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{{short description|Indian film director}}
{{short description|Indian film director}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name          = Pan Nalin
| name          = Pan Nalin
| image        = File:Pan Nalin on Set7.jpg
| image        = File:Pan Nalin on Set7.jpg
| caption      = Pan Nalin in 2014 on the set of [[Angry Indian Goddesses]] Film in Goa
| caption      = Pan Nalin in 2014 on the set of ''[[Angry Indian Goddesses]]'' Film in [[Goa]]
| birth_name    = Nalinkumar Ramniklal Pandya
| birth_name    = Nalinkumar Ramniklal Pandya
| birth_date    = <!-- {{Birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes}} -->
| birth_date    = <!-- {{Birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes}} -->
| birth_place  = [[Adtala]], [[Amreli district]], [[Gujarat]], India
| birth_place  = [[Adtala]], [[Amreli district]], [[Gujarat]], India
| nationality  =
| other_names  =  
| other_names  =  
| education    =  
| education    =  
| alma_mater    = [[National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad]]
| alma_mater    = [[National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad]]
| occupation    = Film Director, Film Producer, Screenwriter, Production Designer, Editor
| occupation    = {{hlist|Film director|Film producer|Screenwriter|Production designer|Editor}}
| years_active  = 1990-present
| years_active  = 1990–present
| style  = Drama, Action, Western, Comedy, Spiritual
| style  = Drama, Action, Western, Comedy, Spiritual
| known_for    =  
| known_for    =  
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}}
}}


'''Nalin Kumar Pandya''' or '''Pan Nalin''' is a filmmaker of Indian origin. Nalin is best known for directing award-winning movies like [[Samsara (2001 film)|Samsara]], [[Valley of Flowers (film)|Valley of Flowers]], and [[Angry Indian Goddesses]]. His debut feature [[Samsara (2001 film)|SAMSARA]] (Miramax) was worldwide critical and commercial triumph and went on to win awards like Best First Feature Film at [[Durban International Film Festival]],<ref name='N24'>{{cite web |title=Film festival to showcase Africa |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/film-festival-to-showcase-africa-20031013 |website=News24}}</ref> "Grand Jury Prize – Special Mention" at [[AFI Fest]],<ref>{{cite web |title=AFI FEST 2020 - Film Results |url=https://fest.afi.com/film-results/ |website=AFI FEST |language=en}}</ref> Special Jury Award at [[Santa Barbara International Film Festival]] and "Most Popular Feature Film" at [[Melbourne International Film Festival]] in 2002. Since then Nalin has been actively making fiction and non-fiction movies which have been coproduced with countries like India, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the USA. Nalin’s movies have been distributed worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Walia |first1=Shelly |title=Bollywood just won’t back movies on women, says director of Angry Indian Goddesses |url=https://qz.com/india/507582/bollywood-just-wont-back-movies-on-women-says-director-of-angry-indian-goddesses/ |website=Quartz |language=en}}</ref>
'''Nalin Kumar Pandya''', popularly known as '''Pan Nalin''', is an Indian filmmaker, best known for directing award-winning movies like ''[[Samsara (2001 film)|Samsara]]'' (2001), ''[[Valley of Flowers (film)|Valley of Flowers]]'' (2006), ''[[Angry Indian Goddesses]]'' (2015) and the semi-autobiographical ''[[Chhello Show]]'' (translation: ''Last Film Show'') (2021). His debut feature ''Samsara'' (Miramax) was worldwide critical and commercial triumph and went on to win awards like Best First Feature Film at [[Durban International Film Festival]],<ref name='N24'>{{cite web |title=Film festival to showcase Africa |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/film-festival-to-showcase-africa-20031013 |website=News24}}</ref> "Grand Jury Prize – Special Mention" at [[AFI Fest]],<ref>{{cite web |title=AFI FEST 2020 - Film Results |url=https://fest.afi.com/film-results/ |website=AFI FEST |language=en}}</ref> Special Jury Award at [[Santa Barbara International Film Festival]] and "Most Popular Feature Film" at [[Melbourne International Film Festival]] in 2002. Since then Nalin has been actively making fiction and non-fiction movies which have been coproduced with countries like India, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the USA. Nalin's movies have been distributed worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Walia |first1=Shelly |title=Bollywood just won't back movies on women, says director of Angry Indian Goddesses |url=https://qz.com/india/507582/bollywood-just-wont-back-movies-on-women-says-director-of-angry-indian-goddesses/ |website=Quartz |language=en}}</ref>


==Early life==
==Early life==
Nalin, a self-taught filmmaker, was born in a remote village of [[Adtala]] in [[Amreli district]], [[Gujarat]], India. Nalin, until the age of 12, helped his father sell tea on a railway platform [[Khijadiya Junction Railway Station]]. His parents gave him spiritual upbringing. As a child, Nalin disliked schools; instead he used to paint and draw. He also actively staged mythological dramas and folk plays.<ref name='toi'>{{cite web |last1=Dave |first1=Nayan |title=From a tea stall in Amreli to Hollywood {{!}} Ahmedabad News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/from-a-tea-stall-in-amreli-to-hollywood/articleshow/3030685.cms |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>
Nalin, a self-taught filmmaker, was born in a remote village of [[Adtala]] in [[Amreli district]], [[Gujarat]], India. Nalin, until the age of 12, helped his father sell tea on a railway platform [[Khijadiya Junction Railway Station]]. His parents gave him spiritual upbringing. As a child, Nalin disliked schools; instead he used to paint and draw. He also actively staged mythological dramas and folk plays.<ref name='toi'>{{cite web |last1=Dave |first1=Nayan |title=From a tea stall in Amreli to Hollywood {{!}} Ahmedabad News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/from-a-tea-stall-in-amreli-to-hollywood/articleshow/3030685.cms |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>


Nalin left his family in young age in pursuit of cinema. He studied Fine Arts at the [[M.S. University]], Baroda for one year. It is also in Vadodara that Nalin discovered Hollywood movies and World Cinema.<ref name='toi'/> A year later Nalin went to study Design at the NID ([[National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad]]). While at NID, he wrote about movies and managed the Film Club by programming films from around the world.<ref name='HT'>{{cite web |title=‘Angry Indian Goddesses is not a feminist film,says director Pan Nalin |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/angry-indian-goddesses-is-not-a-feminist-film-says-director-pan-nalin/story-vhHXm1T8l6sfOw4FWqufRK.html |website=Hindustan Times |language=en |date=19 November 2015}}</ref> Nalin made some fifty wedding videos to finance his education and filmmaking. From Ahmedabad’s famous Sunday Flea Market Nalin found the old film cameras. He made four animations and twenty short silent films using these cameras. However having no means to finance the editing, sound and lab work, those films remained incomplete, some disappeared all together. After graduating from NID, Nalin traveled widely all over India for the next two years.<ref name='dna'>{{cite web |last1=Shetty-Saha |first1=Shubha |title=‘I was born with nothing’ |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-i-was-born-with-nothing-1035703 |website=DNA India |language=en |date=15 June 2006}}</ref>
Nalin left his family in young age in pursuit of cinema. He studied Fine Arts at the [[M.S. University]], Baroda for one year. It is also in Vadodara that Nalin discovered Hollywood movies and World Cinema.<ref name='toi'/> A year later Nalin went to study design at the NID ([[National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad]]). While at NID, he wrote about movies and managed the Film Club by programming films from around the world.<ref name='HT'>{{cite web |title='Angry Indian Goddesses is not a feminist film,' says director Pan Nalin |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/angry-indian-goddesses-is-not-a-feminist-film-says-director-pan-nalin/story-vhHXm1T8l6sfOw4FWqufRK.html |website=Hindustan Times |language=en |date=19 November 2015}}</ref> Nalin made some fifty wedding videos to finance his education and filmmaking. From Ahmedabad's famous Sunday Flea Market Nalin found the old film cameras. He made four animations and twenty short silent films using these cameras. However having no means to finance the editing, sound and lab work, those films remained incomplete, some disappeared all together. After graduating from NID, Nalin traveled widely all over India for the next two years.<ref name='dna'>{{cite web |last1=Shetty-Saha |first1=Shubha |title='I was born with nothing' |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-i-was-born-with-nothing-1035703 |website=DNA India |language=en |date=15 June 2006}}</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
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===1990 to 2000===
===1990 to 2000===


Nalin finally moved to Mumbai, and got a break as a production runner at Durga Khote Productions. In no time the producers recognized Nalin's talent and offered him a chance to direct commercials and corporate films.<ref name='toi'/> In 1988, Nalin conceived a unique comedy TV series of [[Doordarshan]] in collaboration with famous cartoonist [[R. K. Laxman]]; the series was later sold and became a major hit under the title of [[Wagle Ki Duniya]].<ref>{{cite web |title=I’ve always had strong female characters in my films: Pan Nalin |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/ive-always-had-strong-female-characters-in-my-films-pan-nalin/ |website=The Indian Express |language=en |date=16 November 2015}}</ref>
Nalin finally moved to Mumbai, and got a break as a production runner at Durga Khote Productions. In no time the producers recognized Nalin's talent and offered him a chance to direct commercials and corporate films.<ref name='toi'/> In 1988, Nalin conceived a unique comedy TV series of [[Doordarshan]] in collaboration with famous cartoonist [[R. K. Laxman]]; the series was later sold and became a major hit under the title of [[Wagle Ki Duniya]].<ref>{{cite web |title=I've always had strong female characters in my films: Pan Nalin |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/ive-always-had-strong-female-characters-in-my-films-pan-nalin/ |website=The Indian Express |language=en |date=16 November 2015}}</ref>


Nalin traveled and lived in USA and UK for about a year and then six months in Europe. Soon he returned to the India started writing screenplays and making documentaries.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ayurveda: Art of Being |url=https://cineuropa.org/en/film/131078/ |website=Cineuropa - the best of european cinema |language=en}}</ref> Nalin made several of them with [[Discovery Channel|Discovery]], [[Canal Plus]], [[BBC]] and other leading international TV networks. Nalin also made short documentaries for [[Canal Plus]] on Indian superstars [[Shah Rukh Khan]] and [[Sridevi]]. The subjects of his documentaries ranged from modern India to deep interiors of Nagaland to High Tibetan plateau of the Himalayas. Nalin’s independent moviemaking spirit attracted French documentary filmmaker [[Yolande Zauberman]]’s attention; so while she was making her feature documentary Born Criminal in India, Nalin shifted his career gears by becoming co-producer on the movie because he was highly impressed by Zauberman’s style of moviemaking. "Born Criminal" became Official Selection of [[Cannes Film Festival]] where Nalin got invited.<ref name='toi'/>
Nalin traveled and lived in USA and UK for about a year and then six months in Europe. He soon returned to India and started writing screenplays and making documentaries.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ayurveda: Art of Being |url=https://cineuropa.org/en/film/131078/ |website=Cineuropa - the best of european cinema |language=en}}</ref> Nalin made several of them with [[Discovery Channel|Discovery]], [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal Plus]], [[BBC]] and other leading international TV networks. Nalin also made short documentaries for [[Canal+ (French TV channel)|Canal Plus]] on Indian superstars [[Shah Rukh Khan]] and [[Sridevi]]. The subjects of his documentaries ranged from modern India to deep interiors of Nagaland to High Tibetan plateau of the Himalayas. Nalin's independent moviemaking spirit attracted French documentary filmmaker [[Yolande Zauberman]]’s attention; so while she was making her feature documentary Born Criminal in India, Nalin shifted his career gears by becoming co-producer on the movie because he was highly impressed by Zauberman’s style of moviemaking. "Born Criminal" became Official Selection of [[Cannes Film Festival]] where Nalin got invited.<ref name='toi'/>


Nalin started 'Monsoon Films', his own production company in Delhi, which was later, moved to Mumbai.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nag |first1=Ashoke |title=Mumbai Mantra to screen 10 films in a yr |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/media/entertainment/mumbai-mantra-to-screen-10-films-in-a-yr/articleshow/3553770.cms |website=The Economic Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=My roots are Indian but I can spread: Pan Nalin - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/my-roots-are-indian-but-i-can-spread-pan-nalin/articleshow/1210890.cms |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>
Nalin started 'Monsoon Films', his own production company in Delhi, which was later, moved to Mumbai.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nag |first1=Ashoke |title=Mumbai Mantra to screen 10 films in a yr |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/media/entertainment/mumbai-mantra-to-screen-10-films-in-a-yr/articleshow/3553770.cms |website=The Economic Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=My roots are Indian but I can spread: Pan Nalin - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/my-roots-are-indian-but-i-can-spread-pan-nalin/articleshow/1210890.cms |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>
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===2000s: Breakthrough===
===2000s: Breakthrough===


Nalin got a breakthrough with [[Cinematheque]] in Paris, where his documentary "Sacred Courtesan Devadasi" and his short fiction "Khajuraho" was being showcased, in the audience was Europe's prolific producer [[Karl Baumgartner]].


Nalin got a breakthrough with [[Cinematheque]] in Paris, where his documentary "Sacred Courtesan Devadasi" and his short fiction "Khajuraho" was being showcased, in the audience was Europe’s prolific producer [[Karl Baumgartner]].
After 170 rejection letters and emails for Samsara, Nalin met Baumgartner who came on board as main producer and mounted Samsara in co-production with Germany, France, Italy and India. In the year 2000, Samsara was done in 4 months long pre-production, followed by three months long filming. There were 14 nationalities in Samsara's cast and crew. Samsara got invited to [[Toronto International Film Festival]] to make the world premiere, [[Miramax]] and fifty other distributors acquired the movie for the distribution. The film won Jury and audience award at [[Santa Barbara International Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Samsara Woos Santa Barbara Jury and Audience |url=https://www.filmfestivals.com/blog/editor/isamsarai_woos_santa_barbara_jury_and_audience |website=filmfestivals.com |language=en}}</ref> Pan Nalin came into global limelight; SAMSARA became a massive commercial and critical success worldwide and won him many international awards.<ref>{{cite web |title=By censoring, we're only highlighting those issues: Pan Nalin |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/brunch/by-censoring-certain-things-we-re-only-highlighting-those-issues-says-pan-nalin/story-b2vexpmJajOfV2K4TKcKWO.html |website=Hindustan Times |language=en |date=12 December 2015}}</ref>
 
After 170 rejection letters and emails for Samsara, Nalin met Baumgartner who came on board as main producer and mounted Samsara in co-production with Germany, France, Italy and India. In the year 2000, Samsara was done in 4 months long pre-production, followed by three months long filming. There were 14 nationalities in Samsara’s cast and crew. Samsara got invited to [[Toronto International Film Festival]] to make the world premiere, [[Miramax]] and fifty other distributors acquired the movie for the distribution. The film won Jury and audience award at [[Santa Barbara International Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Samsara Woos Santa Barbara Jury and Audience |url=https://www.filmfestivals.com/blog/editor/isamsarai_woos_santa_barbara_jury_and_audience |website=filmfestivals.com |language=en}}</ref> Pan Nalin came into global limelight; SAMSARA became a massive commercial and critical success worldwide and won him many international awards.<ref>{{cite web |title=By censoring, we’re only highlighting those issues: Pan Nalin |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/brunch/by-censoring-certain-things-we-re-only-highlighting-those-issues-says-pan-nalin/story-b2vexpmJajOfV2K4TKcKWO.html |website=Hindustan Times |language=en |date=12 December 2015}}</ref>


==2001-2020: Established Auteur==
==2001-2020: Established auteur==
[[File:PanNalin onSet5.jpg|thumb|Pan Nalin in 2017 on the set of "Beyond The Known World" in [[Manali, Himachal Pradesh|Manali]], India]]
[[File:PanNalin onSet5.jpg|thumb|Pan Nalin in 2017 on the set of "Beyond The Known World" in [[Manali, Himachal Pradesh|Manali]], India]]
Following theatrical success of "Samsara", Nalin traveled 15000 km by road to meet with traditional masters of Indian medicine. The result was a documentary "AYURVEDA: ART OF BEING". It was theatrically released worldwide with major success. "AYURVEDA: ART OF BEING" celebrated a yearlong theatrical run in Spain and record-breaking two-year long run in France. The film met with similar success in USA, Canada, Germany and Holland.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ayurveda – The Art Of Being {{!}} IFFLA |url=https://www.indianfilmfestival.org/ayurveda-the-art-of-being/ |website=.indianfilmfestival.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kehr |first1=Dave |title=FILM REVIEW; Rapt Look At a Holistic Medical Art From India |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/17/movies/film-review-rapt-look-at-a-holistic-medical-art-from-india.html |website=The New York Times |date=17 July 2002}}</ref>
Following theatrical success of "Samsara", Nalin traveled 15000&nbsp;km by road to meet with traditional masters of Indian medicine. The result was a documentary "AYURVEDA: ART OF BEING". It was theatrically released worldwide with major success. "AYURVEDA: ART OF BEING" celebrated a yearlong theatrical run in Spain and record-breaking two-year long run in France. The film met with similar success in USA, Canada, Germany and Holland.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ayurveda – The Art Of Being {{!}} IFFLA |url=https://www.indianfilmfestival.org/ayurveda-the-art-of-being/ |website=.indianfilmfestival.org |access-date=4 May 2021 |archive-date=27 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227200714/https://www.indianfilmfestival.org/ayurveda-the-art-of-being/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kehr |first1=Dave |title=FILM REVIEW; Rapt Look At a Holistic Medical Art From India |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/17/movies/film-review-rapt-look-at-a-holistic-medical-art-from-india.html |website=The New York Times |date=17 July 2002}}</ref>


In 2006, Nalin’s Hindi and Japanese language second feature, [[Valley of Flowers (film)|Valley of Flowers]] was pre-sold to nearly 35 countries and considered a major underground hit. The [[Valley of Flowers (film)|Valley of Flowers]] was filmed in remote, high altitude Himalayas and in Japan. The film won the best picture at [[Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles]], and four nominations at [[Indo-American Arts Council|IAAC]] New York, including The Best Picture and The Best Director.<ref name='SD'>{{cite web |title=Valley Of Flowers wins top prize at LA Indian Film Fest |url=https://www.screendaily.com/valley-of-flowers-wins-top-prize-at-la-indian-film-fest/4032026.article |website=Screen |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Valley of Flowers |url=https://cineuropa.org/en/film/51715/ |website=Cineuropa - the best of european cinema |language=en}}</ref>
In 2006, Nalin's Hindi and Japanese language second feature, [[Valley of Flowers (film)|Valley of Flowers]] was pre-sold to nearly 35 countries and considered a major underground hit. The [[Valley of Flowers (film)|Valley of Flowers]] was filmed in remote, high altitude Himalayas and in Japan. The film won the best picture at [[Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles]], and four nominations at [[Indo-American Arts Council|IAAC]] New York, including The Best Picture and The Best Director.<ref name='SD'>{{cite web |title=Valley Of Flowers wins top prize at LA Indian Film Fest |url=https://www.screendaily.com/valley-of-flowers-wins-top-prize-at-la-indian-film-fest/4032026.article |website=Screen |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Valley of Flowers |url=https://cineuropa.org/en/film/51715/ |website=Cineuropa - the best of european cinema |language=en}}</ref>


For his next documentary Nalin traveled to [[Kumbh Mela]] in 2013, one of the world's most extraordinary religious events. There, he directed ''Faith Connections''. This film was an official selection at Toronto (2013), won the Audience Choice Award at [[Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles]] (2014) and it has been theatrically released worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kumbh Mela documentary makes waves in Toronto |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-24125635 |website=BBC News |date=20 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=FAITH CONNECTIONS {{!}} IFFLA |url=https://www.indianfilmfestival.org/faith-connections/ |website=indianfilmfestival.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=TIFF Red Carpet Diary: "Faith Connections" with director Pan Nalin |url=https://www.thestar.com/sponsored_sections/2013/09/14/tiff_red_carpet_diary_faith_connections_with_director_pan_nalin.html |website=thestar.com |language=en |date=14 September 2013}}</ref>
For his next documentary Nalin traveled to [[Kumbh Mela]] in 2013, one of the world's most extraordinary religious events. There, he directed ''Faith Connections''. This film was an official selection at Toronto (2013), won the Audience Choice Award at [[Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles]] (2014) and it has been theatrically released worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kumbh Mela documentary makes waves in Toronto |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-24125635 |website=BBC News |date=20 September 2013}}</ref><ref name="FAITH CONNECTIONS {{!}} IFFLA">{{cite web |title=FAITH CONNECTIONS {{!}} IFFLA |url=https://www.indianfilmfestival.org/faith-connections/ |website=indianfilmfestival.org |access-date=6 May 2021 |archive-date=27 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227200718/https://www.indianfilmfestival.org/faith-connections/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=TIFF Red Carpet Diary: "Faith Connections" with director Pan Nalin |url=https://www.thestar.com/sponsored_sections/2013/09/14/tiff_red_carpet_diary_faith_connections_with_director_pan_nalin.html |website=thestar.com |language=en |date=14 September 2013}}</ref>


In 2014, Pan Nalin made India’s first female buddy Film, ''[[Angry Indian Goddesses]]''. The film became a hit. The film won Audience Choice Award First-Runner-up at the [[2015 Toronto International Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |title='Angry Indian Goddesses' to be screened at Toronto International Film Festival - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/angry-indian-goddesses-to-be-screened-at-toronto-international-film-festival/articleshow/48677794.cms |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref> The film also won Audience Award at the Rome Film Festival<ref>{{cite web |title=Angry Indian Goddesses wins accolades at Rome Film Festival |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/angry-indian-goddesses-wins-accolades-at-rome-film-festival/article7827491.ece |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |date=31 October 2015}}</ref> and nominated for [[All Lights India International Film Festival]] in 2016.<ref>{{cite web |title=ALIIFF 2016 |url=https://aliiff.com/files/Downloads/Show%20Directory_%202016.pdf |website=aliiff.com}}</ref> It was followed up by another  In 2017 it launched on streaming platform [[Netflix]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Marshall |first1=Alex |title=Netflix Expands Into a World Full of Censors |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/31/arts/television/netflix-censorship-turkey-india.html|url-access=subscription |work=The New York Times |date=31 October 2019}}</ref>
In 2014, Pan Nalin made India's first female buddy Film, ''[[Angry Indian Goddesses]]''. The film became a hit. The film won Audience Choice Award First-Runner-up at the [[2015 Toronto International Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |title='Angry Indian Goddesses' to be screened at Toronto International Film Festival - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/angry-indian-goddesses-to-be-screened-at-toronto-international-film-festival/articleshow/48677794.cms |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref> The film also won Audience Award at the Rome Film Festival<ref>{{cite web |title=Angry Indian Goddesses wins accolades at Rome Film Festival |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/angry-indian-goddesses-wins-accolades-at-rome-film-festival/article7827491.ece |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |date=31 October 2015}}</ref> and nominated for [[All Lights India International Film Festival]] in 2016.<ref>{{cite web |title=ALIIFF 2016 |url=https://aliiff.com/files/Downloads/Show%20Directory_%202016.pdf |website=aliiff.com |access-date=6 May 2021 |archive-date=27 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227201541/https://aliiff.com/files/Downloads/Show%20Directory_%202016.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was followed up by another  In 2017 it launched on streaming platform [[Netflix]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Marshall |first1=Alex |title=Netflix Expands Into a World Full of Censors |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/31/arts/television/netflix-censorship-turkey-india.html|url-access=subscription |work=The New York Times |date=31 October 2019}}</ref>


==2021-==
==2021-==
[[File:Pan Nalin on the shoot of 'The Last Film Show'.jpg|thumb|Pan Nalin in 2019 on the shoot of ''[[Chhello Show]]'' in [[Rajkot]], [[Gujarat]], India]]
[[File:Pan Nalin on the shoot of 'The Last Film Show'.jpg|thumb|Pan Nalin in 2019 on the shoot of ''[[Chhello Show]]'' in [[Rajkot]], [[Gujarat]], India]]
In 2021, Nalin wrote, directed and produced ''[[Chhello Show]]'' (''Last Film Show''), a [[Gujarati cinema|Gujarati film]]. The film premiered at the [[Tribeca Film Festival]] in June 2021.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ramachandran |first1=Naman |title=Pan Nalin’s ‘The Last Film Show’ Marks Return to Big-Screen Experience at Tribeca Festival (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/last-film-show-tribeca-festival-spotlight-pan-nalin-1234957622/ |website=Variety |date=22 April 2021}}</ref>
In 2021, Nalin wrote, directed, and produced the semi-autobiographical [[Chhello Show]] (Last Film Show), a [[Gujarati cinema|Gujarati film]]. The film premiered at the [[Tribeca Film Festival]] in June 2021.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ramachandran |first1=Naman |title=Pan Nalin's 'The Last Film Show' Marks Return to Big-Screen Experience at Tribeca Festival (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/last-film-show-tribeca-festival-spotlight-pan-nalin-1234957622/ |website=Variety |date=22 April 2021}}</ref> Where it went on to win Audience Award First Runner-Up. The film also won the Best Picture, Golden Spike Award, at the [[Valladolid International Film Festival|Seminci 66th Valladolid International Film Festival]] 2021 in Spain,<ref>{{cite web |title=Pan Nalin's 'Chhello Show' wins big at the 66th Valladolid International Film Festival |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/gujarati/movies/news/pan-nalins-chhello-show-wins-big-at-the-66th-valladolid-international-film-festival/articleshow/87487725.cms |publisher=[[Times of India]]}}</ref> won Audience Favorite Award at the [[Mill Valley Film Festival]] 2021,<ref name="TOI">{{cite web |title=India Wins Best Picture Award With Gujarati Film Chhellow Show (Last Film Show) By Pan Nalin |url=https://menafn.com/1103094240/India-Wins-Best-Picture-Award-With-Gujarati-Film-Chhellow-Show-Last-Film-Show-By-Pan-Nalin |website=menafn}}</ref> and was nominated for Best Picture at [[8th Beijing International Film Festival|Tiantan Award]] 2021 in China. The last Film Show will be released worldwide in theaters in 2022.<ref name="SD2">{{cite web |last1=SHACKLETON |first1=LIZ |title=Beijing film festival unveils line-up for 2021 physical edition |url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/beijing-film-festival-unveils-line-up-for-2021-physical-edition/5161799.article |publisher=[[Screen International]]}}</ref>
The Last Film Show was selected as India's official entry to the 2023 Oscars on 20 September 2022.


==Artistic style and Themes==
==Artistic style and themes==
The spiritual longing of Tarkovsky movies, high voltage actions of Kurosawa, and versatile styling of Kubrick and Sergio Leone were some of the early influences on Pan Nalin’s work. He believed that each story or screenplay is born with its own natural cinematic style, and Stanley Kubrick and Sergio Leone proved it with each and every movie they made.<ref>{{cite web |title=Panorama! |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/panorama/cid/971184 |website=www.telegraphindia.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Pan Nalin On Premiering His Film At The 20th Tribeca Festival, Doffing His Hat To The Lumiere Brothers And Shooting In Gir And Kathiawad In A Pandemic Year |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/features-2/art-can-heal-some-part-of-your-loss-and-make-you-appreciate-life-anew-filmmaker-pan-nalin-6895861.html |website=Moneycontrol}}</ref>
The spiritual longing of Tarkovsky movies, high voltage actions of Kurosawa, and versatile styling of Kubrick and Sergio Leone were some of the early influences on Pan Nalin's work. He believed that each story or screenplay is born with its own natural cinematic style, and Stanley Kubrick and Sergio Leone proved it with each and every movie they made.<ref>{{cite web |title=Panorama! |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/panorama/cid/971184 |website=www.telegraphindia.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Pan Nalin On Premiering His Film At The 20th Tribeca Festival, Doffing His Hat To The Lumiere Brothers And Shooting In Gir And Kathiawad In A Pandemic Year |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/features-2/art-can-heal-some-part-of-your-loss-and-make-you-appreciate-life-anew-filmmaker-pan-nalin-6895861.html |website=Moneycontrol}}</ref>


Nalin finds the story, looks for its natural and organic cinematic style.  For example, [[Samsara (2001 film)|Samsara]] and [[Angry Indian Goddesses]] are totally opposite in cinematic styling. Samsara was conceived with almost every frame storyboarded and composed by Nalin, actors were restricted to respect that and were not allowed even the slightest of improvisation. Nalin made a small book for the cast and crew, “Notes on Zenematography.”<ref>{{cite web |title=Samsara |url=https://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=43169.html |website=allocine.fr |language=fr}}</ref> Angry Indian Goddesses is the opposite with its handheld cinematography actors were given the freedom to improve and go in and out of frame as they please. Not only that, Angry Indian Goddesses was a scriptless production.<ref name='HT'/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Mitchell |first1=Wendy |title=Pan Nalin, 'Angry Indian Goddesses' |url=https://www.screendaily.com/interviews/pan-nalin-angry-indian-goddesses/5091869.article |website=Screen |language=en}}</ref>
Nalin finds the story, looks for its natural and organic cinematic style.  For example, [[Samsara (2001 film)|Samsara]] and [[Angry Indian Goddesses]] are totally opposite in cinematic styling. Samsara was conceived with almost every frame storyboarded and composed by Nalin, actors were restricted to respect that and were not allowed even the slightest of improvisation. Nalin made a small book for the cast and crew, “Notes on Zenematography.”<ref>{{cite web |title=Samsara |url=https://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=43169.html |website=allocine.fr |language=fr}}</ref> Angry Indian Goddesses is the opposite with its handheld cinematography actors were given the freedom to improve and go in and out of frame as they please. Not only that, Angry Indian Goddesses was a scriptless production.<ref name='HT'/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Mitchell |first1=Wendy |title=Pan Nalin, 'Angry Indian Goddesses' |url=https://www.screendaily.com/interviews/pan-nalin-angry-indian-goddesses/5091869.article |website=Screen |language=en}}</ref>


Visual and sound design play a big role in Nalin’s movies, and he often spends months doing sound ‘recce.’ Nalin created a distinct style in Samsara with the use of specially designed color palettes and camera moves. In the film [[Samsara (2001 film)|Samsara]], There are no greens or chirping birds. Mainly barren landscapes with cold wind and fluttering prayer flags. Tashi only sees one single green leaf when he steps out of the cave after three years of meditation.<ref>{{cite web |title=What 'Samsara' Means. |url=https://moviechat.org/tt0196069/Samsara/58c7b395f9fcca09a0d3f3ed/What-Samsara-Means |website=moviechat.org |language=en}}</ref>
Visual and sound design play a big role in Nalin's movies, and he often spends months doing sound ‘recce.’ Nalin created a distinct style in Samsara with the use of specially designed color palettes and camera moves. In the film [[Samsara (2001 film)|Samsara]], There are no greens or chirping birds. Mainly barren landscapes with cold wind and fluttering prayer flags. Tashi only sees one single green leaf when he steps out of the cave after three years of meditation.<ref>{{cite web |title=What 'Samsara' Means. |url=https://moviechat.org/tt0196069/Samsara/58c7b395f9fcca09a0d3f3ed/What-Samsara-Means |website=moviechat.org |language=en}}</ref>


With Valley of Flowers Nalin made an attempt to create an authentic Asian love story, free of western influences. A timeless and spiritual love epic inspired by Buddhist mythology and Tantric traditions. [[Valley of Flowers (film)|Valley of Flowers]] story commences in the early 19th century in high-altitude [[Himalayas]] and ends in modern-day [[Tokyo]]. A kind of Western but for Nalin, it would be an ‘Eastern.’ Once again, Nalin created a unique visual and sound design for this romantic epic, and it has a different perspective on the topic of “true love conquers all” from the rationale of a different culture.<ref name='dna'/><ref>{{cite web |title=Valley of flowers (2006) |url=https://en.unifrance.org/movie/25568/valley-of-flowers |website=en.unifrance.org |language=en}}</ref>
With Valley of Flowers Nalin made an attempt to create an authentic Asian love story, free of western influences. A timeless and spiritual love epic inspired by Buddhist mythology and Tantric traditions. [[Valley of Flowers (film)|Valley of Flowers]] story commences in the early 19th century in high-altitude [[Himalayas]] and ends in modern-day [[Tokyo]]. A kind of Western but for Nalin, it would be an ‘Eastern.’ Once again, Nalin created a unique visual and sound design for this romantic epic, and it has a different perspective on the topic of “true love conquers all” from the rationale of a different culture.<ref name='dna'/><ref>{{cite web |title=Valley of flowers (2006) |url=https://en.unifrance.org/movie/25568/valley-of-flowers |website=en.unifrance.org |language=en}}</ref>


==Awards==
==Awards==
*2021 [[Valladolid International Film Festival]] Won, Golden Spike Best Film for Last Film Show<ref name="TOI"/>
*2021 [[Mill Valley Film Festival]] Won, Audience Award World Cinema for Last Film Show<ref name="TOI"/>
*2021 [[Tribeca Film Festival]] 2nd place, Audience Award Narrative for Last Film Show<ref>{{cite web |title=LAST FILM SHOW |url=https://tribecafilm.com/films/last-film-show-2021v |publisher=[[Tribeca Film Festival]] }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
* [[11th Beijing International Film Festival|2021 Beijing International Film Festival]] Nominated, Tiantian Award Best Film for Last Film Show<ref name="SD"/>
*2016 Audience Award [[Inside Out Film and Video Festival]] (Won) for Best Feature for [[Angry Indian Goddesses]] (2015)
*2016 Audience Award [[Inside Out Film and Video Festival]] (Won) for Best Feature for [[Angry Indian Goddesses]] (2015)
*2015 BNL People's Choice Award at [[Rome Film Festival]] (Won) for Best Film [[Angry Indian Goddesses]] (2015)<ref>{{cite web |title=Rome Film Fest: 'Angry Indian Goddesses' Wins People’s Choice Award |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/rome-film-fest-angry-indian-834481 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en |date=25 October 2015}}</ref>
*2015 BNL People's Choice Award at [[Rome Film Festival]] (Won) for Best Film [[Angry Indian Goddesses]] (2015)<ref>{{cite web |title=Rome Film Fest: 'Angry Indian Goddesses' Wins People's Choice Award |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/rome-film-fest-angry-indian-834481 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en |date=25 October 2015}}</ref>
*2015 People's Choice Award at [[Toronto International Film Festival]] (Won)<ref>{{cite web |title=Pan Nalin's Angry Indian Goddesses wins big at TIFF |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-cinema/pan-nalin-s-angry-indian-goddesses-wins-big-at-tiff/story-8JVng0cA56HiU26hEGBauL.html |website=Hindustan Times |language=en-us |date=21 September 2015}}</ref>
*2015 People's Choice Award at [[Toronto International Film Festival]] (Won)<ref>{{cite web |title=Pan Nalin's Angry Indian Goddesses wins big at TIFF |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-cinema/pan-nalin-s-angry-indian-goddesses-wins-big-at-tiff/story-8JVng0cA56HiU26hEGBauL.html |website=Hindustan Times |language=en-us |date=21 September 2015}}</ref>
*2014 Audience Award at [[Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles]] (Won) for Best Documentary for "Faith Connections (2013)"<ref>{{cite web |title=FAITH CONNECTIONS {{!}} IFFLA |url=https://www.indianfilmfestival.org/faith-connections/ |website=indianfilmfestival.org}}</ref>
*2014 Audience Award at [[Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles]] (Won) for Best Documentary for "Faith Connections (2013)"<ref name="FAITH CONNECTIONS {{!}} IFFLA"/>
*2007 Jury Award at [[Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles]] (Won) for Best Feature for [[Valley of Flowers (film)|Valley of Flowers]] 2006<ref name='SD'/>
*2007 Jury Award at [[Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles]] (Won) for Best Feature for [[Valley of Flowers (film)|Valley of Flowers]] 2006<ref name='SD'/>
*2003 [[Durban International Film Festival]] (Won), Best First Feature Film [[Samsara (2001 film)]]<ref name='N24'/>
*2003 [[Durban International Film Festival]] (Won), Best First Feature Film [[Samsara (2001 film)]]<ref name='N24'/>
*2003 [[Galway Film Fleadh]] (Nominated) for Best Feature for [[Samsara (2001 film)]]
*2003 [[Galway Film Fleadh]] (Nominated) for Best Feature for [[Samsara (2001 film)]]
*2003 [[Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles]] (Won), Audience Award for Best Documentary for Ayurveda: Art of Being (2001)<ref>{{cite web |title=Ayurveda: The Art of Being (DVD) {{!}} Pan Nalin |url=http://www.indiepixfilms.com/film/1479#.YI_QTUNMTIU |website=www.indiepixfilms.com}}</ref>
*2003 [[Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles]] (Won), Audience Award for Best Documentary for Ayurveda: Art of Being (2001)<ref>{{cite web |title=Ayurveda: The Art of Being (DVD) {{!}} Pan Nalin |url=http://www.indiepixfilms.com/film/1479#.YI_QTUNMTIU |website=www.indiepixfilms.com |access-date=6 May 2021 |archive-date=7 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507122316/http://www.indiepixfilms.com/film/1479#.YI_QTUNMTIU |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*2003 [[Santa Barbara International Film Festival]] (Won), Special Jury Award for [[Samsara (2001 film)]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Baumgartner |first1=Karl |last2=Nalin |first2=Pan |last3=Ku |first3=Shawn |last4=Chung |first4=Christy |last5=Chung |first5=Christy |title=Samsara |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/samsara/oclc/973519434?referer=di&ht=edition |publisher=Madman Entertainment}}</ref>
*2003 [[Santa Barbara International Film Festival]] (Won), Special Jury Award for [[Samsara (2001 film)]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Baumgartner |first1=Karl |last2=Nalin |first2=Pan |last3=Ku |first3=Shawn |last4=Chung |first4=Christy |last5=Chung |first5=Christy |title=Samsara |publisher=Madman Entertainment|oclc=973519434 }}</ref>
*2002 [[Galway Film Fleadh]] (Won), for [[Samsara (2001 film)]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sheehy |first1=Ted |title=Ireland's Film Fleadh shows international flair |url=https://www.screendaily.com/irelands-film-fleadh-shows-international-flair/409525.article |website=Screen |language=en}}</ref>
*2002 [[Galway Film Fleadh]] (Won), for [[Samsara (2001 film)]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sheehy |first1=Ted |title=Ireland's Film Fleadh shows international flair |url=https://www.screendaily.com/irelands-film-fleadh-shows-international-flair/409525.article |website=Screen |language=en}}</ref>
*2002 [[Melbourne International Film Festival]] (Won), Most Popular Feature Film [[Samsara (2001 film)]]<ref>{{cite web |title=The Last Film Show {{!}} 2021 Tribeca Festival |url=https://tribecafilm.com/films/last-film-show-2021 |website=Tribeca}}</ref>
*2002 [[Melbourne International Film Festival]] (Won), Most Popular Feature Film [[Samsara (2001 film)]]<ref>{{cite web |title=The Last Film Show {{!}} 2021 Tribeca Festival |url=https://tribecafilm.com/films/last-film-show-2021 |website=Tribeca}}</ref>
*2002 [[São Paulo International Film Festival]] (Nominated), Jury Award for Best Feature Film [[Samsara (2001 film)]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Samsara |url=https://mubi.com/films/samsara |website=Mubi.com}}</ref>
*2002 [[São Paulo International Film Festival]] (Nominated), Jury Award for Best Feature Film [[Samsara (2001 film)]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Samsara |url=https://mubi.com/films/samsara |website=Mubi.com}}</ref>
*In 2023, The Nalin received [[69th National Film Awards]] for his film [[Chhello Show]] in the category 'Best Gujarati film'.<ref>{{cite web |title=69th National Film Awards 2023 - Winners announced |url=https://www.brutimes.com/2023/08/69th-National-Film-Awards-2023-Winners-announced.html |website=Bru Times News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=69th National Film Awards 2023 complete winners list: Rocketry, Alia Bhatt, Kriti Sanon, Allu Arjun win big |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/69th-national-film-awards-2023-winners-list-8907028/ |website=The Indian Express |language=en |date=24 August 2023}}</ref>


==Filmography==
==Filmography==


* 1991 ''The Khajuraho'' ([[short film|short]])
* 1991 ''The Khajuraho'' ([[short film|short]])
* 1992 ''Born Criminal (Caste Criminelle)'' a film by Yolande Zauberman (Coproducer)
* 1992 ''Born Criminal (Caste Criminelle)'', a film by Yolande Zauberman (Coproducer)
* 1993 ''The Tulkus'' (documentary)
* 1993 ''The Tulkus'' (documentary)
* 1994 ''The Nagas'' (documentary)
* 1994 ''The Nagas'' (documentary)
Line 91: Line 94:
* 1996 ''Kaal'', a film by Natasha De Betak (as Producer)
* 1996 ''Kaal'', a film by Natasha De Betak (as Producer)
* 1997 ''The Devadasi'' (documentary)
* 1997 ''The Devadasi'' (documentary)
* 1997 ''Dance of the Wind'' by Rajan Khosa (as Co-producer)
* 1997 ''Dance of the Wind'', a film by Rajan Khosa (as Co-producer)
* 1997 ''Eiffel Tower Trilogy: Height, Weight & Gravity'' (short)
* 1997 ''Eiffel Tower Trilogy: Height, Weight & Gravity'' (short)
* 1999 ''Amazing World India'' (documentary)
* 1999 ''Amazing World India'' (documentary)
Line 100: Line 103:
* 2009 ''Echo of Eco'' (short)
* 2009 ''Echo of Eco'' (short)
* 2013 ''Faith Connections'' (documentary)
* 2013 ''Faith Connections'' (documentary)
* 2015 ''[[Angry Indian Goddesses]]''
* 2015 [[Angry Indian Goddesses]]
* 2016 ''2183 DAYS'', a film by Natasha De Betak (as Producer)
* 2016 ''2183 DAYS'', a film by Natasha De Betak (as Producer)
* 2017 ''Beyond The Known World (The Disappearance of Eva Hansen)''
* 2017 ''Beyond The Known World (The Disappearance of Eva Hansen)''
Line 129: Line 132:
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Hindi-language film directors]]
[[Category:Hindi-language film directors]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian film directors]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian people]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian film directors]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian people]]

Latest revision as of 11:33, 9 February 2026


Pan Nalin
Pan Nalin in 2014 on the set of Angry Indian Goddesses Film in Goa
Born
Nalinkumar Ramniklal Pandya

Alma materNational Institute of Design, Ahmedabad
Occupation
  • Film director
  • Film producer
  • Screenwriter
  • Production designer
  • Editor
Years active1990–present
StyleDrama, Action, Western, Comedy, Spiritual

Nalin Kumar Pandya, popularly known as Pan Nalin, is an Indian filmmaker, best known for directing award-winning movies like Samsara (2001), Valley of Flowers (2006), Angry Indian Goddesses (2015) and the semi-autobiographical Chhello Show (translation: Last Film Show) (2021). His debut feature Samsara (Miramax) was worldwide critical and commercial triumph and went on to win awards like Best First Feature Film at Durban International Film Festival,[1] "Grand Jury Prize – Special Mention" at AFI Fest,[2] Special Jury Award at Santa Barbara International Film Festival and "Most Popular Feature Film" at Melbourne International Film Festival in 2002. Since then Nalin has been actively making fiction and non-fiction movies which have been coproduced with countries like India, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the USA. Nalin's movies have been distributed worldwide.[3]

Early life[edit | edit source]

Nalin, a self-taught filmmaker, was born in a remote village of Adtala in Amreli district, Gujarat, India. Nalin, until the age of 12, helped his father sell tea on a railway platform Khijadiya Junction Railway Station. His parents gave him spiritual upbringing. As a child, Nalin disliked schools; instead he used to paint and draw. He also actively staged mythological dramas and folk plays.[4]

Nalin left his family in young age in pursuit of cinema. He studied Fine Arts at the M.S. University, Baroda for one year. It is also in Vadodara that Nalin discovered Hollywood movies and World Cinema.[4] A year later Nalin went to study design at the NID (National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad). While at NID, he wrote about movies and managed the Film Club by programming films from around the world.[5] Nalin made some fifty wedding videos to finance his education and filmmaking. From Ahmedabad's famous Sunday Flea Market Nalin found the old film cameras. He made four animations and twenty short silent films using these cameras. However having no means to finance the editing, sound and lab work, those films remained incomplete, some disappeared all together. After graduating from NID, Nalin traveled widely all over India for the next two years.[6]

Career[edit | edit source]

1990 to 2000[edit | edit source]

Nalin finally moved to Mumbai, and got a break as a production runner at Durga Khote Productions. In no time the producers recognized Nalin's talent and offered him a chance to direct commercials and corporate films.[4] In 1988, Nalin conceived a unique comedy TV series of Doordarshan in collaboration with famous cartoonist R. K. Laxman; the series was later sold and became a major hit under the title of Wagle Ki Duniya.[7]

Nalin traveled and lived in USA and UK for about a year and then six months in Europe. He soon returned to India and started writing screenplays and making documentaries.[8] Nalin made several of them with Discovery, Canal Plus, BBC and other leading international TV networks. Nalin also made short documentaries for Canal Plus on Indian superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Sridevi. The subjects of his documentaries ranged from modern India to deep interiors of Nagaland to High Tibetan plateau of the Himalayas. Nalin's independent moviemaking spirit attracted French documentary filmmaker Yolande Zauberman’s attention; so while she was making her feature documentary Born Criminal in India, Nalin shifted his career gears by becoming co-producer on the movie because he was highly impressed by Zauberman’s style of moviemaking. "Born Criminal" became Official Selection of Cannes Film Festival where Nalin got invited.[4]

Nalin started 'Monsoon Films', his own production company in Delhi, which was later, moved to Mumbai.[9][10]

2000s: Breakthrough[edit | edit source]

Nalin got a breakthrough with Cinematheque in Paris, where his documentary "Sacred Courtesan Devadasi" and his short fiction "Khajuraho" was being showcased, in the audience was Europe's prolific producer Karl Baumgartner.

After 170 rejection letters and emails for Samsara, Nalin met Baumgartner who came on board as main producer and mounted Samsara in co-production with Germany, France, Italy and India. In the year 2000, Samsara was done in 4 months long pre-production, followed by three months long filming. There were 14 nationalities in Samsara's cast and crew. Samsara got invited to Toronto International Film Festival to make the world premiere, Miramax and fifty other distributors acquired the movie for the distribution. The film won Jury and audience award at Santa Barbara International Film Festival.[11] Pan Nalin came into global limelight; SAMSARA became a massive commercial and critical success worldwide and won him many international awards.[12]

2001-2020: Established auteur[edit | edit source]

Pan Nalin in 2017 on the set of "Beyond The Known World" in Manali, India

Following theatrical success of "Samsara", Nalin traveled 15000 km by road to meet with traditional masters of Indian medicine. The result was a documentary "AYURVEDA: ART OF BEING". It was theatrically released worldwide with major success. "AYURVEDA: ART OF BEING" celebrated a yearlong theatrical run in Spain and record-breaking two-year long run in France. The film met with similar success in USA, Canada, Germany and Holland.[13][14]

In 2006, Nalin's Hindi and Japanese language second feature, Valley of Flowers was pre-sold to nearly 35 countries and considered a major underground hit. The Valley of Flowers was filmed in remote, high altitude Himalayas and in Japan. The film won the best picture at Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles, and four nominations at IAAC New York, including The Best Picture and The Best Director.[15][16]

For his next documentary Nalin traveled to Kumbh Mela in 2013, one of the world's most extraordinary religious events. There, he directed Faith Connections. This film was an official selection at Toronto (2013), won the Audience Choice Award at Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (2014) and it has been theatrically released worldwide.[17][18][19]

In 2014, Pan Nalin made India's first female buddy Film, Angry Indian Goddesses. The film became a hit. The film won Audience Choice Award First-Runner-up at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival.[20] The film also won Audience Award at the Rome Film Festival[21] and nominated for All Lights India International Film Festival in 2016.[22] It was followed up by another In 2017 it launched on streaming platform Netflix.[23]

2021-[edit | edit source]

Pan Nalin in 2019 on the shoot of Chhello Show in Rajkot, Gujarat, India

In 2021, Nalin wrote, directed, and produced the semi-autobiographical Chhello Show (Last Film Show), a Gujarati film. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2021.[24] Where it went on to win Audience Award First Runner-Up. The film also won the Best Picture, Golden Spike Award, at the Seminci 66th Valladolid International Film Festival 2021 in Spain,[25] won Audience Favorite Award at the Mill Valley Film Festival 2021,[26] and was nominated for Best Picture at Tiantan Award 2021 in China. The last Film Show will be released worldwide in theaters in 2022.[27] The Last Film Show was selected as India's official entry to the 2023 Oscars on 20 September 2022.

Artistic style and themes[edit | edit source]

The spiritual longing of Tarkovsky movies, high voltage actions of Kurosawa, and versatile styling of Kubrick and Sergio Leone were some of the early influences on Pan Nalin's work. He believed that each story or screenplay is born with its own natural cinematic style, and Stanley Kubrick and Sergio Leone proved it with each and every movie they made.[28][29]

Nalin finds the story, looks for its natural and organic cinematic style. For example, Samsara and Angry Indian Goddesses are totally opposite in cinematic styling. Samsara was conceived with almost every frame storyboarded and composed by Nalin, actors were restricted to respect that and were not allowed even the slightest of improvisation. Nalin made a small book for the cast and crew, “Notes on Zenematography.”[30] Angry Indian Goddesses is the opposite with its handheld cinematography actors were given the freedom to improve and go in and out of frame as they please. Not only that, Angry Indian Goddesses was a scriptless production.[5][31]

Visual and sound design play a big role in Nalin's movies, and he often spends months doing sound ‘recce.’ Nalin created a distinct style in Samsara with the use of specially designed color palettes and camera moves. In the film Samsara, There are no greens or chirping birds. Mainly barren landscapes with cold wind and fluttering prayer flags. Tashi only sees one single green leaf when he steps out of the cave after three years of meditation.[32]

With Valley of Flowers Nalin made an attempt to create an authentic Asian love story, free of western influences. A timeless and spiritual love epic inspired by Buddhist mythology and Tantric traditions. Valley of Flowers story commences in the early 19th century in high-altitude Himalayas and ends in modern-day Tokyo. A kind of Western but for Nalin, it would be an ‘Eastern.’ Once again, Nalin created a unique visual and sound design for this romantic epic, and it has a different perspective on the topic of “true love conquers all” from the rationale of a different culture.[6][33]

Awards[edit | edit source]

Filmography[edit | edit source]

  • 1991 The Khajuraho (short)
  • 1992 Born Criminal (Caste Criminelle), a film by Yolande Zauberman (Coproducer)
  • 1993 The Tulkus (documentary)
  • 1994 The Nagas (documentary)
  • 1995 The Doubt (short)
  • 1996 Kaal, a film by Natasha De Betak (as Producer)
  • 1997 The Devadasi (documentary)
  • 1997 Dance of the Wind, a film by Rajan Khosa (as Co-producer)
  • 1997 Eiffel Tower Trilogy: Height, Weight & Gravity (short)
  • 1999 Amazing World India (documentary)
  • 2001 Samsara
  • 2001 Ayurveda: Art of Being (documentary) [44]
  • 2004 Speaking Tree, a film by Natasha De Betak (as Producer)
  • 2006 Valley of Flowers
  • 2009 Echo of Eco (short)
  • 2013 Faith Connections (documentary)
  • 2015 Angry Indian Goddesses
  • 2016 2183 DAYS, a film by Natasha De Betak (as Producer)
  • 2017 Beyond The Known World (The Disappearance of Eva Hansen)
  • 2020 The Tiniest Invisible Piece of Shit (Short)
  • 2021 Last Film Show (Chhello Show)

See also[edit | edit source]


References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Film festival to showcase Africa". News24.
  2. "AFI FEST 2020 - Film Results". AFI FEST.
  3. Walia, Shelly. "Bollywood just won't back movies on women, says director of Angry Indian Goddesses". Quartz.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Dave, Nayan. "From a tea stall in Amreli to Hollywood | Ahmedabad News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "'Angry Indian Goddesses is not a feminist film,' says director Pan Nalin". Hindustan Times. 19 November 2015.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Shetty-Saha, Shubha (15 June 2006). "'I was born with nothing'". DNA India.
  7. "I've always had strong female characters in my films: Pan Nalin". The Indian Express. 16 November 2015.
  8. "Ayurveda: Art of Being". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema.
  9. Nag, Ashoke. "Mumbai Mantra to screen 10 films in a yr". The Economic Times.
  10. "My roots are Indian but I can spread: Pan Nalin - Times of India". The Times of India.
  11. "Samsara Woos Santa Barbara Jury and Audience". filmfestivals.com.
  12. "By censoring, we're only highlighting those issues: Pan Nalin". Hindustan Times. 12 December 2015.
  13. "Ayurveda – The Art Of Being | IFFLA". .indianfilmfestival.org. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  14. Kehr, Dave (17 July 2002). "FILM REVIEW; Rapt Look At a Holistic Medical Art From India". The New York Times.
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 "Valley Of Flowers wins top prize at LA Indian Film Fest". Screen.
  16. "Valley of Flowers". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema.
  17. "Kumbh Mela documentary makes waves in Toronto". BBC News. 20 September 2013.
  18. 18.0 18.1 "FAITH CONNECTIONS | IFFLA". indianfilmfestival.org. Archived from the original on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  19. "TIFF Red Carpet Diary: "Faith Connections" with director Pan Nalin". thestar.com. 14 September 2013.
  20. "'Angry Indian Goddesses' to be screened at Toronto International Film Festival - Times of India". The Times of India.
  21. "Angry Indian Goddesses wins accolades at Rome Film Festival". The Hindu. 31 October 2015.
  22. "ALIIFF 2016" (PDF). aliiff.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  23. Marshall, Alex (31 October 2019). "Netflix Expands Into a World Full of Censors". The New York Times.
  24. Ramachandran, Naman (22 April 2021). "Pan Nalin's 'The Last Film Show' Marks Return to Big-Screen Experience at Tribeca Festival (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  25. "Pan Nalin's 'Chhello Show' wins big at the 66th Valladolid International Film Festival". Times of India.
  26. 26.0 26.1 26.2 "India Wins Best Picture Award With Gujarati Film Chhellow Show (Last Film Show) By Pan Nalin". menafn.
  27. SHACKLETON, LIZ. "Beijing film festival unveils line-up for 2021 physical edition". Screen International.
  28. "Panorama!". www.telegraphindia.com.
  29. "Pan Nalin On Premiering His Film At The 20th Tribeca Festival, Doffing His Hat To The Lumiere Brothers And Shooting In Gir And Kathiawad In A Pandemic Year". Moneycontrol.
  30. "Samsara". allocine.fr (in français).
  31. Mitchell, Wendy. "Pan Nalin, 'Angry Indian Goddesses'". Screen.
  32. "What 'Samsara' Means". moviechat.org.
  33. "Valley of flowers (2006)". en.unifrance.org.
  34. "LAST FILM SHOW". Tribeca Film Festival.[permanent dead link]
  35. "Rome Film Fest: 'Angry Indian Goddesses' Wins People's Choice Award". The Hollywood Reporter. 25 October 2015.
  36. "Pan Nalin's Angry Indian Goddesses wins big at TIFF". Hindustan Times. 21 September 2015.
  37. "Ayurveda: The Art of Being (DVD) | Pan Nalin". www.indiepixfilms.com. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  38. Baumgartner, Karl; Nalin, Pan; Ku, Shawn; Chung, Christy; Chung, Christy. Samsara. Madman Entertainment. OCLC 973519434.
  39. Sheehy, Ted. "Ireland's Film Fleadh shows international flair". Screen.
  40. "The Last Film Show | 2021 Tribeca Festival". Tribeca.
  41. "Samsara". Mubi.com.
  42. "69th National Film Awards 2023 - Winners announced". Bru Times News.
  43. "69th National Film Awards 2023 complete winners list: Rocketry, Alia Bhatt, Kriti Sanon, Allu Arjun win big". The Indian Express. 24 August 2023.
  44. Kehr, Dave (17 July 2002). "FILM REVIEW; Rapt Look at a Holistic Medical Art From India". New York Times.

External links[edit | edit source]