Govind Nihlani

Govind Nihalani
Nihalani in 2006
Born	(1940-12-19) 19 December 1940 (age 76) Karachi, British India
Years active	1962 – present

Govind Nihalani (born 19 December 1940 in Karachi) is an Indian film director, cinematographer, screenwriter and producer, known for his works in Hindi cinema. He has been the recipient of six National Film Awards (India), and five Bollywood Filmfare Awards. In 1996, his script for Drohkaal was adapted by Kamal Hassan for its Tamil remake, Kuruthipunal which subsequently became India's official entry for the 68th Academy Awards Best Foreign Language Film category.

His first directorial venture was Aakrosh starring Om Puri, Naseeruddin Shah, Smita Patil and Amrish Puri. The film was scripted by noted Marathi playwright Vijay Tendulkar. The film shared the Golden Peacock for best film at the International Film Festival of India held in New Delhi in 1981. He then directed Ardh Satya, based on a story by S. D. Panwalkar. the film has received critical reception for depicting the police-politician-criminal nexus. In 1997, he adapted Bengali novelist, Mahasweta Devi's acclaimed novel by the same name to Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa.