- July 14, 2026 / 12:17 PM ISTByMohana R
Nagraj Manjule
Biography:
Nagraj Manjule is a well-known Indian film director, screenplay writer, producer, poet, and actor who primarily makes films on caste dynamics and rural social issues in India. He made a mark in the Indian film industry after directing Fandry (2014), his maiden venture in the world of cinema, which is a poignant social commentary on caste prejudice and dehumanization of oppressed castes. It was well received and recognized by many as one of the best Indian films of its period.
Manjule became extremely successful through his movie Sairat, which portrayed a tragic love story between two people belonging to different castes. His second film in Hindi was called Dhadak. The movie was immensely successful because of its realistic depiction, music composed by Ajay–Atul, and effective storytelling.
The film-making style of Manjule is distinguished with realism, non-glamorized depiction of rural life, high level of emotional involvement, and socio-political aspects based on the philosophy of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar. The central topics covered in Manjule’s work include issues of caste oppression, honor, poverty, identity, and inequalities. In addition to directing, he also worked as a screenwriter, producer, actor, and dialogue writer for films such as Naal, Ghar Banduk Biryani, and Matka King.
He directed Hindi feature Jhund starring Amitabh Bachchan, a sports drama based on the life of social activist, Vijay Barse. Over time, Manjule became one of the leading filmmakers in socially oriented Indian cinema.as tags
More Details
| Name | Nagraj Manjule |
|---|---|
| Famous For | Jhund |
| Date of Birth | 24/08/1977 |
| Religion | Hindu |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hobbies | Poetry writing, wrestling, literature, and filmmaking. He also owns a wrestling team called “Veer Marathwada.” |
| Father | Popatrao Manjule |
| Sibling | Bharat Manjule, Bhushan Manjule |
| Spouse | Gargee Kulkarni |
| Children | 2 |
| Educational Qualification | M.A. in Marathi Literature, Master's in Communication Studies |
| College (s) | University of Pune, New Arts, Science and Commerce College, Ahmednagar |
| Debut Movies | |
|---|---|
| Language | Movie Name |
| Awards List | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Award | Category | Movie Name | |
| 2010 | National Film Award | Best First Non-Feature Film | Pistulya | |
| 2013 | National Film Award | Best Debut Film of a Director | Fandry | |
| 2017 | Filmfare Award Marathi | Best Director | Sairat | |
| 2014 | Los Angeles Indian Film Festival | Grand Jury Prize- Best Narrative Feature | Fandry | |
| 2016 | Asian Film Festival Barcelona (Casa Asia Film Festival) | Young Jury Award- Best Director | Sairat | |





















