On Prakash Jha's birthday today, here's revisiting some of his most path-breaking movies

One of the most prolific filmmakers of today, Prakash Jha is known to make hard-hitting, rooted to reality cinema, a far cry from the commercial potboilers that Bollywood seems to churn out dime a dozen. Nevertheless, some of the biggest names in tinsel town have been part of his realistic cinema and as the veteran filmmaker turns 71 today, here's taking a look at some of his best movies...

An upright superintendent of police, IPS Amit Kumar, is assigned to a town, reeking with corruption and mafia menace. There, he has to come head to head with corrupt fellow officers and politicians while dealing with hardened criminals, even as his family starts bearing the brunt of his duty. Starring the ever so dependable Ajay Devgn in the main lead, the movie won the National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues.

Ajay, an aspiring cop decides to borrow some money from a moneylender to chase his dream. However, when he is unable to replay the loan, he unwillingly decides to become accomplice to a kidnapping, in a bid to earn quick money. However, his plan quickly goes awry, leaving him in the lurch. Starring Ajay Devgn, Nana Patekar and Bipasha Basu amongst others.

The hard hitting social drama is the story of three brave women who decide to fight back against the chauvinist and domineering men in their lives and the oppressive system they represent. Leading from the front is Ketki, who fights back after her husband Vinay is manipulated by an unscrupulous man. Starring Madhuri Dixit, Shabana Azmi and Shilpa Shirodkar amongst others.

Starring the biggest names of traditional "commercial cinema", the political drama is the story of the powerful Pratap family. After the death of its patriarch, younger son Samar, earlier planning to live a quiet life sans politics in the US, has to suddenly return and enter that world, eventually resorting to extreme and violent means to keep his family in power. Starring Ajay Devgn, Ranbir Kapoor, Arjun Rampal, Manoj Bajpayee and Katrina Kaif, amongst others.

One of the underrated gems of Jha, the heartwarming tale, based on a true story captures the life of Buchi, a rickshaw puller who harbors a dream of sending his son to a private school. However, with wafer thin earnings, he also has to deal with issues like casteism, social ostracism and personal battles. Starring Adil Hussain, Priyanka Bose and Sanjay Suri amongst others.