A majority of movies that Indian cinema churns out are just pathetic. Many of them are stereotypical flicks which only tow the line. Most superstars rise to fame with movies that employ little more than tawdry action sequences and threadbare dialogues. There is a huge audience for such movies, and the movie makers happily pander to the demand.
Mani Ratnam and Anurag Kashyap are some of the few names that shine in the dust. But there is one person - extremely talented - whose entire array of movies is adorned by nominations for, and in most cases has been awarded, the prestigious National Film Award, and yet is an unknown name to most people. The guy's name is Govind Nihalani.
It really appalling how such a great movie maker is unknown to most people of this country. I do prefer non-masala flicks and generally rely on nominations for National Film Awards to know about the good movies which the audience doesn't care to appreciate. And that's how I bumped into his name.
His movies are a bold slap on malfunctioning and corrupt Indian machinery and the ills of society. He gifted us gems like Aakrosh, Ardh Satya and Tamas. Almost every film of his has won at least one National Award. After a hiatus of about ten years he came back with Hazaar Chauraasi Ki Maa which, again, won a National Award. And this was the time when Directorate of Film Festivals used to put a genuine effort to recognize and award good movies (last time I heard a farcical movie named Dabangg was given this prestigious award). Even his lesser known movies have something daring, visionary and innovative.
This is a tribute to a man truly ahead of his time.
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