The Indian movie directors have contributed a huge deal to take Indian movies to dizzying heights since the conception of cinema in the subcontinent. In 1913, the first Indian movie was released. The film was Raja Harishchandra directed by Dadasaheb Phalke. This is the reason Phalke is considered as the father of Indian cinema. Through ages, Indian movie directors have helped in the evolution of Indian cinema. While they have entertained the masses with commercial movies they have also presented thought provoking films that have compelled the audiences to introspect.
Famous Indian Movie Directors
The endowment of the Indian movie directors cannot be put within any geographical boundary. Yet if one is forced to sort out the Indian movie directors then they can be clubbed into the following:
Shyam Benegal: He had encouraged a generation with his flawless exploration of the human condition. "Ankur", "Junoon", "Well Done Abba", "Nishant", "Manthan", "Bhumika" are some of his great works.
Mehboob Khan: "Amar", "Anmol Ghadi", "Andaz" are some of his great works. But his most famous work is "Mother India", the first Indian film to put Indian cinema on international map.
K Balachander: His Notable Films are "Iru Kodugal" and "Apoorva Ragangal". Balachander was one of the few Indian filmmakers whose movies were feminist. He is one of the finest filmmakers in the history of Tamil cinema.
Yash Chopra: Yash Chopra is known as the “king of romancesâ€. His best films are "Dewaar", "Kaala Paani", "Itefaaq", "Mashaal" etc. He is also the most commercially flourished director in Indian Cinema.
Raj Kapoor: His contributions as a director in Indian Cinema are significant. "Mera Naam Joker", "Awara" are some of his great works. The mainstay philosophy of his filmmaking rested on challenging the norm.
V Shantaram: V Shantaram was an extremely gifted director. His "Do Ankhen Barah Haath" is one of the greatest films made in India. The film was the first one to win Golden Globe Award and Silver Bear at Berlin Film Festival. His Marathi film "Manoos" was praised by Charlie Chaplin.
Mrinal Sen: He along with his contemporaries Satyajit Ray and Ritwik Ghatak revolutionized the face of parallel cinema in India. His cinemas were always indisputable Indian in its implementation. "Bhuvan Shome" and "Khandhar" are some of his great works.
Ritwik Ghatak: He is undeniably amongst the most significant filmmakers of his generation. Ghatak brought a certain impudent passion to his cinema that was exclusively refreshing. "Nagarik", "Jukti, Jakko Aar Gappo" etc. are his masterpieces.
Adoor Gopalakrishnan: He changed Malayalam cinema in the 70s. being one of the most internationally acclaimed Indian director; he won 6 FIPRESCI Prizes. "Mukhamukham", "Anantaram", "Mathilukal", "Vidheyan", "Kathapurushan" and "Nizhalkuthu", "Swayamwaram" and "Mathilukal" are some of his great works.
Hrishikesh Mukherjee: Hrishikesh Mukherjee has made a number of great films. His movies were designed to celebrate numerous characters and their peculiarities which exist in this world. "Anand" and "Golmaal" are some of his great works.
Guru Dutt: His movies were full of ideas for social change. The eternal classics like "Saheb Biwi Aur Ghulam", "Kagaz ke Phool" and "Pyaasa" are some of his great works. His films still stay significant in the modern times.
Satyajit Ray: His movies were brilliant with flawless representation of humanity and human relationships. He is often compared to literary and artistic giants like Anton Chekov and Mozart. "Pather Panchali" is one of his extremely compassionate movies in Indian Cinema. "Pather Panchali", "Charulata", "Aparajito" and "Apur Sansar" are some of his great works.
Vikramaditya Motwane: His first film Udaan is considered as one of the most inspiring films of the last decade. Motwane directed Lootera which was an era romantic drama based on O Henry`s short story The Last Leaf.
Anurag Kashyap: He`s a man with outstanding cinematic sense. From Dev D to Gangs of Wasseypur, he"s one of those few directors who have produced his own loyal audience.
Ketan Mehta: Ketan Mehta is one of the most globally acknowledged filmmakers from India. He has a received many National and International awards for his films like `The Rising - Ballad of Mangal Pandey`, `Mirch Masala`, `Maya Memsaab`, `Sardar`, `Holi` and `Bhavni Bhavai`. He has received the award of Best Film on Human Rights for Bhavni Bhavai.
Aparna Sen: Aparna Sen is a famous name in Bengali and Indian cinema. She has received eight BFJA Awards. She is the winner of three National Film Awards and nine international film festival awards for her direction in films. She was awarded the Padma Shri. "Aparichito", "36 Chowringhee Lane", "Paroma", "Sati", "Yugant", "Paromitar Ek Din", "Mr. and Mrs. Iyer", "15 Park Avenue", "The Japanese Wife", "Iti Mrinalini", "Goynar Baksho" are some of her great works.
Rituparno Ghosh: He was a Bengali film director. He has won 12 National Film Awards in India and quite a few awards at international film festivals abroad. "Raincoat", "Hirer Angti", "Unishe April", "Asukh", "Chokher Bali", "Chitrangada" are some of his great works.
Tapan Sinha: "Kabuliwala", "Apon Jon", "Sagina Mahato", "Kshudhita Pashan" are some of his great works. His movies were based on spanning genres from social practicality, family drama, labour rights, to children`s fantasy films.
Bala: Bala is extensively acclaimed for revolutionizing Tamil cinema. His movies are realistic, dark and alarming representation of working class. He has received several awards including the National Film Award for Best Director for his film "Naan Kadavul".
Shekhar Kapur: He gave India its first superhero with the blockbuster "Mr India". His film "Bandit Queen" is one of the most controversial films in Indian history. "Bandit Queen", "Masoom" and "Paani" are some of his great works.
Mani Ratnam: Enthralment with romanticism and its corrosion over time can be seen in his movies. "Nayakan" and "Iruvar" are some of his great works.
G Aravindan: His work crossways the various platforms which depicts his artistic philosophy, a certain poignancy and individualism in ideals and principles. "Uttarayanam" and "Esthappan" are some of his great works.
Bimal Roy: He is the Renaissance man of Hindi cinema. His classic dramas are "Do Bhigha Zameen" and "Devdas". His cinema had a communist outlook and dealt with issues of great significance.
Mira Nair: Mira Nair is an Indian American filmmaker and receiver of Padma Bhushan. Her films are based on Indian society, whether in the economic, social or cultural spheres. Among her best known films are "Mississippi Masala", "The Namesake", "the Golden Lion-winning", "Monsoon Wedding" and "Salaam Bombay".
Vishal Bhardwaj: His movies are based on Shakespeare`s novels for Indian Movies. "Maqbool" and "Omkara" are some of his great works.
Reema Kagti: She"s yet another most talented female director. Her first film Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. was a hit. Her movie "Talaash" is considered to be one of the best thrillers in Bollywood.
Shonali Bose: She is the director and producer of the film "Margarita with a Straw", which premiered at the 2014 Toronto Film Festival.
Phani Sharma: Phani Sharma"s "Piyoli Phukan" was nominated for the national award. Though the film was awarded a Certificate of Merit for the Best Feature Film it brought the limelight on the cinema of the region.
Manju Borah: She has won multiple national awards. She also won the national award for "Aai Kot Nai". She received national award for films in multiple languages.
Rajkumar Hirani: He is a National Award and Filmfare Award winning director, screenwriter and editor of Hindi films. He is best known for the films "Munna Bhai MBBS", "Lage Raho Munnabhai" and "3 Idiots".
Priyadarshan: Priyadarshan has directed over 80 films in several Indian languages including Malayalam, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu. He has directed some of the best comedies of Indian Cinema like "Hera Pheri", "Hungama", "Hulchul", "Garam Masala", "Bhagam Bhag", "Chup Chup Ke", "Dhol", and "Bhool Bhulaiyaa".
Prakash Jha: He is most known for his political and socio-political films such as "Damul", "Mrityudand", "Gangaajal", "Apaharan" and "Raajneeti". He is also the maker of National Film Award winning documentaries like "Faces after the Storm" and "Sonal".
Zoya Akhtar: She is a contemporary Indian film director. "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara" and "Luck By Chance" are some of her works.
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra is a contemporary Indian film director best known for "Rang De Basanti" and "Delhi 6".
Neeraj Pandey: He is known for his critically acclaimed and commercially successful movies "A Wednesday" and "Special 26".
Neeraj Ghaywan: His film "Masaan" received two awards at the Cannes Film Festival.