Manmohan Singh (film Director)

Manmohan Singh (film Director) Biography

Manmohan Singh is a cinematographer and Film Director associated with Hindi and Punjabi film industry. He has also done playback singing for Bollywood in the 1980s. As a cinematographer, his best work is the landmark movie, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge – the longest running Indian film. Now Singh has ventured into film direction and successfully associated with Punjabi cinema. Now he is one of the top directors of Punjabi cinema. Known was a pioneer and trendsetter of Punjabi cinema, “Jee Aayan Nu", "Asa Nu Maan Watna Da", and "Yaaran Naal Baharaan" are his best works.

Frequently associated with legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra for many landmark and blockbuster hits, the best movies of this combination include – Chandni (1989), Darr (1993), Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), Dil To Pagal Hai (1997), and Mohabbatein (2000). Lamhe (1991). DDLJ and Mohabbatein were directed by Yash Chopra’s son, Aditya Chopra. Darr and Chandni earned him Filmfare awards for best cinematographer. Dil To pagal Hai –earned him Zee Cine Award for Best Cinematography in 1997. Associated with both main stream and offbeat movies, Maachis (1996), Chaal baaz (1989), Lekhin (1991), Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai (1998), Hu Tu Tu (1999) etc are his other noted works.

As a film director, he made his debut with Hindi film, Pehla Pehla Pyaar in 1994 starring Rishi Kapoor and Tabu in the lead role. The movie bombed at box office. But he gained success through Punjabi films. Since year 2003 he is associated with Punjabi cinema as a producer and director and he has produced one film - Honour Killing (2014). Jee Aayan Nu marked his film debut in Punjabi cinema as a director, and Yaaran Naal Baharan, Mitti Wajaan Maardi, Aa Gaye Munde U.K. De, Munde U.K. De, Mera Pind, Ajj De Ranjhe, Asa Nu Maan Watna Da, Ik Kudi Punjab Di and Dil Apna Punjabi are his directorial ventures later.

Singh belongs to a village of Sirsa, Haryana. As a cinematographer, he entered Bollywood in the early 1980s. 1983 romantic blockbuster Betaab was his first work as an independent cinematographer. Though he worked with many directors of Bollywood since then, he regularly worked with the most popular director, known for romantic movies – Yash Chopra. His association with Chopra gave him new heights in Bollywood and by mid-1990s he was one of the most successful cinematographers of Bollywood. No doubt, Yash Chopra's evergreen love stories would never be the same without him!

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Updated: March 12, 2016