https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Vijay_Singh_%28filmmaker%29Vijay Singh (filmmaker) - Revision history2026-11-08T22:04:38ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vijay_Singh_(filmmaker)&diff=544418&oldid=prevBihar Region: Bio2026-03-02T02:22:06Z<p>Bio</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Indian historian, writer and filmmaker}}<br />
{{Other people|Vijay Singh}}<br />
{{More footnotes needed|date=June 2010}}<br />
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{{Infobox person<br />
| name = Vijay Singh<br />
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| caption = Vijay Singh, [[International Film Festival of India|IFFI]] ([[37th International Film Festival of India|2006]])<br />
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| birth_date = <!-- {{Birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} for living people supply only the year with {{Birth year and age|YYYY}} unless the exact date is already widely published, as per [[WP:DOB]]. For people who have died, use {{Birth date|YYYY|MM|DD}}. --><br />
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| occupation = Historian, writer, filmmaker<br />
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| website = {{URL|http://www.vijaysingh.net/}}<br />
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'''Vijay Singh''' is an Indian historian, writer and filmmaker based in [[Paris]].<br />
<br />
==Biography==<br />
Vijay Singh is a historian, writer, filmmaker and screenplay writer from [[India]] living in Paris. He was born to Kanwar Hari Singh, a surgeon, and Kanwarani Raksha Hari Singh.<br />
<br />
Singh was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from St. Stephen's College, Delhi University and a Master of Arts degree in history from [[Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi|Jawaharlal Nehru University]] (JNU), New Delhi.<ref>[http://www.exoticindiaart.com/book/details/IDJ086/ Jaya Ganga: In Search of the River Goddess]</ref><br />
<br />
Inspired by French [[surrealism]] and [[André Breton]], Vijay Singh moved to Paris in the early 1980s and enrolled for a PhD at the [[École des hautes études en sciences sociales]].<br />
<br />
==Career==<br />
<br />
===Playwright===<br />
While still a student in New-Delhi, Vijay Singh wrote and directed a play ''Waiting for Beckett by Godot'', followed by ''A Promenade on the Eyelashes of 1917''.<br />
<br />
===Journalism===<br />
In the early eighties, Vijay Singh wrote a 20-page article which was published by [[Le Monde diplomatique]]. This was the start of his career as a journalist in France. He has written extensively for the French press, primarily [[Libération]], [[Le Monde]] and [[Le Monde diplomatique]] on issues revolving around politics, culture, art and cinema, and also contributed articles to magazines and other international newspapers such as [[The Guardian]] and The Times of India.<br />
<br />
In 1985, Singh co-presented a long programme with Frédéric Mitterrand on the Opening of the Année de l'Inde (India Year) on TF1, one of the main French TV channels.<br />
<br />
===Literary===<br />
While still a journalist, Vijay Singh wrote his first novel, ''[[Jaya Ganga]],<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/34210171.cms Call of the Ganga]</ref> In Search of the River Goddess''. The book was first published in France (''Jaya Ganga, le Gange et son double'', Ramsay, Paris 1985; Ginkgo, Paris 2005) before being published by [[Penguin Books]] India and UK, Rupa Publishers and Rajkamal Prakashan.<br />
<br />
He subsequently wrote ''Whirlpool of Shadows'' (French: ''Tourbillon d’ombres''), ''La Nuit Poignardée'' (''The Wounded Night''), and ''The River Goddess'' (French: ''La Déesse qui devint fleuve''), a book for young readers.<br />
<br />
His latest book, ''Gange, fleuve et déesse'', in collaboration with Jacques Raymond (photography), was published by éditions de la Flandonnière, France in 2014.<br />
<br />
''Whirlpool of Shadows'' was listed by the Booker Prize winner Barry Unsworth in his column “Best Books of the UK” in ''[[The Sunday Times]]'', 1992.<br />
<br />
===Films===<br />
Vijay has written and directed two feature films - the much acclaimed cult film ''[[Jaya Ganga]]'' (French: ''Jaya, fille du Gange'') was released in France, the UK and India and shown at several major film festivals worldwide, often in the competition category. The music was composed by [[Vanraj Bhatia]]. His second feature film ''One Dollar Curry'',<ref name="hindu2007">[https://web.archive.org/web/20070707055028/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2007/03/23/stories/2007032301470300.htm Odes to imagination]</ref><ref name="vijaysingh1">[http://www.vijaysingh.net/articles.html Articles on Vijay Singh]</ref> a light-hearted comedy on immigration, was shot in Paris and released internationally. The film received wide press and media coverage. The music was composed by [[Zakir Hussain (musician)|Zakir Hussain]].<br />
<br />
Vijay Singh has also written and directed the acclaimed films ''India by Song''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://teleobs.nouvelobs.com/rubriques/tendances/articles/india-by-song-un-portrait-en-chansons |title=India by song, un portrait en chansons - Actus TV sur nouvelobs.com |accessdate=10 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100607144442/http://teleobs.nouvelobs.com/rubriques/tendances/articles/india-by-song-un-portrait-en-chansons |archivedate=7 June 2010 }}</ref> and ''Farewell My Indian Soldier'' (''Adieu, mon soldat indien'' - first presented as ''Mademoiselle France pleure'').<br />
<br />
His documentary ''Chami and Ana the Elephant'' (''Man and Elephant''/ ''L'homme et l'éléphant'') was first shown on the French television channel [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal +]] before being broadcast on some 100 televisions worldwide.<br />
<br />
==Awards==<br />
* 2012: Vijay Singh awarded the "Director in Focus Award" at the Indian Film Festival of Ireland, Dublin.<br />
* 2010: ''India by Song'' awarded the River to River Digichannel Audience Award 2010 for Best Documentary at the River to River 2010 Florence Indian Film Festival in Italy.<br />
* 2010: Roll of Honour awarded by the Board of Governors of the Punjab Public School [[Nabha]]<br />
* 2002: Le Grand Prix des Enfants "La Titine 2002", "Festival Pour Enfants du Film d'Animation et du Film Animalier", Carouge, Geneva, Switzerland for ''Chami and Ana'' (''L'homme et l'éléphant'')<br />
*1994:"Bourse Léonardo da Vinci" 1994 for the screenplay of ''[[Jaya Ganga]]''<br />
*1990: Prix Villa Médicis hors les murs Award for foreign literature in 1990 for the novel ''[[Jaya Ganga]], In Search of the River Goddess''<br />
<br />
==Bibliography==<br />
*''Jaya Ganga, In Search of the River Goddess'' ( [[Penguin Books]] Delhi / London 1990; [[Rupa & Co]] Delhi 2005 and 2021; Rajkamal Prakashan (Hindi translation by Mangalesh Dabral), Delhi 2021;<br />
*''Jaya Ganga, le Gange et son double'' (Éditions Ramsay, Paris 1985; Ginkgo éditeur, Paris 2005 (French translation by Alain Porte); <br />
*''Whirlpool of Shadows'' ([[Jonathan Cape]], London, 1992/ [[Rupa & Co]], Delhi 2005) / ''Tourbillon d'ombres'', Éditions Ramsay, Paris 1992)<br />
*''The River Goddess'' (Moonlight Publishing, London 1994) / ''La Déesse qui devint Fleuve'' ([[Gallimard Jeunesse]], Paris 1993) /''Een Godin Wordt Een Rivier'' (Zwijsen, the Netherlands 1994)/ ''Die Göttin, die sich in einen Fluss verwandelt'' ([[Kaufmann-Klett]] Germany 1994)<br />
*''La Nuit Poignardée'' (''The Wounded Night'') (Flammarion [[Groupe Flammarion]] Paris 1987)<br />
*''L'Inde'' (Éditions Autrement, Paris, 1986)<br />
*''Escales d'auteurs / Authors Places of Inspiration'' (Palais Éditions Paris 2001; co-author)<br />
*''A la Recherche du Pêché Sacré'' (''In Search of the Sacred Sin''). Short story co-authored with [[Gabriella Wright]] in ''Une première fois'' ([[Éditions du Seuil]] Paris 2004).<br />
*''Gange, fleuve et déesse'', in collaboration with Jacques Raymond (photos), éditions de la Flandonnière, Cantal, France 2014<br />
<br />
==Filmography==<br />
===Feature films===<br />
*''[[Jaya Ganga]]'' (based on the novel ''Jaya Ganga, In Search of the River Goddess''): Shot in India and France, starring [[Smriti Mishra]], Asil Rais, Paula Klein.<br />
*''One Dollar Curry'':<ref name="hindu2007"/><ref name="vijaysingh1"/> Shot in France, starring Gabriella Wright [[:fr:Gabriella Wright]], [[Vikram Chatwal]], Trevor Stephens, Benoît Solès [[:fr:Benoît Solès]], [[Smriti Mishra]], Lakshan Abenayake, Antoine Coloma, Aurélia Nolin, Partha Majumdar, Prem Puri, Thierry Pietra, Gerald Morales, Stéphanie Guieu, Eric Moreau, Bruno Philippe.<br />
<br />
===Documentaries ===<br />
*''Chami and Ana the Elephant/ Man and Elephant'' (''L'homme et l'éléphant''): Shot in Kerala, India.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://reframecollection.org/films/film?Id=1581|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110725164853/http://reframecollection.org/films/film?Id=1581|archive-date = 25 July 2011|title = Reframecollection – Reframecollection}}</ref><br />
*''Shadi Lal, A Mystic Chef'': Filmed in Paris, France for the French TV channel, France 3.<br />
*''India by Song'': Filmed in India.<br />
*''Farewell My Indian Soldier (French: Adieu, mon soldat indien. First presented under the title 'Mademoiselle France pleure')'': Filmed in India, France, Belgium and the UK.<br />
<br />
===Screenplays===<br />
*''Shadi Lal, le cuisinier chef mystique''<br />
*''Chami & Ana The Elephant (Man & Elephant)''<br />
*''Jaya Ganga'' (based on the novel ''Jaya Ganga, In Search of the River Goddess'')<br />
*''One Dollar Curry''<ref name="hindu2007"/><ref name="vijaysingh1"/><br />
*''The Opium Symphony'' (based on the novel ''Whirlpool of Shadows'')<br />
*''Bhopali''<br />
*''India by Song''<br />
*''Farewell My Indian Soldier''<br />
*''Anoushka''<br />
<br />
==Theatre==<br />
*''Waiting for Beckett by Godot'' (playwright, director).<br />
*''Hassan’s dreams'' (based on ''A Thousand and One Nights''; contributor).<br />
*''A Promenade on the eyelashes of 1917'' (playwright)<br />
<br />
==Quotes==<br />
* "The beauty of man is often the child that lives on in him." (Source: ''The River Goddess'')<br />
* "Only humour can conquer death." (Source: ''One Dollar Curry'')<ref name="hindu2007"/><ref name="vijaysingh1"/><br />
* "To write is to meet solitude, face to face...nothing is more creative than a solitude where the presence of the other...is more present than ever..." (Source: ''Jaya Ganga, In Search of the River Goddess'')<br />
* "When reality is bitter, let life be a dream." (Source: ''India by Song'')<br />
* "Who is not a poet on earth? Some write with words, others write with silence." (Source: ''Jaya Ganga'')<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
* [http://www.vijaysingh.net/ Official website Vijay Singh]<br />
* [https://farewellmyindiansoldier.com/ Official website Farewell My Indian Soldier / Mademoiselle France pleure]<br />
* [http://www.indiabysong.com Official website India by Song]<br />
* [http://www.vijaysingh.net/jayaganga/index.html Official website Jaya Ganga (Jaya, fille du Gange)]<br />
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100531151721/http://www.phoenixlearninggroup.com/Products/VideoDetail.aspx?id=c780cda2-d86f-470c-bb5d-09394cdff42a&cat=1&sub=198c2e24-939a-4a06-916b-0f02430f5cde Chami & Ana / Man & Elephant]<br />
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110725164853/http://reframecollection.org/films/film?Id=1581 Extract of Chami & Ana the Elephant/ Man & Elephant]<br />
* [http://www.emusic.com/album/Vanraj-Bhatia-Jaya-Ganga-MP3-Download/10607253.html Music of Jaya Ganga]<br />
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101027003330/http://www.wellesley.edu/SouthAsiaStudies/news_events.html 2007: Wellesley College, Boston USA. Themes : "My Journey from the word to the Image"; "India by Song"]<br />
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070707055028/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2007/03/23/stories/2007032301470300.htm Odes to imagination]<br />
* [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/film-reviews/india-by-song-film-review-1004096223.story Article on "India by Song"] in [[The Hollywood Reporter]]<br />
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2000/06/20/jaya_ganga_review.shtml BBC article on "Jaya Ganga"]<br />
* [https://www.theguardian.com/film/movie/84048/jaya.ganga The Guardian on "Jaya Ganga"]<br />
* [https://www.theguardian.com/film/2003/nov/07/france Article "Bollywood on Seine"] in [[The Guardian]]<br />
* [https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117923856.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&p=0 "One Dollar Curry"] in [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] magazine<br />
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150404005756/http://www.indianewengland.com/ME2/Audiences/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=029F160A9BD74F7A86F73284DEACD4C6&AudID=Health%20%26%20Medicine Vijay Singh, Keynote speaker, Dudley Film festival, Harvard]<br />
*[http://recherche.univ-montp3.fr/pays_anglophones/images/stories/files/Abstracts%20India(3).pdf "India & the Indian Diasporic Imagination", page 9 : "Vijay Singh or Choosing Paris"]<br />
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060319094549/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/07/23/stories/2005072303010200.htm Article in "The Hindu"]<br />
* {{in lang|fr}}[https://web.archive.org/web/20110727090104/http://teleobs.nouvelobs.com/rubriques/tendances/articles/india-by-song-un-portrait-en-chansons?force=true Interview (in French) on "India by Song" in "Le Nouvel Observateur"]<br />
*[http://www.france24.com/en/20100826-marking-mother-teresas-centenary Interview on France 24 TV 26 August 2010 – Homage to Mother Teresa]<br />
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7412344.stm BBC – 2008]<br />
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{{Authority control}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Vijay}}<br />
[[Category:1952 births]]<br />
[[Category:Living people]]<br />
[[Category:St. Stephen's College, Delhi alumni]]<br />
[[Category:Delhi University alumni]]<br />
[[Category:Jawaharlal Nehru University alumni]]<br />
[[Category:School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences alumni]]<br />
[[Category:Indian expatriates in France]]<br />
[[Category:Hindi-language film directors]]<br />
[[Category:Indian documentary film directors]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian historians]]<br />
[[Category:21st-century Indian historians]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian novelists]]<br />
[[Category:21st-century Indian novelists]]<br />
[[Category:Indian filmmakers]]<br />
[[Category:Indian screenwriters]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian journalists]]<br />
[[Category:21st-century Indian journalists]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights]]<br />
[[Category:21st-century Indian dramatists and playwrights]]<br />
[[Category:Writers from Paris]]<br />
[[Category:People from Delhi]]</div>Bihar Region