Akira Kurosawa was a Japanese filmmaker who is regarded as one of the most influential directors in the history of cinema. In a career spanning 57 years, he directed over 30 films. He is credited with bringing the Japanese film industry to Western markets and opened the doors for many Japanese and Asian directors to make a mark in the West. His journey from a modest director to an internationally acclaimed filmmaker is quite remarkable. Even though many Japanese directors found better acclaim and success in the West, his movies continue to entice film connoisseurs even today. The blend of art, history, philosophy and visual imagery brought his ideas alive on the screen. He also adapted many Western classics into films such as ‘Hakuchi’ (based on Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s novel), ‘Kumonosu-jo’ from Shakespeare’s Macbeth, and ‘Donzoko’ from Maksim Gorky’s drama. His style of filmmaking was a far cry from the naturalistic trend of Japanese films of that time. Economic hardships never swayed his style and he continued to churn out timeless screenplays and moving pictures that have stood the test of time.
