Nagraj Manjule

Nagraj Manjule
Manjule (right) at the 65th National Film Awards Function, in New Delhi
Born	Nagraj Popatrao Manjule (1978-08-24) 24 August 1978 (age 45) Jeur, Maharashtra, India
Occupations	Actor director producer poet scriptwriter
Spouse	Gargee Kulkarni (m.2017) Sunita Manjule ​ ​ (m. 1997; div. 2014)​
Children	2
Awards	National Film Award, First Non-Feature Film 2010 Pistulya Indira Gandhi Award, Best Debut Film 2013 Fandry

At the 61st National Film Awards, Fandry won the Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director. In 2018, Manjule published a book of poetry in Marathi titled Unhachya Katavirudhha which won the Bhairuratan Damani Sahitya Puraskar. He owns a wrestling team called 'Veer Marathwada' in Zee Maharashtra Kusti Dangal.

Manjule grew up in Jeur village in the Solapur district of Maharashtra. He belongs to the traditionally-nomadic Waddar community, a Dravidian tribe.

He earned his M.A. in Marathi literature from University of Pune, followed by a master's in communication studies from New Arts, Science and Commerce College, Ahmednagar.

Manjule is strongly inspired by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, the emancipator of downtrodden and the drafting chairman of the Indian constitution. His films are deeply rooted in his own experience growing up as a dalit in rural Maharashtra. His films have focused on the plights faced by members of these communities, including social discrimination at the hands of high-caste communities as well as the resulting economic hardships.

His first National Award-winning short film Pistulya is a reflection of his 'felt experience'. The film focuses on the desire of a dalit boy to attend school, and his inability to do so because of his family's poverty and a deep-seated disdain for formal education within his community.

His debut feature film, Fandry, was released in February 2014; the word means "pig" in the Kaikadi language.

Manjule's second film, Sairat, premiered at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival. Like Fandry and Pistulya, it deals with caste discrimination and honour killing, a practice still widespread in parts of India. Sairat also seeks to address the role of women in society, with the character of Archie (Archana Patil), the female protagonist of Sairat, garnering both popular and critical acclaim. Sairat is currently the highest grossing Marathi film of all time. Manjule made his directorial debut in Hindi films with Jhund starring Amitabh Bachchan.

In 2019, Manjule hosted Marathi Kaun Banega Crorepati.

• All films are in Marathi, unless mentioned.

Nagraj Manjule married to Gargi Kulkarni in 2014 and has two children Raya and Shahu. Earlier, Manjule was married to Sunita Manjule in 1997, but later divorced on November 10, 2014. He gave Sunita ₹7 lakh as permanent alimony. It was revealed that the allegations were false and Manjule found innocent. Manjule is being defamed for no reason.

In an interview given on the event for Baaplyok, Manjule commented on his personal life said "My uncle Baburao Manjule had adopted me from my real father. My legal name is Nagraj Baburao Manjule as adopted by my uncle. Earlier I used to write my name as Nagraj Baburao Manjule. Once I But I have already decided that if I do something big, I will use my father Popatrao Manjule. I came into the film industry and since then I use the name "Nagraj Popatrao Manjule" everywhere."

• Unhachya Kataviruddha – poetry.