Kundan Shah
Writing
Biography
Kundan Shah (19 October 1947 – 7 October 2017) was an Indian film director and writer known for his influential contribution to satirical comedy in Hindi cinema and television. Born into a Gujarati family, he studied film direction at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune. During his time at FTII, he developed a strong interest in socially relevant storytelling blended with humor and satire, which later became the hallmark of his filmmaking style. Shah made his directorial debut with the cult comedy film Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983), which he also co-wrote. The film introduced a sharp form of satirical comedy in Indian cinema and later achieved cult status. He subsequently moved into television and directed several popular series including Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi, Nukkad (with Saeed Akhtar Mirza), Manoranjan, and Wagle Ki Duniya, the latter based on cartoonist R. K. Laxman’s iconic character “The Common Man”. These shows became widely popular for their humorous yet realistic portrayal of everyday life. After a brief break from films, Shah returned to cinema with Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1993), starring Shah Rukh Khan, for which he also wrote the screenplay. The film received critical acclaim and won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Film. He later directed films such as Kya Kehna (2000), starring Preity Zinta, which addressed the social issue of single parenthood, as well as Hum To Mohabbat Karega (2000), Dil Hai Tumhaara (2002), and Ek Se Badhkar Ek (2004). Shah also received the National Film Award for Best Debut Film of a Director for Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, and he remains remembered for blending satire, humor, and social commentary in Indian cinema and television. TMDB mini biography by: Ashvin Borad
Known For
Host Farooq Shaikh interviews many well-known Bollywood faces as well as television celebrities and gives a peek into their private and professional lives.
Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai
Wagle Ki Duniya (literally: 'Wagle's World') was a popular sitcom on Indian television that originally aired between 1988 and 1990. It was directed by Kundan Shah and was based on characters created by noted cartoonist R. K. Laxman, especially "the common man" about the issues of common middle-class Indian man. It starred Anjan Srivastav as a bumbling salesclerk in a multinational company and Bharati Achrekar as his wife. The series was a hit and made Anjan Srivastav a household name.
Wagle Ki Duniya
Hiding her husband's affair from the world after his death, Sarita raises his love child alongside their daughter. When the girls grow up and fall in love with the same man, Sarita is forced to deal with her biases.
Dil Hai Tumhaara
A man belongs to a middle-class family and is intent on pursuing his career with a music group, despite his dad's disapproval. He is also in love with the lead singer, but she sees him mainly as a friend.
Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa
Two zanies open a photography studio. They score a partnership with a gossip magazine that suddenly thrusts them into a world of corruption, murder, and hijinks.
Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro
Priya, a young college girl faces hardships and challenges after she becomes pregnant before marriage.
Kya Kehna
An anthology of eleven short films from eleven directors featuring stories of life in Mumbai.
Mumbai Cutting
'Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyun Ata Hai' revolves around the Pintos and the people connected to them. There's Albert who's pretty much angry at everybody. His brother Dominic who thinks it's better to be jobless than to work an underpaid job, his patient sister Joan who works at a sari shop, his independent girlfriend Stella who feels under-appreciated by her boyfriend, his father and his colleagues, client and Stella's family. The film is very much a social commentary about Middle-class life in Bombay during the late ’70s and the conflicts arising in the labour force because workers were getting severely underpaid.
Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyoon Aata Hai
An Indian TV series dealing with the struggles of the urban youth who strive to make a living in Mumbai.
Nukkad
Advocate Anand Mathur draws up a will for his client, while reading the novel "Godfather", and erroneously makes out the will with a provision that the beneficiary must be a criminal don in order to inherit the billions of rupees. The beneficiary is a bachelor named Rahul Bhargav, who wants no part of being a Don, criminal or anything of that sort. His Police Inspector girlfriend, Kanchan Dhillon, has set her sights on the billions, and makes him change his mind. She assures him that she will use her influence and ensure that he gets to be the Don in no time at all, little realizing that this will change their lives forever, and make them captives in neighbouring and hostile Pakistan.
Ek Se Badhkar Ek
A man lies about being an eyewitness to a murder in order to spend time with a beautiful female reporter. Only now, he's wanted by those responsible for the killing.
Hum To Mohabbat Karega
Kundan Shah's FTII Diploma Film - A 23-minute dialogue-less short about a gang of bank robbers.
Bonga
Documentary on stand-up comedy in India and the larger context of contemporary Indian humour.
I Am Offended
P Se PM Tak (Prostitute Se Prime Minister Tak) is a political satire on modern Indian politics. A penniless prostitute arrives in a town where a by-election is taking place and gets caught up in the politics, eventually becoming chief minister
P Se PM Tak
A portrait of independent filmmaker Saeed Mirza best known for cult arthouse films that tackle socio political tensions in India.