Manish Jha

Manish Jha is an Indian film writer and director, known for the film Matrubhoomi.

Born in Dhamaura, in the West Champaran district of Bihar, Jha grew up in Delhi where he had moved at an early age.

He did his graduation in English from Ramjas College, Delhi University, where he also joined its theatre group aiming to become an actor.

After completing his studies, Jha moved to Mumbai and began working as an assistant director in television serials hoping to get a break.

When the break never came, he made a five-minute short film on the homeless putting in Rs 30,000, A Very Very Silent Film, which won the Jury Prize for the Best Short Film at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival.

Thereafter he made his feature debut with Matrubhoomi (2003) about effects of female infanticide, which won a series of awards and critical acclaim.

At the 2003 Venice Film Festival, it was presented in the Critic's Week (Parallel section) and later awarded the FIPRESCI Award "For its important theme on women's issues and female infanticide handled with sensitivity by a first-time director".

His next was Anwar (2007), a film set in Lucknow, about stereotyping of Muslims in the post 9/11 era.

In 2008, he directed the segment title, "And it Rained" in anthology film, with 11 directors, Mumbai Cutting, which became the closing film of 10th Osian's Cinefan Festival in Delhi.

He next directed a two-hour yoga DVD, Shilpa's Yoga (2008) for actress Shilpa Shetty, shot against the coastal backdrop of Kerala.