MANOJ SRIVASTAVA
editMANOJ SRIVASTAVA aka Robbin was born and brought up in old Delhi, south of the famous Jama Masjid. His initial interest was cricket and he excelled at a young age in sports, music, dance and debating. Later he studied sociology and journalism in Delhi. In between he tried modeling and cricket as careers. Beginning his career as a journalist, he landed up at Doordarshan, the Indian national broadcaster where he learnt the ropes of television and film direction before landing up at the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune. At Doordarshan, in a career span of 15 years, he directed a number of TV Shows, Music Videos and films. He also wrote on cinema extensively for nearly a decade.
In between, he learnt the German language at Max Muller Bhavan, New Delhi. Joined the Directorate of Film Festivals, and looked after National Film Awards and International Film Festival of India as Deputy Director and Programmer in Directorate of Film Festivals (DFF). Currently, he heads the Entertainment Society of Goa as its Chief Executive Officer.
Besides writing on cinema, he has completed a novel, EVIL WITHIN and another book a commentary on Delhi, Dilli 6. His book WIDE ANGLE – History of Indian Cinema s about to be released by Penguin, India. His two other books on cinema are also nearing completion.
In 2008, he directed and produced a nine minute documentary on poor and rich children of INDIA ---OF HAVES AND HAVENOTS (Hum Panchhi ek Daal Ke) which was a great success. Among other international film festivals, it was screened at the Cannes, Brisbane and many other film festivals.
Manoj Srivastava is an actor, film maker and academic who heads the Entertainment Society of Goa, the body that co-organises theInternational Film Festival of India every year in Goa as its Chief Executive Officer.Srivastava has delivered lectures on cinema, culture and history around the world.