THE FILMS OF YAVAR ABBAS
Yavar Abbas - the Satyajit Ray of Indian documentary cinema - is a London-based writer, broadcaster and film-maker. Born in India,
he studied English and Persian literature and Indian and European history at University. He is fluent not only in English but
also in Urdu and Hindi.
His film career began with an apprenticeship under the Oscarwinning American director Frank Capra. He then went on to establish an international reputation, collecting on the way a series of prestigious awards - among them: Gold and Silver in New York; 'Outstanding Merit' in Chicago; 'Best Colour Programme' in Hollywood; and the Marconi Award at MIFED in Milan. He has been honoured in Paris by the Cinematheque Francaise with a special retrospective and has worked with the United Nations as their Films Consultant.
His first film India, My India! had a major impact when it was shown on BBC television in 1966. Since then he has made many other films, among them two series for the BBC: Faces of India and India Called Them. Also shown on the BBC a documentary called Mother Ganges. These have all been distributed world-wide - as have Cricket in India, The Khans of Pakistan, and Mosque in the Park. He continues to work and travel between his home in London and his birthplace, the Indian sub-continent.
His film career began with an apprenticeship under the Oscarwinning American director Frank Capra. He then went on to establish an international reputation, collecting on the way a series of prestigious awards - among them: Gold and Silver in New York; 'Outstanding Merit' in Chicago; 'Best Colour Programme' in Hollywood; and the Marconi Award at MIFED in Milan. He has been honoured in Paris by the Cinematheque Francaise with a special retrospective and has worked with the United Nations as their Films Consultant.
His first film India, My India! had a major impact when it was shown on BBC television in 1966. Since then he has made many other films, among them two series for the BBC: Faces of India and India Called Them. Also shown on the BBC a documentary called Mother Ganges. These have all been distributed world-wide - as have Cricket in India, The Khans of Pakistan, and Mosque in the Park. He continues to work and travel between his home in London and his birthplace, the Indian sub-continent.
