Govind Nihalani is an Indian film director, cinematographer, screenwriter, and producer, renowned for his contributions to Hindi cinema. He began his career as an assistant cinematographer to the legendary V. K. Murthy. Nihalani worked on all the early films of Shyam Benegal and was involved in the cinematography of Richard Attenborough’s Oscar-winning epic Gandhi. Both Nihalani and Benegal are celebrated for their socially relevant films.

In 1980, Govind Nihalani made his directorial debut with Aakrosh (Anger), scripted by the renowned Marathi playwright Vijay Tendulkar. Allegedly inspired by a true incident reported on page 7 of a local newspaper, the film is a powerful satire on corruption within the judicial system and the victimization of the underprivileged by those in power.

Aakrosh won the 1980 National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi, along with several Filmfare Awards. It also shared the Golden Peacock Award for Best Film at the International Film Festival of India held in New Delhi in 1981.

In 1982, Govind Nihalani directed Vijeta (The Victor), notable for its rare aerial photography showcasing combat aircraft of the Indian Air Force during the 1980s. The film’s central character, Angad, is a MiG-21 pilot depicted flying ground-attack missions during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Much of the movie, including the climax featuring a MiG-21bis, was filmed in Pune. The IAF’s No. 4 Squadron, known as the ‘Oorials,’ provided the pilots and aircraft for the aerial sequences, delivering impressive color footage of the planes in flight and operation.

Nihalani won the Filmfare Award for Best Cinematography for Vijeta. The film also received Filmfare Awards for Best Editing and Best Sound.

Ardh Satya (Half Truth), directed by Govind Nihalani in 1983, is based on a story by S. D. Panwalkar, with a screenplay by Vijay Tendulkar. The film received critical acclaim for its powerful depiction of the police-politician-criminal nexus.

Ardh Satya won several Filmfare Awards, including Best Director, Best Story, Best Movie, Best Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor. It also earned the National Film Award for Best Actor.

Party (1984), directed by Govind Nihalani and produced by the National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC), is a sharp and intelligent satire targeting the urban elite—particularly establishment artists and their patrons. The film critiques their apathy toward society, highlighting how they escape serious social engagement through small talk and superficial conversations at social gatherings.

Party was the official Indian entry to the 32nd International Film Festival of India in New Delhi and was also screened at the Tokyo Film Festival and the Asia Pacific Film Festival in 1985.

Aghaat (Harm) is a 1985 Bollywood film directed by Govind Nihalani that addresses the exploitation of factory workers and the internal conflicts within labor unions. The film explores how competing union factions, while claiming to support workers, are often manipulated by employers, leading to corruption, bribery, and even violence.

Though Aghaat may not rank among Nihalani’s best works—due to its slow pacing, especially at the start, and occasional repetitiveness—the film effectively highlights ongoing labor struggles and systemic conflicts.

Tamas (Darkness) is a 1988 period television film written and directed by Govind Nihalani. It is based on the acclaimed 1974 Hindi novel of the same name by Bhisham Sahni, which won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1975. Set during the Partition of India in 1947, the film depicts the harrowing plight of Sikh and Hindu families emigrating to India amidst communal violence and upheaval.

Originally aired as a mini-series on India’s national broadcaster Doordarshan, Tamas was also presented as a single, four-hour-long feature film. At the 35th National Film Awards, it received three honors, including the Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration. In August 2013, the series was re-broadcast on History TV18.

Drishti (Vision), directed by Govind Nihalani in 1990, explores the marital life of an upper-class urban couple in Mumbai, delving into their struggles with infidelity, divorce, and eventual reunion after years of separation. The film is notable for featuring music composed by the renowned classical singer Kishori Amonkar, her only film score.

In 1991, Drishti won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi and was ranked the 5th Best Indian Film at the 55th Bengal Film Journalists’ Association Awards.

Pita (1991), directed by Govind Nihalani, is an adaptation of the 1887 play The Father by Swedish playwright August Strindberg.

Another 1991 film by Nihalani, Rukmavati Ki Haveli (Rukmavati’s Mansion), is based on Federico García Lorca’s Spanish play The House of Bernarda Alba. Nihalani not only directed the film but also wrote its screenplay.

Drohkaal (Times of Treason) is a 1994 crime drama film directed and produced by Govind Nihalani that explores India’s struggle against terrorism. The film delves deeply into the mental and psychological trauma faced by honest police officers combating a ruthless terrorist group.

Drohkaal was simultaneously remade in 1995 in Tamil as Kuruthipunal and in Telugu as Drohi. The film earned the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor, and Nihalani won the Best Director Award at the Damascus International Film Festival in 1995.

Sanshodhaan (The Amendment) is a 1996 film directed by Govind Nihalani that focuses on the theme of reserving women’s seats in local self-government. Produced by the National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC) in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the film highlights the challenges and social dynamics surrounding women’s political empowerment.

Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa (The Mother of 1084) (1998), also directed and produced by Nihalani, portrays the life of a woman grappling with the loss of her son, a Naxalite, to ideological violence. The film is based on the acclaimed 1974 Bengali novel Hajar Churashir Maa by Magsaysay and Jnanpith award-winning author Mahasweta Devi. In 1998, the film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi.

Thakshak (1999) was written and directed by Govind Nihalani.

Deham (The Body), released in 2001, is based on playwright Manjula Padmanabhan’s play Harvest and directed by Nihalani. The film won the prestigious NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) Award for Best Asian Film at the 25th Göteborg Film Festival in Sweden in 2002.

Dev (2004), directed by Nihalani, earned the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie, and the lead actress received the Filmfare Best Actress Award for her performance.

In 2017, Nihalani directed Ti Ani Itar (She and the Others), his first Marathi-language film.

He also directed Up Up & Up, a 3D animated feature film released on January 1, 2019.

Photos courtesy Google. Excerpts taken from Google.