DIRECTORS: Satyajit Ray Satyajit Ray directed 36 films, including feature films, documentaries and shorts.. Ray received many major awards in his career, including 32 Indian National Film Awards, a number of awards at international film festivals and award ceremonies, and an honorary Academy Award in 1992. Satyajit Ray's films are both cinematic and literary at the same time; using a simple narrative, usually in a classical format, but greatly detailed and operating at many levels of interpretation. His first film, Pather Panchali (Song of the little road, 1955) established his reputation as a major film director, winning numerous awards including Best Human Document, Cannes, 1956 and Best Film, Vancouver, 1958. It is the first film of a trilogy - The Apu Trilogy - a three-part tale of a boy's life from birth through manhood. The other two films of this trilogy are Aparajito (The Unvanquished, 1956) and Apur Sansar (The World of Apu, 1959). His later films include Jalsaghar (The Music Room, 1958), Devi (The Goddess, 1960), Teen Kanya (Two Daughters, 1961),Charulata (The Lonely Wife, 1964), Nayak (The Hero, 1966), Asani Sanket (Distant Thunder, 1973), Shatranj Ke Khilari(The Chess Players, 1977), Ghare Baire (The Home and the World, 1984), Ganashatru (An Enemy Of The People, 1989) and Shakha Prashakha (Branches Of The Tree, 1991). Agantuk (The Stranger, 1991) was his last film. Mahesh Bhatt Mahesh Bhatt is a prominent Indian film director, producer and screenwriter. Bhatt's early directional career consisted of acclaimed movies, such as Arth, Saaransh, Janam, Naam, Sadak and Zakhm. He was later the writer of numerous commercial films in a range of genres, from dramas like Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke and comedies like Duplicate, though he was mostly recognised for thrillers like Inteha, Jism, Murder and Woh Lamhe. Bhatt's films show an unusual engagement with the psychological damage arising from infringement of social norms, situations which are characteristic deep mental/emotion damage and trauma. These films provided challenges of characterization to their actors, who included both parallel and mainstream stars. Bhatt is known for taking inspiration from Hollywood movies into Hindi films. He has always been criticized for the same. Bhatt is known for making both art films with realistic topics and commercial films which include a wide division of action, comedies and thrillers. Raj Kapoor Kapoor has been dubbed "a great showman," and a filmmaker in the purest Romantic tradition, as he strove to entertain as well as address social themes close to his heart. Awaara dealt with the question of what forms an individual's moral grounding, ("nurture or nature") while incorporating comedy and stirring love scenes; in Shree 420 (1955) he addressed issues of poverty, unemployment and national pride in the new Indian state at the same time maintaining the audience's interest in the romantic plot. While never revolutionary in tone, many of his films explore the ability of the individual to overcome economic and environmental injustice while maintaining his/her innocence and integrity. He is quoted as believing that the individual's struggles ultimately lead to the desire for love, to care and be cared for. The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan in 1971 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1987 – the highest award for cinematic excellence in India. In 2001, he was honoured with “Best Director of the Millennium” by Stardust Awards. He was named “Showman of the Millennium” by Star Screen Awards in 2002. Mani Ratnam The man who revolutionized Tamil-language cinema, Mani Ratnam is the biggest director in south India and one of the most respected directors in all of India. Each of his films contain its own unique style, with beautifully photographed songs and unique back-lighting. However, his films contain substance as well as style--Ratnam has dealt with a wide variety of topics, from the classic Indian love story to political thrillers. Ratnam has won several film awards, including six National Film Awards. In addition to these, he is a recipient of a number of awards at various international film festivals. He is well known for his "terrorism trilogy" consisting of Roja (1992),Bombay (1995) and Dil Se.. (1998). His other notable film include Mouna Raagam, Geethanjali, Kannathil Miuthammaital, Guru and Thalapathi. Mira nair An Indian director, who successfully carved a niche for herself in the realms of short films, documentaries and feature films with her intense, novel, and at times controversial approach, Mira Nair's feat in the domain of film-making remains unparalleled to this day. Some of her best celluloid feats include her debut documentary 'India Cabaret', the zingy 'Salaam Bombay', the award-winning interracial love story 'Mississippi Masala', and much-loved 'Monsoon Wedding'. Mira's movies are never short of creative excellence, be it be about strip-teasers in 'India Cabaret', the eyebrow-raising tale of 'Kama Sutra: A Tale Of Love', or her biographical foray on the life of Amelia Earhart in the film 'Amelia'. Mira has never cowed from broaching into the unfamiliar territory, a thing that has come to be the USP of her films today. A recipient of several prestigious national and international awards and nominations, Films like 'Salaam Bombay', 'Monsoon Wedding', 'Vanity Fair' and 'The Namesake', and recognitions like Golden Lion and UNESCO awards are just a few feathers in her cap.‟ Yash chopra A maestro in truest sense, Yash Chopra weaved magic with is epic love stories and redefined the idea of love and passion for Indian audiences in his films. There was always more to him than Swiss mountains, tulip gardens, fluttering chiffon saris and exotic locales. Rightfully called as king of romance, he was also considered as the hippest and trendiest director of his era. Yash Chopra was always ahead of his times, a progressive director and so were all his character. There is poignance and an understated relevance in all his films right from Dhool Ka Phool to his last venture, Jab Tak Hai Jaan which gives him an irreplaceable pedestal in the Indian celluloid. Shankar The Shankar Story is a simple saga of a man‟s passion – a passion that takes him from the comfortable confines of a conventional job, to the challenging world of cinema. It is the story of an ordinary person whose life assumes extraordinary dimensions with the sheer strength of his creative contribution. Born on August 17th, to Shanmugham and Muthulakshmi, Director Shankar‟s life seems straight out of the films. A Diploma Engineer, his monotonous, though hassle-free job as a Quality Control Supervisor, brought a void that could be filled only by a creatively satisfying career. The urge to unleash his creativity led him to the world of theatre, where he honed his skills as a writer and performer. The transition to 70 mm was just a question of time, and soon enough Director Shankar joined as an assistant to Director S.A. Chandrasekhar. As worked as asst director for 17 films including 5 hindi films and also worked as an associate director for 2 film with his friend pavithran, Director Shankar learnt the tricks of the trade.The rest, as they say, is history. In just a short span of time, Director Shankar has risen to the ranks of India‟s best-known directors, with his movies among the biggest grossers of this generation. His films have also made waves abroad, and he is among the rare Indian film-makers whose work has been an official entry to oscar. Director Shankar‟s innate ability to feel the audience‟s pulse is what makes his movies so memorable. His socially relevant themes have earned him an Honorary Doctorate from the M.G.R.University, Tamilnadu. From Director Shankar to Doctor Shankar, he has literally scripted his success story; his script- writing skills form the backbone of his runaway hits. His fervour for films transcends direction – his production banner S Pictures and audio record label S Musics stand testimony to his passion for different facets of movie-making. As Director Shankar continues to regale his audiences with one blockbuster after another, may this be one success story that never sees „the end‟ . Shankar‟s filmography includes Nanban, Anniyan, Mudhalvan, Boys, Sivaji, Enthian,Jeans,Nayak, Gentleman, Indian and Kaadhalan. Bala: Bala is an Indian Tamil film director, screenwriter and film producer, working in the Tamil film industry. Widely credited with having revolutionised Tamil cinema, he is best known for his realistic, yet dark and disturbing films, considered landmark films, that have garnered high critical acclaim. He has received several awards and recognition for his work, including the National Film Award for Best Direction for his fourth feature film Naan Kadavul. Bala was born on 11 July 1966 in Periyakulam, Theni district, Tamil Nadu, India. He studied Tamil Literature at The American College in Madurai. He admitted, that, as a youngster, he was not interested in studies and had dopped in his college days and was considered by many as he won't come up in life. At certain point he determined to prove himself to the society. After a struggling period he came to Chennai and entered the cinema industry. Then soon he became one of the finest directors in the Tamil Film Industry, cause of his directing skills. He started his film career as an assistant director for the famous National Film Award–winning director and cinematographer Balu Mahendra, where a close friendship between the two grew. Bala is known for his later success. He made his directorial debut with Sethu in 1999, that gave a break to Vikram, the film's lead actor, who was also struggling in the Tamil film industry for almost a decade without a hit and recognition.