Indian Directors- A Report Card.

On March 30^th, 1955, Truffaut published in Art a tract entitled “The French Cinema short on Ambition,” wherein he suggested precise rating of the “89 French Directors of the day, whom he divided into five categories. I had just finished watching most, if not all, works of past and contemporary directors of Indian Cinema. This works range from the Avant Grade films of John Abrahm to Farah Khan pastiche 70s curry antidote, Om Shanti Om.

I, confess, I must have missed few noted Directors and a number of them from Telegu and Tamil Cinema- Since I’m yet to get familiar with a lot of film from South.. Yet, from whatever I have seen till date, which includes more than 500 Indian Films ranging across language and Directors from experimental to commercial. I decided to lay down the “Directors “according to the five broad categories laid by Truffaut.

The basic rule of thumb used to categorize this “Directors” was by looking at their body of work, their theme, constituency, personal stamp, mise-en-scene, honesty and Star Power. At the same time ,it was important to understand under what social and economic condition was the film made, this fact really helps in dividing an important line between truth and deceit.

Another important element in my classification was to understand whether this film represent or show anything about the era or milieu they were made. Can I relate it to anything I have seen in life or read in fiction? Does it belong complete to Cinema and if it does, What is the power of image? And how did the Director achieve it. Every film and its inherent theme could have a counterpart in World Cinema. So, I also looked ,and compared two films to understand where a Director lacks or shows a distinction from where the material could be copied or was it influenced. It also allowed me to put two pictures of the same theme and weigh it accordingly.

I was also interested in knowing and understanding under what economic condition and freedom did the “Director make this film” , was he backed by a studio to deliver the film or the money came from various Productions, each and every thing counts in determining who fits where.

I know their aren’t any hard and fast rules for finding objectivity as such, but all opinions are purely based on looking at the body of work from various angles as mentioned above. And I tried to bring out an accurate portrait where things stand today.

I suggest to all people who read the blog or post to send a feedback and suggestion so that we can really improve and create a certain discourse over the works and standing of “Directors” in Indian Cinema.

I have included few films along with the Directors name, due to my in -ability to understand HTML(As the blogger keeps giving an error) there will be a slight mis-match between the Director column and Films.

Auteur

Directors

Films

John Abrahm Adoor Gopalakrishnan Govindan Aravindan- Satyajit Ray Girish Kasaravalli Ritwik Ghatak Buddadeb Dasgupta Mirnal Sen Guru Dutt Jahnu Barua Kumar Shahani Bimal Roy Mani Kaul Shyam Benegal

Agraharathil Kazhuthai, Cheriachante Krurakrithyangal. Anatharam, Swaryamvaram. Chidambaram, Kanchana Seetha, Pokkuveyil The Apu Triology, Satranj ke Khiladi Ghatashraddha, Thaayi Saheba, Dweepa Megha Daka Tara, Ajantrik, Subarnarekha Uttara, Kaalpurrsh Khandhar, Bhuvan Shome, Ek Din Achanak Pyaasa, Kagez Ke Phool. Xagoroloi Bohu Door, Halodhia Choraye Baodhan Khai Kasbha, Maya Darpan, Char Adhyay Do Bigha Zameen, Madhumita, Bandini, Devdas Uski Roti, Drupad, Idiot. Nishant, Manthan, Bhumika, Ankur.

The Representatives of Quality

Directors

Films

Rituporno Ghosh Aparna Sen Mani Ratnam Prakash Jha Vishal Bhardwaj Anurag Kashyp Sudhir Mishra Raj Kapoor Hrisikeh Mukherjee Girish Karnad Ram Gopal Verma Chetan Anand Basu Chaterjee Nagesh Kukunoor V Shantaram Mehbooh Khan Raj Khosla Gautom Ghosh

Unishe April, Rain Coat, Choker Bali 36 Chowringee Lane, Mr& Mrs Iyer, 15 Park Avenue Nayakan, Bombay, Dil Se Gangajal, Aparhan. Omkara, Maqbool Black Friday, Paanch Hazaaron Khwaishein Ais, Khoya, Khoya Chand. Awaara, Mis 420, Mera Naam Joker, Aag Golmaal, Chhoti Si Baat and Naram Garam. VamshaVruksha, "Tabbaliyu neenade magane" Satya, Company, Sarkar, Bhoot Neccha Nagar, Haqeeqat Dillagi, Chitchor, Choti Si Baat, Khatta Meetha Dor, Iqbal. Do Aankhein Barah Haath, Dr. Kotnis ki Amar Kahani Aan, Mother India, Andaz C ID, Who Kyun Thi? Paar,Dakhal,Yatra.

Honest Commerical Film Directors

Director

Films

Farah Khan Manmohan Desai Rajkumar Hirani Rakeysh Om Mehra Madur Bandarkar Mahesh Bhatt Ramesh Sippy Prakash Mehra Yash Chopra Priyadarshan Farhan Akhtar J P Dutta Sooraj Barjatiya Vijay Anand Rakesh Roshan S. Shankar Manoj Kumar Pradep Sarkar Ashoutoush Gowarikar

Main Hoon Na, Om Shanti Om Amar Akbar Anthony, Mard, Coolie Munnabhai series Rang De Basanti Traffic Signal, Chandini Bar, Page 3 Arth, Janam, Naam Sholay, Shakit, Buniyaad Zanjeer, Lawarris Waqt, Lamhe, Deewar Hera-Pheri, Kaalapaani Dil Chaatha Hai, Don, Lakshya Border Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Apke Hain Kaun Gudie, Jhonny Mera Naam, Teesri Manzil Krrish, Koyla, Koi Mil Gaya Shivaji, Nayak Roti Kapda Aur Makan, Kranti Parineeta Laagan, Swades, Jodha Akbar

Dishonest Film Directors.

Directors	Films
Subhash Ghai Vidhu Vinod Chopra Sanjay Leela Bhansali Karan Johar	Yaadein, Kisna, Taal, Pardes, Karz. Misson Kashmir,Eklavya,. Devdas, Black, Sawarriya KANK, KBKG.

Semi- Ambitious Directors

Kunal Kholi

Pooja Bhaat

Virkam Bhaat

Mohit Suri

Sanjay Gupta

Nikhil Advani

Sidharth Anand

Shrish Kunder

Kabir Khan

Tanuja Chandra

Aditya Chopra

Anil Sharma

Anand Kumar