Indian movie producer-director B. R. Chopra is a world famous personality who has given many masterpiece works for which India can be proud of. Baldev Raj Chopra popularly known as B. R. Chopra received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in the year 1998 with an all round approval. B. R. Chopra was born on 14th April 1914 in undivided India. He was in Lahore and did his M.A. degree from the Lahore University in English Literature. From his childhood he was fascinated to the film world and that is why he switched over from higher education to film journalism. He began his career reviewing films for the monthly magazine `Cine Herald`. He was a fearless fellow. B. R. Chopra migrated to India at the time of partition. Initially he tried his luck at Delhi and later moved over to Mumbai, the land of glamorous Hindi Cinema.
Earlier he attempted to make Chandni Chowk, at Rawalpindi with the help of his father`s friends. 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`. With utter determination, B. R. Chopra went ahead, in Mumbai, to form his own production company and thus formed 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`. In present days B. R. Films are equally famous for its TV serials as well as motion pictures. As a matter of fact B. R. Films is one of the most successful production companies to have stood the test of time. B. R. Chopra`s Mahabharat is one of India`s most successful TV series in history and has been repeatedly telecasted on TV networks worldwide to extraordinary response. The TV show has left an unerasable impression in the hearts and minds of viewers worldwide with its timeless values and teachings. B. R. Chopra depicted this classic tale of the victory of good over evil in an excellent manner in his `Mahabharata`. Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamboti extolled the cultural contribution for the TV Serial Mahabharat, and conferred upon B.R. Chopra the title of Chakravarty as well. His serial Mahabharat created a world record by registering 96% viewer ship. Mahabharat was the first Indian serial to enter in Guineas Book of Records for creating a world record by having been seen by the highest number of viewers. He has also received awards from Aaj Kal Television, Sahyog Foundation and Upron as producer and director of the Best Serial Mahabharat.
Indian movie producer-director B. R. Chopra has been awarded in different heads by all levels of the country. 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.
He 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. At the 27th International Film Festival held at New Delhi in 1996 he was honored by being named as Chief Guest. 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.
