Goutam Ghose is one of Indias critically acclaimed film director, actor, producer, music director and cinematographer, who predominantly works in the Bengali film industry. This exceptionally talented filmmaker is popular for his directorial ventures such as Paar (1984), Dekha (2001), Moner Manush (2010), Yatra (2006) and Dakhal (1982). He is one of the few directors of India whose films were awarded for Best Direction, Best Screenplay, and Best Cinematography at the National Film Awards.

Early Life
Goutam was born in Calcutta to Santana and Himangshu Kumar Ghose. He did his primary schooling from St Johns Diocesan School and then moved to Cathedral Missionary Boys School. Later, he completed his graduation from the University of Calcutta. Before entering the film Industry, Goutam took part in a group theatre movement in Calcutta and also worked as a photo journalist.

Personal Life
Goutam married Neelanaja in 1978. The couple have two children, Anandi Ghose and Ishaan Ghose.

Movie Career
As a Director
Goutam started his directorial career in 1973 with his documentary film New Earth. The following year he released Hungry Autumn, for which he won an award at the Oberhausen Film Festival. After another documentary film Chains of Bondage, he went on to make his mainstream cinema debut in 1979 with Maa Bhoomi. The film revolves around a landless farmer from Siripuram, a region under foreign rule. The directors next was again a documentary film - Development in Irrigation (1981), followed by the Bengali language feature film Dakhal (1982), which revolves around the life of tribals who are exploited by landlords. The latter won an award for The Best Feature Film at the 29th National Film Awards and also The Grand Jury Prize at the 11th International Human Rights Film Festival.

In 1984, Goutam directed Paar starringNaseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi, based on the Bengali story Paathi. The director won the Filmfare Award for Best Screenplay for his film. Goutams next project was Maha Yatra (1987), based on the practice of sati, starring Mohan Agashe, Kalyan Chatterjee and Vasant Choudhary. He then went on to work on Antarjali Jatra (1989), the story of a father who encourages his daughter to marry a dying man in order to inherit his wealth. The film received critical acclaim and was awarded with the National Award for Best Feature Film in Bengali.

In the following years, Goutam worked on documentaries like Sange Meel Se Mulaqat, Mohor and The Bird of Time, before his next industry release Patang in 1993 that featured Shabana Azmi, Om Puri and Shafiq Syed in lead roles. The film revolves around a railway station in Gaya and the life of people in illegal slums living near it. The film received critical acclaim and was awarded with the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi. In the same year, he had another film Padma Nadir Majhi, starring Raisul Islam Asad, Champa and Rupa Ganguly. Based on Manik Bandopadhyays novel Padma Nadir Majhi, the film was awarded with the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Bengali.

In 1996, the director won the Filmfare Award for his documentary film Beyond the Himalayas. Subsequently, he directed Gudia starring Mithun Chakraborty, Nandana Sen and Pran, followed by films such as Ray (1999), and Dekha (2001). Two years later, in 2003, he worked on Abar Aranye starring Soumitra Chatterjee, Sharmila Tagore and Subhendu Chatterjee, which was awarded as the Best Indian Film at the Bombay International Film Festival. His next film Yatra (2006) saw Rekha, Nana Patekar and Deepti Naval play the lead. The film revolves around a person whose fame is interrupted by his past, which comes in the way of his present. In 2009, Goutam directed Kaalbela starring Soumitra Chatterjee, Parambrata Chatterjee and Paoli Dam. His next filmMoner Manush (2010) revolves around a man who feels that the value of a human is above the narrow belief of religion.

In 2013, Goutam directed Shunyo Awnko: Act Zero starringPriyanka Bose, Dhritiman Chatterjee and Priyanshu Chatterjee. Three years later, in 2016, Goutam directed Shankhachil, which revolves around a school teacher whose daughter is ill in a village of Bangladesh. For the film, the director received the National Award for the Best Feature Film (Bengali).

As an Actor
Gautam made his debut as an actor with Buddhadeb Dasguptas Grihajuddha (1982) alongside Anjan Dutt and Mamata Shankar. The actor was next signed by Shantanu Bhowmick for Gayak (1987). After appearing in Vrindavan Film Studios (1996) as himself, he was offered a role in Srijit Mukhejis Baishe Srabon in 2011, which revolves around the life of an ex-cop who is hired to track down a serial killer. Goutams next was Sandipan Roys romantic film Ekla Akash (2012). Goutam once again collaborated with Srijit Mukherji for his 2014 film Chotushkone.

As a Producer
Goutam produced films such as Ray (1999) which was based on the life of eminent Filmmaker Satyajit Ray. He was also the producer for Hatey Roilo Pistol (2011) starring Ritwick Chakraborty, Saswata Chatterjee, and Chandan Sen.

As a Writer
Goutam started his career as a writer with Maa Bhoomi (1979). Three years later he wrote the screenplay for his film Dakhal, for which he was also awarded with the Golden Lotus Award for Best Film. In 1984, he again wrote the screenplay for his film Paar for which he was awarded with the Filmfare award for Best Screenplay. The multi-faceted actor also wrote the screenplay for some of the critically acclaimed films such as Padma Najir Majhi, Dekha Abar Aryane and Yatra. A few other films for which he was associated as a writer include Moner Manush (2010), Shunyo Awnko: Act Zero (2013), and Shankhachil (2016).

As a Cinematographer
Goutam made his debut as a cinematographer with Dakhal in 1982. The versatile director also played the role of cinematographer in some of the best films produced by him such as Paar, Patang and Padma Najir Majhi. In 2006, the director was accredited with the Silver Lotus Award for Best Cinematography for his film Yatra. Similarly, Goutam was awarded with the Jury Prize for Best Cinematographer at the Dhaka International Film Festival for Moner Manush. He was also the cinematographer for his 2013 directorial venture Shunyo Awnko: Act Zero.

As a Composer
The multi-skilled Goutam is also a music composer for several films such as Dakhal, Paar, Dekha, Shankhachil, Shunyo Awnko: Act Zero andMoner Manush, to name a few.