Director

Manish Saini

Manish Saini is an Indian filmmaker who's made serious waves in Gujarati cinema despite a relatively quiet presence in the mainstream Bollywood spotlight. His directorial debut, Dhh (2017), was nothing short of a masterclass—a film that bagged the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Gujarati at the 65th National Film Awards, no small feat for a first-time director. The film, which starred the legendary Naseeruddin Shah, tells the charming yet poignant story of three school kids who believe a visiting magician can solve all their problems. Distributed by Viacom18, Dhh also caught international attention, screening at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival Kids section, proving that regional Indian cinema could resonate beyond borders. What sets Saini apart is his ability to blend genuine storytelling with a child's perspective, creating narratives that work on multiple levels without ever feeling preachy. His contribution to Gujarati cinema has been to bring a fresh, thoughtful approach to filmmaking in a space that often doesn't get mainstream recognition. Rather than chasing Bollywood's typical formulas, Saini crafted something intimate and meaningful with Dhh—a film that understood the magic in everyday struggles and the way children process the world around them. His work reminds us that some of the most important stories in Indian cinema are being told outside the Hindi-film industry, and filmmakers like Saini deserve far more attention than they typically receive.