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).
He runs a production company, Prakash Jha Productions. He also owns the P&M Mall in Patna and the P&M Hi-Tech City Centre Mall in Jamshedpur.
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. Prakash Jha The Cinemas of India, by Yves Thoraval. Macmillan India, 2000. , . Page 191-192.
During this period he made some highly politically charged documentaries, like that on the Bihar Sharif riot, titled, Faces After Storm (1984). It received considerable attention, as it was banned within 4–5 days of its release, 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. Filmmaker sees hope in Bihar Telegraph, 4 December 2005. 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.
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.
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.
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. In 2012, Jha's release Chakravyuh starred Arjun Rampal, Abhay Deol, Manoj Bajpai, Kabir Bedi and Esha Gupta, and was released in Dussehra 2012. His next film Satyagraha (2013) starred Amitabh Bachchan and Ajay Devgn.
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.
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 and liabilities worth ₹55.2 crores.
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.
Film on the Pune-based institute Shreevatsa | |||
National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film Best Documentary of the year International Film Festival of India, Special Jury Award | |||
All India Film Awards Association, Best Director | |||
National Film Award for Best Feature Film Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie | |||
National Film Award for Best Arts/Cultural Film | |||
National Film Award for Best Industrial Documentary | |||
Television serial | |||
National Film Award for Best Costume Design Presented as an Outstanding Film at the London Film Festival at the London Film Festival | |||
Screen 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 | |||
National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film | |||
National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues | |||
Based on the life of Bharat Ratna Jayaprakash Narayan | |||
National Film Award for Best Screenplay Filmfare Best Dialogue Award Star Screen Best Screenplay Award | |||
Star Screen Best Screenplay Award | |||
Web Series Directed by Prakash Bhardwaj (Director) | |||
Pareeksha – The Final Test | Director, producer | Released on ZEE5 | |
Saand Ki Aankh | Rattan Singh Tomar | Actor | |
2020 | Aashram | Director, producer | Web series on MX Player |
Matto Ki Saikil | Matto | Actor | |
2021 | Best Series – Drama | Aashram | ||
Best Director – Drama, Series |
2021 | Best Landmark OTT Show | Aashram |
|
|