Winner of a Crystal Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, a Golden Peacock at IFFI, a Golden Crow Pheasant at IFFK, 8 National Film Awards, 5 Kerala State Film Awards, a FIPRESCI award, a NETPAC award, a Special Mention at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, and a Best Film Award at the Madrid International Film Festival. Founder of the Birds Club International, and festival director of the Rain International Nature Film Festival.

Assisted Raj Kapoor. His debut film starred Rishi Kapoor, Parveen Babi, Rajendra Kumar, & Asha Parekh. He later launched Kajol & Sunny Deol, & introduced Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to Bollywood. He is an advisor of major international film festivals, & has served as the Panorama jury chief of the International Film Festival of India (twice), & as the head of the feature films jury at the National Film Awards & Moscow International Film Festival.