Prakash Jha

Indian film director and producer (born 1952) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Prakash Jha

Prakash Jha (born 27 February 1952) is an Indian film producer, actor, director and screenwriter, mostly known for his political and socio-political films such as Hip Hip Hurray (1984), Damul (1984), Mrityudand (1997), Gangaajal (2003), Apaharan (2005), and his multi-starrer films, Raajneeti (2010), Aarakshan (2011), Chakravyuh (2012), and Satyagraha (2013). He is also the maker of National Film Award winning documentaries like Faces After The Storm (1984) and Sonal (2002).

Quick Facts Born, Occupation(s) ...
Prakash Jha
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Jha in 2016
Born (1952-02-27) 27 February 1952 (age 73)
Occupation(s)Film producer, director, screenwriter, actor
Years active1982⁠–⁠present
Spouse
(m. 1985; div. 2002)
ChildrenDisha Jha (daughter)
FatherTej Nath Jha
Websiteprakashjhaproductions.com
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He runs a production company, Prakash Jha Productions.[1] He also owns the P&M Mall in Patna and the P&M Hi-Tech City Centre Mall in Jamshedpur.[2]

Biography

Early life and education

Prakash Jha was raised at his family's farm in Barharwa, Bettiah, West Champaran, Bihar, India. His father's name is Shri Tej Nath Jha. He did his schooling from Sainik School Tilaya,[3] Koderma district and Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 1, Bokaro Steel City, Jharkhand. Later, he joined Ramjas College, Delhi University to do BSc (Hons) in Physics, though he left his studies after one year,[4] and decided to go to Bombay (present-day Mumbai) and become a painter. While he was preparing for J.J. School of Arts, he happened to witness the shooting of the film Dharma and got hooked on filmmaking. He graduated from KC College, Mumbai[5][6]

He joined the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune in 1973, to do a course in editing. Midway through it, the institution was closed for while due to student agitation, so he came to Bombay, started working, and never went back to complete the course.[7]

Personal life

Prakash was married to actress Deepti Naval with whom he has an adopted daughter Disha Jha.[8][9]

Career

Summarize
Perspective
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Katrina Kaif and Prakash Jha during the promotion of Rajneeti (2010)

While still midway through his course, he started working on films independently in 1974.[10] He made his first documentary, Under the Blue, in 1975, and continued to do so for the next eight years.[4]

During this period he made some highly politically charged documentaries, like the one of the Bihar Sharif riot, titled, Faces After Storm (1984). It received considerable attention, as it was banned within 4–5 days of its release,[7] though later it won the National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film for the year.

He made his debut as a feature film director with Hip Hip Hurray in 1984, scripted by Gulzar and starring Raj Kiran and Deepti Naval as leads.[11] Next came the film he received most recognition for, Damul (1984), which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film and the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie in 1985. The film was based on the bonded labour issue in Bihar.

In 1986, he directed Parinati, based on the story by Vijaydan Detha.[12]

Over the years he has made over 25 documentaries, 13 feature films, two television features and three television series, including the popular TV serial Mungerilal Ke Hasin Sapne. His production company has produced five films with independent directors.[13][14]

In 2004, Jha directed the 112-minute film Loknayak, based on the life of Bharat Ratna Jayaprakash Narayan. In the film, Chetan Pandit played the role of Narayan and Tisca Chopra played Prabhavati Devi, the wife of JP.[15][16][17][18][19]

In 2010, Jha directed Raajneeti, a contemporary take on the epic Mahabharata. It starred Ajay Devgan, Manoj Bajpai, Naseeruddin Shah, Katrina Kaif, Arjun Rampal, Nana Patekar and Ranbir Kapoor, and was a critical and commercial success. His next venture was Aarakshan, which starred Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan Deepika Padukone and Prateik Babbar.[20] In 2012, Jha's release Chakravyuh starred Arjun Rampal, Abhay Deol, Manoj Bajpai, Kabir Bedi and Esha Gupta, and was released in Dussehra 2012.[21][22][23][24] His next film Satyagraha (2013) starred Amitabh Bachchan and Ajay Devgn.[25][26]

In 2019, he acted in the film Saand Ki Aankh a biographical film directed by Tushar Hiranandani. He played Rattan Singh Tomar, the patriarch of the Tomar family.[27]

Politics

Prakash Jha contested and lost the 14th Lok Sabha election from his native place Bettiah in 2004. He stood 6th and managed to get around 26,000 votes only, while the winner Raghunath Jha got 2,11,590 votes.[28] He also lost the 15th Lok Sabha election to Sanjay Jaiswal in 2009 as Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) candidate from Paschim Champaran.[29][30][31] In the same election Sadhu Yadav stood 3rd as INC candidate.

Jha once again contested in the 16th Lok Sabha election in 2014 as a Janata Dal (United) candidate from Paschim Champaran and lost to Sanjay Jaiswal. In 2014 election affidavit he had mentioned that he has assets worth 92.5 crores and liabilities worth 55.2 crores.[32]

Social initiatives

Anubhooti

Prakash Jha is the chairman of Anubhooti,[33] a registered society that has been working for cultural development, improvement of health care, disaster management and the upliftment of farmers and socio-economically backward people in Bihar since 1991.

Most recently, the organization has been working for flood survivors. After the Kosi flood on 18 August 2008, Anubhooti has provided complete relief to 6000 people since September 2008. Anubhooti has created a model village, Hindolwa village, for those the flood affected, and is working towards their complete rehabilitation. Anubhooti has provided relief to 5000 people for health care in Supaul district in Bihar.

Filmography

More information Year, Film ...
YearFilmRoleNotes
1982Shree Vats
(documentary)
DirectorFilm on the Pune-based institute Shreevatsa
1983Faces After The Storm
(documentary)
DirectorNational Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film
Best Documentary of the year
International Film Festival of India, Special Jury Award
1984Hip Hip HurrayDirectorAll India Film Awards Association, Best Director
1985DamulDirector, producer, co-script writerNational Film Award for Best Feature Film
Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie
1986Kudiattam
(documentary)
DirectorNational Film Award for Best Arts/Cultural Film
1988Looking Back
(documentary)
DirectorNational Film Award for Best Industrial Documentary
1989Mungerilal Ke Haseen SapneDirectorTelevision serial
1989ParinatiDirector, producerNational Film Award for Best Costume Design
Presented as an Outstanding Film at the London Film Festival at the London Film Festival
1996BandishDirector, producer
1997Mrityudand
("Death Sentence")
Director, producer, editor, dialogue writerScreen Cinema Award, Best Actor in a Negative Role
Screen Cinema Award, Best Dialogue
Screen Cinema Award, Best Screenplay
Zee Cine Award, Best Dialogue
Zee Cine Award, Best Director
Sansui Film Awards, Best Film (Critics Choice)
Sansui Film Awards, Best Actress
Special Jury Award, Cinema Tout Ecran, Geneva for Best Feature
Audience Award, Best Feature, Bangkok Film Festival
1999Dil Kya KareDirector, editor, story writer
2001RahulDirector
2002Sonal
(Documentary)
DirectorNational Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film
2003GangaajalDirector, producer, editor, story writer, dialogue writerNational Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues
2004LoknayakDirector, producer, editor, story writer, dialogue writerBased on the life of Bharat Ratna Jayaprakash Narayan
2005ApaharanDirector, producer, story writerNational Film Award for Best Screenplay
Filmfare Best Dialogue Award
Star Screen Best Screenplay Award
2007Dil Dosti EtcProducer
Khoya Khoya ChandProducer
2010RaajneetiDirector, producer, dialogue writerStar Screen Best Screenplay Award
2011Turning 30Producer
Yeh Saali ZindagiProducer
AarakshanDirector, producer
2012ChakravyuhDirector, producer
2013SatyagrahaDirector, producer
2015Crazy Cukkad Familyproducer
2016Jai Gangaajal director, actor, producer
2017Lipstick Under My Burkhaproducer
2018Saare Jahan Se Acha (series)AnchorWeb Series [34] Directed by Prakash Bhardwaj (Director)[35]
2019Fraud Saiyaanproducer
Pareeksha – The Final Test Director, producer Released on ZEE5
Saand Ki Aankh Rattan Singh Tomar Actor[27]
2020 Aashram Director, producer Web series on MX Player
Matto Ki Saikil Matto Actor[36]
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Web series

More information Year, Title ...
YearTitleRoleNotes
2023RafuchakkarPawan Kumar Bawariya's father
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Awards

National Film Awards

Filmfare Awards

Star Screen Awards

Filmfare OTT Awards

More information Year, Category ...
Year Category Work Result Ref.
2021 Best Series – Drama Aashram Nominated [41]
Best Director – Drama, Series Nominated
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ITA Awards

More information Year, Category ...
Year Category Work Result Ref.
2021 Best Landmark OTT Show Aashram Won [42]
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References

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