Directors to watch out for

Posted on March 3, 2005 by amodini

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A good director is one who makes a movie, which will keep you from falling asleep. Well …….. ,not really. Yes, I need my Zs but not that badly, and definitely not when I’m watching a movie. Although, to look at some Hindi films, you’d think that’s what the director was aiming for – my health. “Ah,” he/she thinks, “Let’s give the poor hardworking sod/female sod some well-earned sleep-time.” The movie had better keep you awake (at a minimum) and entertained, and engrossed, and enchanted, and ……… you get the picture.

So, nowdays when I look for a good Hindi movie, I look for the director’s name. If it is any of the below, you’re generally guaranteed a good film (although there are exceptions). OK then, here’s a list of directors who are making some of the good stuff, the stuff which keeps you wide awake, way past your you-know-what.

1. Farhan Akhtar : Son of Javed Akhtar and Honey Irani, he’s made 2 films todate. Both films are about urban young men, and their lives.

2. Sanjay Leela Bhansali : No famous backgroud I think, apparently very attached to his mom (that’s where he gets the “Leela”), and has made the following movies. I may not like all of them, but each one features some scenes, which are nothing but poetry in motion.

    • Khamoshi-a musical
    • Hum dil de chuke sanam
    • Devdas
    • Black
3. Ashutosh Gowariker : He’s acted in a few films (never in a lead role though), and has directed the fantastic “Swades”. No ethereal poetry here; the films are set on rock-solid earth, and are prominently about “doing the right thing”.

4. Ram Gopal Verma : He’s been making films awhile now, and directed the absolutely fantabulous “Company”. He’s made his mark in gangster films (Saathiya, Company), and suspense thrillers (Kaun,PTKK,Road,Jungle). Generally addicted to his leading ladies, first Urmila Matondkar, and now Antara Mali. He also directed the regrettable film “Daud”.

    5. E. Nivas : In his early twenties. The only movie of his that I’m aware of is

      • Shool (a fantastic film)

    6. Gulzar : aka Sampooran singh; he needs no introduction. He has directed many films, mostly in Hindi, and is writer-composer-director extraordinaire.

      • Maachis
      • Mere Apne
      • Mausam
      • Hu-tu-tu
      • Aandhi
      • Khushboo
      • Kitaab
      • Kinara
      • Meera
      • Namkeen
      • Koshish
      • Ijaazat
      • Angoor
      • Lekin
      • Parichay


    7. Mani Rathnam     : A movie-making legend of sorts, he’s made many South-Indian films (I saw Mauna-Ragam with subtitles), and some hindi blockusters.

      • Roja
      • Bombay
      • Yuva (superb)
      • Dil se
      • Guru (OK, Ratnam over-extends himself)

    8.Vidhu Vinod Chopra :A director known for his ease with the camera, and for such notable films as :

      • 1942, a love story – A beautifully told, poetic love-story set during India’s independence struggle.
      • Khamosh – The best who-dun-it of the 1980-2000 era.
      • Murder Monkey Hill – earned him a National award and acclaim at international film festivals
      • An encounter with faces – this was nominated for the Oscars, and swept awards at international film festivals.
      • Parinda – A huge commercial success, this was the pioneering Indian gangster movie, and India’s official entry for the Oscars.
      • Munnabhai MBBS
      • Mission Kashmir
      • Kareeb
      • Lage raho Munnabhai


    9. Priyadarshan     : He’s a director from the South again, and Virasat is stunning, although he’s been lately turning to making crappy comedies.

    10. Tigmanshu Dhulia : Relative newcomer on the directing scene.

    11. Parvathi Balagopalan : Her one and only film to-date (and probably the most romantic film of present-day) :

    12. John Mathew Mathan : His one and only film

      • Sarfarosh

    13. Dr. Chandra Prakash Dwivedi : He made the TV serial “Chanakya” , and his one and only film has won him accolades.

      • Pinjar

    14. Mansoor Khan : Aamir Khan’s cousin and director of a few good films

      • Jo jeeta wohi sikandar
      • Qayamat se qayamat tak
      • Josh
      • Akele hum akele tum

    15. Aziz Mirza : Maker of many TV serials (remember Nukkad, Circus?) , he’s made some nice earthy, human films. His older films were better I thought.

      • Raju ban gaya gentleman
      • Yes Boss
      • Chalte-chalte

    16. Sriram Raghavan : Passionate about films, he’s made 2 so far.

      • Raman Raghav
      • Ek hasina thi

    17. Rajat Kapoor : I believe he’s made only one film to-date; his other forays into the film world being as an actor (remember Prieti’s uncle in DCH ?)

      • Raghu Romeo

    18. Rajat Mukherjee :

      • Road
      • Pyar tune kya kiya
      • Love in Nepal

    19. Shaad Ali Sahgal :

    20. Amol Palekar : One of the most talented actors of yesteryear cinema, Palekar has also directed a few films. Known for his attachment to theatre, and his flair for comedy (as an actor), Palekar’s directorial ventures are :

      • Aakriet
      • Ankahee
      • Bangarwadi
      • Kairee
      • Anaahat
      • Daayraa
      • Paheli

    21. Mahesh Manjrekar : He’s made several movies, and not all good, so I put him
    on this list with some trepidation. However, the ones he’s gotten right far outs
    hine the ones he’s gotten wrong, and I always like to hope for the better, see ?
    So here goes :

    22. Dibakar Banerjee : He just has one film to-date, but he did such a fantastic job on that one that I had to put him up on this list :

    23. Kabeer Kaushik : Also only film that I’m aware of, but what a marvellous film it it :

    24. Vishal Bhardwaj : A true genius, he’s made these (and all of them excellent) :

    25. Nagesh Kukunoor : He’s a relative newcomer, but manages to make good films on shoe-string budgets :

    26. Karan Johar : I squirm putting this guy’s name down on this list, because frankly I am no fan of his, and most of his films appear to me to be squishy-squashy over-dramatic glossed-over blobs of emotion. Still, I must mention that inspite of the above negative traits, his films are slickly done, and are visually appealling – lots of glitz, glamour, chic personas, and designer clothing.

    27. Shimit Amin : He’s not very well-know, and as far as I know has only 2 directorial ventures to his credit.

    28. Anurag Basu : Basu has a couple of films to his credit, and he seems to be going from OK to absolutely wonderful. Gangster wasn’t bad, but Metro was very, very good…

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