Pankaj Butalia

Pankaj Butalia is an Indian documentary film maker. His 1993 film Moksha (also known by the English title Salvation), on the widows of Vrindavan, received four international awards. Several of his films have been screened extensively throughout the world. He has also directed a feature film Karvaan (1999), starring Naseeruddin Shah.

Early life

Butalia was born in Ambala, Haryana, in 1950, to Joginder Singh and Subhadra Butalia. Feminist author and publisher Urvashi Butalia is his sister. He studied at St. Stephen's College, Delhi, and was a national level table tennis player. After obtaining his Masters degree, he taught economics at Delhi University for many years before making his first film.

Film society work

When still a student, Butalia co-founded the film society Celluloid. Subsequently, he became active in the Film Society movement at the national level, and held the post of Secretary of the Federation of Film Societies of India for eight years. He was assigned the responsibility of organising the documentary section of the International Film Festival of India during 1986-1988.