Prakash Jha's controversial yet offbeat creations will leave you spellbound

Acclaimed screenwriter and director Prakash Jha turns 71 on 27th February, 2023. Jha, who is renowned for his incisive, socio-political movies, attended the Pune-based Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). For his documentary, Faces After Storm, he received his first National Film Award (1984). Jha's debut full-length feature as a filmmaker was Hip Hip Hurray (1984). He has directed more than 25 movies so far. We have compiled a list of his five most famous flicks in honour of his birthday.

Mrityudand (1997)

The story of Mrityudand (Death Sentence) centres on dishonest peasants who use their influence to steal land and valuables from their neighbours. The household of a guy with two sons is shattered in the film after he crosses some powerful villagers. In addition to Madhuri Dixit and Shabana Azmi, the cast also includes Ayub Khan, Om Puri, Mohan Joshi, and Mohan Agashe.

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Gangaajal (2003)

SP Amit Kumar (Ajay Devgn) investigates widespread criminal activity and corruption in Tezpur, Bihar, which he attributes to the power of a local politician (Mohan Joshi) and his son (Yashpal Sharma). Law enforcement officers are shown committing crimes in the film as well. The socioeconomic themes depicted in Gangaajal earned the film a National Film Award.

Apaharan (2005)

The film shows the inner workings of the abduction industry in Bihar and analyses the clashing worldviews of Raghuvansh Shastri (Mohan Aghashe), an idealistic pious man, and his son Ajay (Ajay Devgn), an amoral opportunist who descends into crime to flee the consequences of his deeds. For his screenplay, Apaharan was honoured with a National Film Award.

Raajneeti (2010)

The political sphere is shown in Raajneeti (Politics), which exposes the underlying antagonism between political parties, betrayals, crimes, and hunger for power. Ajay Devgn, Ranbir Kapoor, Nana Patekar, Katrina Kaif, Naseeruddin Shah, Arjun Rampal, and Manoj Bajpayee are just some of the actors featured in the film.

Damul (1985)

Damul (Bonded Till Death), written and directed by Prakash Jha, won the National Film Award for its depiction of the subjugation of Bihar's destitute Harijans by the state's wealthy landlords through a system of bonded slavery known as "panha." Author Shaiwal's short work Kaalsootra served as inspiration for this film. The cast of Damul includes Bollywood heavyweights like Manohar Singh, Sreela Mazumdar, Annu Kapoor, and Deepti Naval.