Jahnu Barua is an acclaimed Indian film director from Assam. He is a multiple national and international award winning director.
Life of Jahnu Barua:
About Jahnu BaruaJahnu Barua was born in Bakata, Sibsagar to Debeswar Barua and Gunabati Barua. He was born in a big family and did his higher education in Guwahati. He did his B. Sc from B. Barooah College in Guwahati and studied diploma in film direction from Film & TV Institute of India (FTII) in Pune. He is married to Gayatri, a filmmaker and his inspiration. They have a son named Oju.
Career of Jahnu Barua:
Jahnu Barua has directed a number of Assamese and Hindi films. He is best known for his Hindi film ‘Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara’, a drama which utilizes the principles of Gandhism for its thematic back story. Jahnu Barua made his first Assamese film ‘Aparoopa’ in 1982 which was produced by NFDC.
He started his career as an Assistant Director to Aruna-Vikas in Mumbai for the film ‘Shaque’. After that, he worked as a Television Producer in Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) under Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) schemes and made several educational television science programmes for rural school children.
Jahnu Barua produced and directed many short films before starting out to make feature films. Some of his films include Papori, Banani, Firingoti, Konikar Ramdhenu, Kuhkhal, Pokhi, Tora and Apeksha among others.
He has been regularly contributing his expertise to many cinema related organizations and institutions including National Film Development Corporation (NEDC), Children’s Film Society, India (CFSI), Film & Television Institute of India (FTII), Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute (SRFTI), National Film Archive, India (NFAI), International Film Festival of India (TFFT), Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF) and National Film Awards Committee.
Apart from films, Jahnu Barua is also actively involved in many organizations dealing with youth, women and children, environment, physically handicapped children, culture and awareness programmes.
Awards and Achievements by Jahnu Barua:
Jahnu Barua has won the National Award nine times. He got national and international recognition through his third film ‘Halodhiya Soraiye Baodhan Khai’ which won the National Award for the best 
film (Golden Lotus) in 1988.
He also have been conferred several recognitions including the Grand Prix Silver Leopard and World Ecumenical Award at the Locarno International Film Festival, Best Film at Amien International Film Festival and Best of Asia at the Tokyo International Film Festival.
Another notable films of his ‘Hkhagoroloi Bohudoor (Its’ a long way to the Sea) has won the National Award for the Best Director (Golden Lotus) in 1995 and 15 international awards including the World Peace Prize at Chicago International Film Festival, Best Director at the International Film Festival of Independent Film Makers at Brussels.
He is also invited to as many 42 prestigious film festivals over the years. Another of his Hindi film ‘Maine Gandhi Ko Nahi Mara’ is one of the most critically acclaimed film which won the prestigious Kodak Vision Award at Fukuoka International Film Festival.
It also won him the prestigious International FIPRESCI award at the Mumbai International Film Festival. Jahnu Barua has also been conferred the Padma Shri by the President of India in the year 2003 and the Kamal Kumari National Award for Culture in 2004. Jahnu Barua has also served as a Jury member ad a Chairperson in many national and international film festivals.
