Paul Zils
DirectingPaul Zils (18 June 1915 – 30 March 1979) was a German-Indian documentary filmmaker who played a major role in the development of Indian documentary filmmaking. Born in Germany, Zils moved to India in the late 1940s, where he became deeply involved in the country's burgeoning film industry, particularly in the documentary genre. He is best known for his collaborations with the Films Division of India, where he worked as both a director and a producer, helping to shape the documentary film landscape in post-independence India. Zils was instrumental in capturing the social and political changes occurring in India during the mid-20th century, focusing on issues such as poverty, agriculture, and cultural heritage. His films were notable for their sensitivity to Indian traditions and issues, and his work brought global attention to the power of documentary cinema as a tool for social change.
Filmography — Crew
India is Ours
Director
Zalzala
Director
The Vanishing Tribe
Director
Our India
Director
The Ripening Seed
Director
A Tiny Thing Brings Death
Director
The Last Jewel
Director
Asiatische Religionen
Director
The School
Director
India's Struggle for National Shipping
Director
Kurwandi Road
Director
Community
Director
White Magic
Director
General Motors in India
Director
Two Worlds
Director
Ujala
Director
Fifty Miles from Poona
Director
Agriculture
Director
Oraons of Bihar
Director
Family in Bangalore
Director
Fisherfolk of Bombay
Director
New Life of a Displaced Person
Director
Bombay, the Story of Seven Isles
Director
Mother-Child-Community
Director
Child
Director
Shabash
Director
Textiles
Director
Maa, the Story of an Unmarried Person
Director
Buddhismus in Ceylon
Director
Martial Dances of Malabar
Director