Born in Karachi in 1940, Govind Nihalani grew up in India after Partition and trained in cinematography in Bangalore. He worked as cinematographer for Shyam Benegal and on Gandhi (1982), then turned director with Aakrosh (1980), a legal drama with Om Puri, Naseeruddin Shah and Smita Patil from a script by Vijay Tendulkar. It won the Golden Peacock in Delhi. He made Ardh Satya (1983), Party (1984), Tamas (1988) from Bhisham Sahni's novel on Partition, Drishti, Drohkaal and Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa. He received the Padma Shri in 2002.
Filmography
- Aakrosh (1980)
- Vijeta (1982)
- Ardh Satya (1983)
- Party (1984)
- Tamas (1988)
- Drohkaal (1994)
- Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa (1998)
- Dev (2004)