All time best indian Filmmakers..ever !!!

Satyajit Ray was born in Calcutta on May 2, 1921. His father, Late Sukumar Ray was an eminent poet and writer in the history of Bengali literature. In 1940, after receiving his degree in science and economics from Calcutta University, he attended Tagore's Viswa-Bharati University. His first movie Pather Panchali (1955) won several International Awards and set Ray as a world-class director. He died on April twenty-third, 1992.

Raj Kapoor was the son of well-known Indian actor Prithviraj Kapoor, who acted both in film and on stage. After apprenticing in the Bollywood production studios of the 1940's, at 24 years of age Raj Kapoor produced, directed and acted in Aag (1948), with his new company, RK Films. His next production, Barsaat (1949), was a smash hit. In 1951, he also produced, directed and starred in Awaara (1951), which was another megahit, and costarred Nargis, who had appeared in Aag and Barsaat. Awaara also gained popular acclaim in Russia, where the movie and songs were dubbed into Russian. The theme song, Awaara Hoon, was popular in the East for many years. 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. This is consistent with his admiration of Charles Chaplin, and Kapoor's own "tramp" (Awaara, Shree 420, Mera Naam Joker (1970) is modeled somewhat on his mentor, though with a definite individual flair.

His films demonstrate an understanding of music and direction that continue to influence Bollywood filmmaking today. Also a musician, his understanding of the musical feel of his movies gives them a storytelling fluidity equal to that of the best American movie musicals. He surrounded himself with the foremost talents in filmmaking, acting, writing (Kwaja Ahmad Abbas'), music composition (Jaikishan Dayabhai Panchal, 'Shankarsinh Raguwanshi'), and playback singers, including Mukesh, 'Mohamed Rafi', and Lata Mangeshkar. Kapoor continued to make films of varying critical and popular success up until his death in 1988, and apparently considered Mera Naam Joker his personal favorite. He is still a well-known name not only in India, but in the Middle East, SE Asia, and Eastern Europe. His descendants have attempted to continue the RK Films banner.

C.V. Sridhar was born on 22 July 1933 in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, India. He was a director and writer, known for Nenjil or Aalayam (1962), Kalyana Parisu (1959) and Nazrana (1961). He was married to Devasena. He died on 20 October 2008 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.

M.K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar was born on 3 February 1909 in Mayavaram (Nagapattinam District), India. He was an actor and director, known for Ambikapathy (1937), Pudhu Vazhuvu (1957) and Haridas (1944). He died on 1 November 1959.

Mehboob Khan was born on 9 September 1907 in Bilimora, Baroda, Bombay Presidency, British India. He was a director and producer, known for Mother India (1957), Son of India (1962) and The Savage Princess (1952). He was married to Sardar Akhtar. He died on 28 May 1964 in Bombay, Maharashtra, India.

Ramesh Sippy was born on 23 January 1947 in Karachi, Sind Province, British India. He is a director and producer, known for Sholay (1975), Saagar (1985) and Shaan (1980). He is married to Kiran Juneja.

Considered to be a man ahead of his time, Guru Dutt was one of the greatest icons of commercial Indian cinema. Although he made less than ten films, they are believed to be the best to come from Bollywood's Golden Age, known both for their ability to reach out to the common man and for their artistic and lyrical content, and they went on to become trend-setters that have influenced Bollywood ever since. But for all his genius, there was a shroud of tragedy that overshadowed his career and life.

Dutt was born in Mysore on July ninth, 1925, the eldest son of a headmaster and a housewife who was a part-time writer. As a child, he had to deal with a strained relationship between his parents, hostility from his mother's family, and the death of a close relative. He received his early education in Calcutta, and in 1941, he joined the Uday Shankar India Culture Center, where he received basic training in the performing arts under dance maestro Uday Shankar. Afterward, in 1944, he had a short stint as a telephone operator.

Dutt entered the Indian film industry in 1944, working as a choreographer in Prabhat Studios. There, he became friends with Dev Anand (whom he met when they worked on the film Hum Ek Hain (1946)) and Rehman Khan. These early friendships helped ease his way into Bollywood. After Prabhat went under in 1947, Dutt moved to Mumbai, where he worked with the leading directors of the time: Amiya Chakrabarty in Girls' School (1949) and Gyan Mukherjee in Sangram (1946).

He got his big break when Dev Anand invited him to direct a film in his newly formed company Navketan Films. Dutt made his directorial debut with Gamble (1951), which starred Dev Anand. The film was an urban crime thriller that paid homage to classic film noir. However, it also carried its own elements that ensured it was not a remake of a Hollywood film: notably, songs were used to further the story's narrative, and close-up shots were used frequently. The film was a success and became a trend-setter for future crime films. On the personal front, Dutt met his wife, playback singer Geeta Dutt (née Roy), during the song-recording sessions of Gamble (1951), and they married May twenty-sixth, 1953.

Dutt's next releases were The Trap (1952) and Falcon (1953). Dutt made his acting debut in the latter film, which he also directed. But while they were average successes, he finally tasted success with This or That (1954), another crime thriller, but with a far more polished story and look. Then came Mr. & Mrs. '55 (1955), a frothy romantic comedy focusing on women's' rights; and C.I.D. (1956), yet another crime thriller in which Waheeda Rehman made her debut.

His next films, Thirst (1957) and Paper Flowers (1959), are regarded as his best work. Thirst (1957) was his masterpiece, about a poet trying to achieve success in a hypocritical, uncaring world. It was a box-office hit and is ranked as his greatest film ever. In contrast, Paper Flowers (1959) was a miserable flop at the box office: the semi-autobiographical story of a tragic love affair set against the backdrop of the film industry was deemed too morbid for the audience to swallow and went right over audience's heads. Although in later years the film received critical acclaim for its cinematography and has gained a cult following, Dutt, who had put his soul into the film, was devastated over its failure and never directed another film.

Although he had sworn off directing, Dutt continued to produce and act in films, notably the period dramas Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960) and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962). The latter film, interestingly, is controversial because it is debated whether Dutt had ghost-directed the film. Dutt's personal life had become complicated: he had gotten romantically involved with his protégé Waheeda Rehman and his wife Geeta Dutt had separated from him as a result. Rehman too had distanced herself from him. Also, Dutt, an ambitious person, felt he had achieved too much too soon professionally - there was nothing better to be achieved, and this caused a vacuum in his life. Unable to cope with all the trauma and emptiness, he took to heavy drinking.

On October tenth, 1964, Dutt was found dead in his bed. The cause of death was deemed a combination of alcohol and sleeping pills, although a debate still lingers over whether his death was by accident or a successful suicide attempt. Geeta Dutt suffered a nervous break-down as a result of his death and also took to alcohol, eventually drinking herself to death, dying in 1972 as a result of cirrhosis of the liver.

His death was an irreplaceable loss to Indian cinema. And it was a tragic twist of fate that his films, most of which were discounted in his life-time, would be regarded as cult classics after his death. Guru Dutt would always be known, even if posthumously, as the Guru of Bollywood's Golden Age and one of the world's most important international auteurs.

A. C. Tirulokachandar was an Indian film director and screenwriter who worked mainly in Tamil films from the 1960s to 1988. He also directed a few films in Hindi and Telugu. His 1969 Tamil film Deiva Magan was the first South Indian film to be submitted by India in a contest for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. He directed the pair Sivaji Ganeshan and Jayalalitha in 5 films - Deiva Magan, Dharmam Engey, Engirundho Vandhaal, Enga Mama, Avanthan Manidhan. He directed Rajesh Khanna in Babu in 1985 which became a hit.

Shyam Benegal was born on 14 December 1934 in Trimulgherry, Hyderabad, British India [now Tirumalagiri, Hyderabad, Telangana, India]. He was a director and producer, known for Ankur (1974), Trikal (Past, Present, Future) (1985) and Bhumika (1977). He was married to Nira Benegal. He died on 23 December 2024 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Ritwik Ghatak was born on 4 November 1925 in Dacca, Bengal Presidency, British India [now in Dhaka, Bangladesh]. He was a director and writer, known for Reason, Debate and a Story (1974), Musafir (1957) and The Cloud-Capped Star (1960). He was married to Surama Ghatak. He died on 6 February 1976 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.

Asit Sen was born on 24 September 1922 in Dacca, Bengal Presidency, British India [now in Dhaka, Bangladesh]. He was a director and writer, known for Safar (1970), Deep Jweley Jai (1959) and Mehndi (1983). He died on 25 August 2001 in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

Tarun Majumdar was born on 8 January 1931 in Bogra, Bengal Presidency, British India [now in Bogura, Bangladesh]. He was a director and writer, known for Kancher Swarga (1962), Nimantran (1971) and Ganadevata (1979). He was married to Sandhya Roy. He died on 4 July 2022 in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

T.R. Sundaram was born on 16 July 1907 in Tiruchengodu, Tamil Nadu, India. He was a director and producer, known for Kumudham (1961), Maya Rambha (1950) and Alibabhavum Narpathu Thirudargalum (1956). He died on 30 August 1963 in Madras, Tamil Nadu, India.

Pralhad Keshav Atre was born on 13 August 1898 in Saswad, Bombay Presidency, British India. Pralhad Keshav was a writer and director, known for Shyamchi Aai (2025), Aunty No. 1 (1998) and Naan Avanillai (1974). Pralhad Keshav was married to Vanamala. Pralhad Keshav died on 13 June 1969 in Bombay, Maharashtra, India.

Sohrab Modi was born on 2 November 1897 in Bombay, Bombay Presidency, British India. He was an actor and director, known for Mirza Ghalib (1954), Pukar (1939) and Jailor (1938). He died on 28 January 1984 in Bombay, Maharashtra, India.

A.P. Nagarajan is known for Thiruvilayadal (1965), Thillana Mohanambal (1968) and Thiruvarutselvar (1967).

A. Bhimsingh was born on 15 July 1924 in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India. He was a director and writer, known for Bhagapirivinai (1959), Joroo Ka Ghulam (1972) and Paava Mannippu (1961). He was married to Sukumari. He died on 16 January 1978 in Madras, Tamil Nadu, India.

Born in 1924. Science graduate from University of Calcutta. Sinha began his film career as a sound engineer in Calcutta's New Theatre in 1946. Four years later, he received an invitation to the London film festival and the opportunity of working at Pinewood Studios. He was in the UK for two years. On returning to India, he turned his attentions to film directing. Tapan Sinha was influenced by American and British film making. Tagore was a great source of inspiration to him. He made three films on Tagore's stories: Kabuliwala, Hungry Stones (Khudito Pashan), Atithi.

Tapan Sinha's first film Ankush was based on Narayan Gangopadhyay's story 'sainik'. In 1957, his film 'Kabuliwala' was shown in Berlin Film festival. He has won National award many times. His films were shown in different film festivals all over the world. He was married to actress Arundhuti who passed away in 1990. Sinha lives in Calcutta.

Debaki Kumar Bose was born on 25 November 1898 in Burdwan, Bengal, British India [now India]. He was a director and writer, known for Sagar Sangamey (1959), Bhagaban Shrikrishna Chaitanya (1953) and Seeta (1934). He died on 17 November 1971 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.

Ramu Kariat was born on 1 February 1928 in Engandiyur, Kerala, India. He was a director and writer, known for Chemmeen (1965), Minnaminungu (1957) and Nellu (1974). He died on 10 February 1979 in Trivandrum, Kerala, India.

Pattabhi Rama Reddy was born in February 1919 in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India. Pattabhi Rama was a director and producer, known for Samskara (1970), Devara Kaadu (1994) and Sringara Masa (1984). Pattabhi Rama was married to Snehlata Reddy. Pattabhi Rama died on 6 May 2006 in Bangalore, Karnataka, India.

Kota Shivaram Karanth is known for Chigurida Kanasu (2003), Chomana Dudi (1975) and Bettada Jeeva (2011).

G.V. Iyer was born in September 1917 in Nanjangud, Mysore, British India. He was a writer and director, known for Adi Shankaracharya (1983), Bhagvad Gita: Song of the Lord (1993) and Bhoodana (1962). He died on 21 December 2003 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Govindan Aravindan was born on 21 January 1935 in Kottayam, Kerala, India. He was a director and writer, known for Esthappan (1980), Vasthuhara (1991) and Oridathu (1987). He died on 16 March 1991 in Trivandrum, Kerala, India.

Twelve times National Award winner Jahnu Barua is a well known film maker from India who has made 15 feature films so far. His films have won over 20 international awards including Silver Leopard at Locarno International Film Festival.

Hailing from Assam, Jahnu made 13 of his films in his native language Assamese which brought Assamese cinema and culture to the national and international map. Jahnu's first film in Hindi is Maine Gandhi Ko Nahi Maha (I did not kill Gandhi) that has been critically acclaimed worldwide. He has just competed shooting of an Assemese film " Broken Window" in 2017, which is in post production.

He is working on a major English project titled "Homing Pigeons " set in UK and Assam.

An other international film in development is " Unread Pages" which is already announced .

Graduated in Film Direction form Film & Television Institute of India Jahnu is the Board member of Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute of India, Calcutta. He also teaches cinema as guest professor in these two prestigious National film Institutions, whenever he can spare time. He was jury member to many International Film Festivals and headed a few of them.