 Vishal Bhardwaj, now well known as a film director, started his life in Chandpur, BIjnor a small town in Uttar Pradesh, India. He was born on August 4, 1965. He studied in a Government school, then did his Bachelor’s degree at Hindu College, in Delhi University. He worked and struggled in Delhi for a few years before shifting to Mumbai 1989, to follow his dream of making good music.
He started his career as an A & R Manager at CBS, a record company, in Mumbai. He would give vent to his creative urges by doing freelance work for Doordarshan’s CPC and what really made people notice his talent was the title track for the serial “The Jungle Book” - “Chaddi pehen ke phool khila hai”
This song convinced the writer of the song Gulzar, to take on Vishal as the Music Composer for his next film “Maachis”, which was his debut as a Music director. He met with early success in his career with music in films like 'Maachis' and 'Satya' where he created a new kind of sound; something that was innovative for Indian films. He earned a reputation due to his constant experimentation and a quality that was rare in other composers in the industry, called script sense. His music gained recognition and earned him many accolades like the 'Channel V Award' and 'Filmfare Award' for his first film 'Maachis' and the 'National Film Award' for best music in a film called 'Godmother'.
With a view to satisfy his urge to sharpen and enhance his creative skills, Vishal decided to try his hand in the more strenuous profession of film direction. He initially directed two short films on video for reputed Television Channels in the country. Both these films were appreciated and he received further encouragement to direct a full scale feature film. 'Makdee' was his first feature, a children film attempted to both entertain and inform. It was part of the major International Children film festivals held in places like Germany, Iran, Egypt. It won the adult jury prize in Chicago International Children Film Festival. It was awarded the Children’s Jury Award in the Film Festival Open Doek and in 2005 Makdee was part of the New York International Children’s Film Festival, as part of the Bollywood day.
"Maqbool", his second feature is based on William Shakespeare's "Macbeth", is already acclaimed by the international media. It was premiered at Toronto Intl Film Festival and then went on to create waves in Marrakesh, Durban and Delhi film festival. It had also been selected for the prestigious "Berlin Film Festival" held in February 2004. It's commercial release in January 2004, in India won it critical and popular acclaim. It also got the BEST FILM award at the Los Angeles Film Festival. It has also been awarded for BEST DIALOUGES, SCREENPLAY, SUPPORTING ACTOR (Pankaj Kapur) at the Indian International Film Festival at Amsterdam. Zee Cinema Awards also awarded it the BEST DIALOUGES, FOR 2004. The Dialogues were written by Mr. Vishal Bhardwaj and screenplay was written by Mr Vishal Bhardwaj in conjunction with Abbas Tryewala.
His next film called “The Blue Umbrella” is based on a Ruskin Bond's short story “The Blue Umbrella”. It is a total family entertainer. Vishal has done the Direction, Co Production, Screenplay, Dialogues and Composed the Music of the film. This was made in 2004-2005 and for release in December 2006. It won the national award for the BEST CHILDRENS FILM.
The film that established him as enfante terrible of the current batch of Hindi Film directors, was “OMKARA” his second adaptation of Shakespeare. Both critics and movie makers credit the success of both his Shakespeare films to the knife like dodges of their superbly crafted plots, the solidity of characters and other incumbent dramatic devices being so seemlessly adapted to India. These scripts and screenplays and dialouges all have his particular touch besides the direction. The film has been nominated and invited to various film festivals like Cairo, Marrakech, Kara, Gifa and won in each and every festival it was sent to. ( list of Awards Attached if required)
His film “KAMINEY “ ( which means scoundrels in English) which won critical and popular acclaim as a film and for its music. The film won Screen Awards and National Award.
He also provided the creative direction to another highly acclaimed film of 2010 “ISHQUIA” directed by his long time associate Abhishek Chaubey. He wrote the dialogues and directed the music for it as well.
The film he is currently involved with is a film called “SAAT KHOON MAAF’ which is a film concerning Susanna Anna-Maria Johannes, a glamorous and willful beauty, who over the course of thirty-five years, lives through the mysterious deaths of half a dozen hapless husbands. Through her romantic misadventures, she tastes extremes in bliss and disappointment.
That is the film being presented to you in BERLIN for the PANORAMA Section in 2011.
He has the distinction of having each of his film commended for its quality and winning an award in some part of the world or the other. So much so that even a short 12 min AIDS awareness film, called “Blood Brothers” that was made for the Bill Gates foundation won an award.
Omkara list of Awards for Vishal Bhardwaj:
Best Director – Cairo Film Festival, KARA Film Festival
Best Screenplay - KARA Film festival
Best Music – KARA Film Festival, Screen Awards, India
Best Upcoming Director – Society Magazine
Best Director _ Cine Blitz Magazine
Other Awards for the film include – 9 awards In Film fare for
- Set design
- Song
- Choreography
- Actor in negative role – male
- Supporting actress – female
- Sound design
- Costume design
- Best actress
- Critics award for best actor- Deepak Dobrial
Zee Cineawards:
- Best song recording
- Best actor in negative role
- Best Supporting actress
- Most popular song _ Beedi
Gifa Awards:
- Best Cinematography
- Best Actor in negative role
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