Mani Kaul was an eminent Indian film director who greatly enriched the arena of parallel cinema in the Indian film industry. He was one of the prominent directors of Indian cinema who marked a visible diversion in the stereotypic tends. His very first directional venture earned him a Filmfare Award. In addition to this, he had also won a number of other prestigious accolades for his superlative portrayals in the film world. Mani Kaul had made a significant contribution in the Indian new wave and presented the film industry with some of the most cherished films of all times.

Early Life of Mani Kaul
Mani Kaul was born on 25th December 1944 in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, to a Kashmiri Pandit family. He initially joined Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), in Pune, as an acting student but later shifted his focus to the film direction. He got trained by the celebrated film director Ritwik Ghatak, who was a teacher at the institute, and graduated in the year 1966. Mani Kaul was the nephew of Mahesh Kaul, an actor and director by profession.

Career of Mani Kaul
Mani Kaul began his career in the year 1969 with the film Uski Roti. His very first venture won him the esteemed Filmfare Award. The film was accredited as a significant step in the Indian New Wave. The film marked a radical transformation in the Indian cinema from the former cinematic techniques in terms of narrative and presentation. Uski Roti was in fact one of the earliest formal experimental movies in the Indian film industry. He directed the next film, Ashadh Ka Ek Din, in the year 1971 which was based on a play by Mohan Rakesh. 1973 film Duvidha was his next venture which also marked his first colour film. The film was an adaptation of Vijaydan Detha`s short story and portrayed the tale of a merchant`s son who had to depart from family business after returning home with his new bride. The film got international acclaim. His other prominent films include Ghashiram Kotwal, Satah Se Uthata Admi, Dhrupad, Idiot, The Cloud Door, Mati Manas, Nazar, Bojh and many more.

Mani Kaul had co-founded the Yukt Film Co-operative (Union of Kinematograph Technicians), in the year 1976. He also worked as a music teacher in Netherlands and as a Creative Director of the film house at Osian`s Connoisseurs of Art, Mumbai. In 1971 he became a member of the jury at the 21st Berlin International Film Festival. For the school year 2000-2001, he worked as a visiting lecturer at Harvard University.

Achievements of Mani Kaul
Mani Kaul won Filmfare Critics Awards for Best Movie in 1971, 1972, 1974 and 1993 for the films Uski Roti, Ashad Ka Ek Din, Duvidha and Idiot respectively. He also received National Film Award for Best Direction for the film Duvidha in 1974 and National Film Award for Best Documentary Film for Siddheshwari in 1989.

Filmography of Mani Kaul