Manish Jha

Indian film writer and director (born 1978)

Manish Jha
Born	(1978-05-03) 3 May 1978 (age 45) Bihar, India
Nationality	Indian
Occupation	Senior executive in Infrovate consulting solution Pvt Ltd

Manish Jha is an Indian film writer and director, known for the film Matrubhoomi.^[1]

Early life and education

Born in Dhamaura, in the West Champaran district of Bihar, Jha grew up in Delhi where he had moved at an early age. He did his graduation in English from Ramjas College, Delhi University, where he also joined its theatre group aiming to become an actor.^[2]

Career

After completing his studies, Jha moved to Mumbai and began working as an assistant director in television serials hoping to get a break. When the break never came, he made a five-minute short film on the homeless putting in Rs 30,000, A Very Very Silent Film, which won the Jury Prize for the Best Short Film at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival.^[3] Thereafter he made his feature debut with Matrubhoomi (2003) about effects of female infanticide, which won a series of awards and critical acclaim.^[4]^[5] At the 2003 Venice Film Festival, it was presented in the Critic's Week (Parallel section) and later awarded the FIPRESCI Award "For its important theme on women's issues and female infanticide handled with sensitivity by a first-time director".^[6]^[7]

His next was Anwar (2007), a film set in Lucknow, about stereotyping of Muslims in the post 9/11 era.^[8] In 2008, he directed the segment title, "And it Rained" in anthology film, with 11 directors, Mumbai Cutting, which became the closing film of 10th Osian's Cinefan Festival in Delhi.^[9]

He next directed a two-hour yoga DVD, Shilpa's Yoga (2008) for actress Shilpa Shetty, shot against the coastal backdrop of Kerala.^[10]

Filmography

Director

Matrubhoomi (2003)
Anwar (2007)
Mumbai Cutting (segment "And It Rained") (2010)
The Legend of Michael Mishra (2016)

Screenwriter

Matrubhoomi (2003)
Anwar (2007)
The Legend of Michael Mishra (2016)

Awards

A Very Very Silent Film

Jury Prize for Matruboomi in the Best Short Film category at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival^[3]
FIPRESCI Award in Parallel Section at the Venice Film Festival 2003^[11]
Audience Award for Best Film at the Kozlin Film Festival 2003, Poland
Audience Award for Best Foreign Film at Thessaloniki Film Festival, 2003
Nominated for Golden Alexander (Best Film) at Thessaloniki Film Festival, 2003
Audience Award for Best Film at River to River. Florence Indian Film Festival, 2003

References

^ Chhibber, Mini Anthikad (9 July 2018). "On science fiction in Indian cinema". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
^ "Where have all the girls gone?". The Telegraph. 22 May 2005. Archived from the original on 6 May 2006.
^ ^a ^b A Very Very Silent Film: Award IMDb.
^ "Where women are extinct: Matrubhoomi". Indian Express. 23 July 2005. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
^ "More Than Chick Flicks". TIME. 22 September 2003. Archived from the original on 27 July 2008.
^ "2003 Awards: Venice (Italy, August 27 – September 6, 2003)". FIPRESCI website. Archived from the original on 23 August 2007.
^ Derek Malcolm (8 September 2003). "Ovation for Emma Thompson as low-budget art wins over hype in Venice". The Guardian.
^ "Indian makes film on post-9/11experience". Associated Press, CNN-IBN. 26 April 2006. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011.
^ "'Mumbai Cutting' brings curtains on Osian's film fete". The Hindu. 21 July 2008. Archived from the original on 6 November 2012.
^ "Shilpa's New Poses". Indian Express. 9 January 2008.
^ Matrubhoomi Awards IMDb.