Indian movie producer-director B. R. Chopra was a world famous personality who has delivered many masterpiece works for the film industry. Baldev Raj Chopra popularly known as B. R. Chopra was born on 14th April 1914 in Ludhiana. He did his M.A. degree from the Lahore University in English Literature. Later he switched over from his education to film journalism. He began his career as a film journalist for the monthly magazine `Cine Herald`.

Career of B. R. Chopra
Earlier Chopra attempted to make a movie `Chandni Chowk.` As the production of the movie was about to begin riots broke out in Lahore. Along with his family he fled from there. Later after the partition in 1947, he moved to Delhi and then to Mumbai. In 1948 he produced his first film, `Karwat` but eventually it was a flop at the box office. In 1951 he directed his first film `Afsana` which portrayed a dual role of Ashok Kumar in the movie. The movie was a blockbuster hit at the box office. He next directed the movie `Chandni Chowk`, with Meena Kumari in the lead. B. R. Chopra formed his own production house B.R. Films in the year 1955. He did it with the intention of making purposeful entertainers for family audience and was successful in making some of the remarkable movies like `Naya Daur`, `Dhool Ka Phool`, `Gumrah`, `Waqt`, `Humraaz`, and `Ittefaq`.

B. R. Films have been equally famous for its TV serials as well as motion pictures. B. R. Chopra`s `Mahabharat` is one of India`s most successful TV series in history and has been repeatedly telecasted on TV networks. Mahabharat was the first Indian serial to enter in Guinness Book of Records for registering highest viewership. Another of his memorable TV drama is Bahadur Shah Zafar.

Awards and Honours of B. R. Chopra
B.R.Chopra has received awards from Aaj Kal Television, Sahyog Foundation and Upron as producer and director of the Best Serial Mahabharat. B.R. Chopra was conferred upon the title of Chakravarty for the same. Andhra University conferred on him `Doctorate of Letters`. He was member of the Board of Film Censors for a number of years. He was the first recipient of the National Award as Best Director for his film `Humraaz` in the year 1968. His film `Dharamputra`, received the National Award as the Best Hindi film in 1962. `Gumrah` also received the same in 1963. In the year 1961 B. R. Chopra received Filmfare award for `Kanoon` as best film. He has served on various Government and trade bodies apart from being President of the Film Producers Council. For `Mahabharat` he got the National Citizen award from the then Prime Minister Chandrashekhar. The Udyog Rattan award was presented to him by Rashtrapati Zail Singh in recognition of his outstanding work in the field of industry. Giants International honored him with an award in recognition of his vital and significant contribution in promoting excellence in Indian Cinema, particularly towards fostering common goodwill in society. B.R. Chopra was one of the founder directors of the Maharashtra Film and Stage Corporation administering Film City. He served on the Jury of the Berlin Film Festival.

Chopra has also served on various juries, both National & International in India. Asian TV Network Inc. of Canada presented him with an award in appreciation of his outstanding contribution to the Film and TV industry. He has received the Manas Ratan Trophy from the Akhil Bhartiya Manas Samiti and award from the International Punjabi Society as well. Screen weekly presented him with a special award for lifetime achievement in 1996. He was also honored with Legendary Pearl Award at the 1st East Asia Film & TV Conference held at Penang, Malaysia. He received the Maharashtra Ratna Award for 1998 from Maharashtra Kalaniketan. He was also given Lifetime Achievement award by the Sansui Viewers Choice at a function held at New Delhi in October in 1998. The Indian Film Director Association honored him with a Lifetime Achievement award in 1998. He received the Swatantara Award and Jayanti Udyog Vibhushan award at the 14th Economic Development Conference sponsored by Institute of Trade & Industrial Development, Delhi. The Delhi Telugu Academy awarded him the Ugadi Puraskar in 1999 naming him as Best Director. B.R. Chopra has also bagged a special award from IMPPA (Indian Motion Picture Producers Association) for his outstanding contribution to the Indian Film Industry. He received the Bhartiya Sanskriti Puraskar, presented by Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee, for the TV Serial Mahabharat. B.R. Chopra was also honored with the Cintaa Trophy by the Cine & TV Artiste`s Association at the annual General Body Meeting in 1999. He was honored by MAMI for Lifetime Achievement as well. In 1998 he received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

B.R. Chopra passed away in Mumbai on 5 November 2008 at the age of 84.

Filmoraphy of B.R.Chopra

Director-Producer
Naya Daur (1957)
Sadhana (1958)
Kanoon (1961)
Gumrah (1963)
Humraz (1967)
Dastan (1972)
Dhund (1973)
Karm (1977)
Pati Patni Aur Woh (1978)
Insaf Ka Tarazoo (1980)
Nikaah (1982)
Awam (1987)
Kal Ki Awaz (1992)

Director
Afsana (1951)
Chandni Chowk (1954)
Ek Hi Raasta (1956)
Tawaif (1985)

Producer
Dhool Ka Phool (1959)
Dharm Putra (1962)
Waqt (1965)
Ittefaq (1969)
Admi Aur Insan (1970)
Zameer (1975)
Chhoti Si Bat (1976)
The Burning Train (1980)
Agnee Pareeksha (1982)
Mazdoor (1983)
Aaj Ki Awaaz (1984)
Kirayedar (1986)
Dahleez (1986)
Pratigyabadh (1991)
Baghban (2003)
Babul (2006)