1972 and had to wait twelve years before he received funding to make his next full length feature film, Tarang.
From 1976-1978 he held a Homi Bhabha Fellowship to study the epic tradition of the Mahābhārata
, Buddhist iconography, Indian classical music
and the Bhakti movement
.
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, born in Larkana
Larkana
Larkana or Larkano is the fourth largest city in the north-western part of Sindh Province, Pakistan, and is located within Larkana District.The old name of larkano is chandka which was changed in 1901. In August 2000 Larkana celebrated its hundred years of existence...
, Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
(now in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
), on 7 December 1940. After the Partition of India
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
his family shifted to the city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
of Bombay (now Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
). He received a BA (hons) from the University of Bombay in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
and History
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
and studied Screenplay
Screenplay
A screenplay or script is a written work that is made especially for a film or television program. Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression, and dialogues of the characters are also narrated...
Writing and Advanced Direction at 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...
, where he was a student of Ritwik Ghatak. He also studied under the renowned Marxist historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
D. D. Kosambi
D. D. Kosambi
Damodar Dharmananda Kosambi was an Indian mathematician, statistician, Marxist historian, and polymath who contributed to genetics by introducing Kosambi's map function. He is well-known for his work in numismatics and for compiling critical editions of ancient Sanskrit texts...
. He was awarded a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Government Scholarship for further studies in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, where he studied at the Institut des hautes études cinématographiques
Institut des hautes études cinématographiques
L'Institut des hautes études cinématographiques is a French film school, founded during World War II under the leadership of Marcel L'Herbier who was its president from 1944 to 1969. IDHEC offered training for directors and producers, cameramen, sound technicians, editors, art directors and...
(IDHEC) and assisted Robert Bresson
Robert Bresson
-Life and career:Bresson was born at Bromont-Lamothe, Puy-de-Dôme, the son of Marie-Élisabeth and Léon Bresson. Little is known of his early life and the year of his birth, 1901 or 1907, varies depending on the source. He was educated at Lycée Lakanal in Sceaux, Hauts-de-Seine, close to Paris, and...
on Une Femme Douce. He returned to 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...
to make his first feature film Maya Darpan
Maya Darpan
Maya Darpan is an Indian Hindi film directed by Kumar Shahani. The film stars Aditi and Anil Pandya.-External links:*...
in 1972 and had to wait twelve years before he received funding to make his next full length feature film, Tarang.
From 1976-1978 he held a Homi Bhabha Fellowship to study the epic tradition of the Mahābhārata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
, Buddhist iconography, Indian classical music
Indian classical music
The origins of Indian classical music can be found in the Vedas, which are the oldest scriptures in the Hindu tradition. Indian classical music has also been significantly influenced by, or syncretised with, Indian folk music and Persian music. The Samaveda, one of the four Vedas, describes music...
and the Bhakti movement
Bhakti movement
The Bhakti movement is a Hindu religious movement in which the main spiritual practice is loving devotion among the Shaivite and Vaishnava saints. The Bhakti movement originated in ancient Tamil Nadu and began to spread to the north during the late medieval ages when north India was under Islamic...
.
Filmography
- The Glass Pane (Diploma film, 1965)
- Manmad Passenger (short film, 1967)
- A Certain Childhood (short film, 1969)
- Rails for the World (short film, 1970)
- Object (short fim, 1971)
- Maya Darpan (1972)
- Fire in the Belly (short film, 1973)
- Our Universe (short film, 1976)
- Tarang (1984)
- Var Var Vari (short film, 1987)
- Khayal Gatha (1988)
- A Ship Aground (short film, 1989)
- Kasba (1990)
- Bhavantarana (1991)
- Char Adhyaya (1997)
- The Bamboo Flute (Birah Bharyo Ghar Aangan Kone) (2000)
- As the Crow Flies (2004)
Awards
- Filmfare Critics Awards - Best FilmFilmfare Critics Award for Best MovieThe 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...
(1972, 1990, 1991) - The International Film Festival of Rotterdam - FIPRESCIFIPRESCIThe International Federation of Film Critics is an association of national organizations of professional film critics and film journalists from around the world for "the promotion and development of film culture and for the safeguarding of professional interests." It was founded in June 1930 in...
Award (1990) - Prince Claus Award (1998)