Anurag Kashyap
About
Anurag Kashyap, a cutting-edge director, writer, and producer, is often called the Quentin Tarantino of Indian cinema for his cult filmmaking. He got his big break as a co-writer for 'Satya' (1998), a critical and commercial success. His directorial debut, 'Paanch', faced censorship issues and never saw a theatrical release. In 1999, he made the short film 'Last Train to Mahakali' for television.
In 2004, he directed 'Black Friday', based on Hussain Zaidi’s book on the 1993 Bombay blasts. Though delayed due to censorship, it finally released in 2007 to universal acclaim. His next, 'Dev.D' (2009), a modern take on 'Devdas', was both a critical and commercial success.
In 2008, he directed a segment in the anthology film 'Mumbai Cutting', which premiered at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles. In 2011, he directed 'That Girl in Yellow Boots', starring Kalki Koechlin, which screened at multiple international festivals. His biggest success came in 2012 with 'Gangs of Wasseypur', a two-part crime saga on Dhanbad’s coal mafia. It was screened at Cannes Directors' Fortnight, Toronto, Sundance, and other global festivals.
Anurag has also written dialogues for 'Paisa Vasool' & 'Yuva' (2004), 'Water' & 'Main Aisa Hi Hoon' (2005), and 'Mixed Doubles' (2006). His other notable films include 'Raman Raghav 2.0' (2016), 'Manmarziyaan' (2018), and 'AK vs AK' (2020).
He has launched talents like Abhay Deol, Mahi Gill, Richa Chadha, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui through unconventional roles. Since 2009, he has also produced acclaimed films like 'Shaitan, Aiyyaa, Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana, The Lunchbox, Shahid, Hasee Toh Phasee, Queen', and 'Saand Ki Aankh'.
Anurag has also acted in films like 'Shagird, Black Friday, Happy New Year, No Smoking', and 'Akira'.
Awards and Accomplishments
Awards and Accomplishments
He received the ‘Screen Award for Best Screenplay’ with Saurabh Shukla for the film Satya.
Anurag received a ‘Special Jury Award’ for Last Train to Mahakali in 2000.
He shared the ‘Best Story’ and ‘Best Screenplay’ awards at the 56th Filmfare Awards with Vikramaditya Motwane for Udaan in 2011.
Anurag was awarded the ‘Ordre des Arts et des Lettres’ (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) by the French government at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.
He was conferred with the ‘Yash Bharti Award’ by the government of Uttar Pradesh in 2016.
He served as a jury member for several international film festivals such as Venice Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival & Busan International Film Festival.
Why Anurag Kashyap ?
A filmmaker synonymous with irreverent storytelling, Anurag refuses to skirt Indian sensibilities, unafraid to expose the raw and unfiltered truths of society. His gritty, impactful cinema consistently pushes boundaries, offering audiences a perspective they can’t ignore.
From the streets of Gorakhpur to redefining Indian cinema, Anurag Kashyap’s journey is a testament to grit and fearless storytelling. Overcoming the challenges of migration, industry struggles, and carving his own unconventional path, he proved that success belongs to those who dare to dream and persist.
