Vishal Bhardwaj’s journey!

The story of Vishal Bhardwaj from the tip of his thumb to Shakespeare! How to make 9 National Awards from Cricket to Music and then Direction!

A dream that was shattered

Born on 4 August 1965 in Chandpur, Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, Vishal Bhardwaj spent his childhood in Najibabad and Meerut.

Cricket was his passion and he also played for the Uttar Pradesh Under-19 team.

But his sporting career came to an abrupt end after he injured his thumb during practice. Perhaps fate had something else in store for him!

Started with music

At the age of just 17, Vishal composed a song, which his father played for music director Usha Khanna.

This song was used in the 1985 film ‘Yaar Kasam’ and with this his career in the world of cinema began.

He formally debuted as a composer with the children’s film ‘Abhay: The Fearless’ (1995).

His work for Gulzar’s ‘Maachis’ (1996) earned him the Filmfare R.D. Burman Award.

Next came ‘Satya’ (1998) and ‘Godmother’ (1999) – ‘Godmother’ won him the National Award for Best Music Direction.

Directorial Journey

Vishal made his directorial debut with ‘Makdee’ (2002) – a children’s fantasy film that received critical acclaim.

This debut showcased his knack for storytelling and blending music in a film.

Shakespeare-inspired masterpieces

Vishal gained international recognition when he adapted Shakespeare’s plays to the Indian context:

• Maqbool (2003, Macbeth)
• Omkara (2006, Othello)
• Haider (2014, Hamlet)

Each film had a layered story, powerful acting and Vishal’s unmatched blend of drama and music.

‘Haider’ alone won five National Awards and remains one of his most celebrated films to date.

Other notable projects

Apart from the Shakespeare trilogy, Vishal directed and produced several memorable films:

• Kaminey (2009)
• 7 Khoon Maaf (2011)
• Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola (2013)
• Rangoon (2017)

He also co-wrote and produced the songs for ‘Ishqiya’ (2010), ‘Dedh Ishqiya’ (2014), and ‘Talvar’ (2015), often collaborating with lyricist Gulzar to create memorable soundtracks.

Awards and legacy

As of 2025, Vishal has won nine National Film Awards and one Filmfare Award.

‘Makdee’ won the Best Children’s Film award at the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival, while ‘Omkara’ and ‘Haider’ received appreciation at global film festivals.

Summary:

Starting with a dream of becoming a cricketer, Vishal Bhardwaj moved from music to film direction. From Shakespeare’s trilogy to nine National Awards, his artistic journey is a precious heritage of Hindi cinema.