Quentin Tarantino, the trailblazing American filmmaker who gave the neo-noir genre a whole new meaning, is turning 58 on March 27 this year.

Born in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1963, Tarantino went on to become one of the most influential directors of modern cinema, having inspired upcoming filmmakers and legions of fans across the globe. His films, which are majorly focussed on dark humor, nonlinear storylines, and distinctive cinematic features like god’s eye view shots, tracking shots, extreme close-ups, and fast zooms, have earned him many recognitions from the film fraternity.

Tarantino, to date, boasts of two Academy Awards, two Golden Globes, two BAFTA awards, and a Palme d’Or award, with numerous nominations.

At many points in his career, Tarantino faced criticism for glorifying violence, blaxploitation and extreme profanity in his movies. But through the years, he managed put all criticism to rest by his master moves--originality of concept and the meticulous cinematic projection of human struggles.

Some of Tarantino's notable films include Reservoir Dogs (1992), Pulp Fiction (1994), From Dusk till Dawn (1996) and Django Unchained (2013).

To mark his birthday, here are some famous quotes by the filmmaker: (Courtesy: Brainyquote)

  • "When people ask me if I went to film school, I tell them 'No, I went to films.'"
  • "I just grew up watching a lot of movies. I'm attracted to this genre and that genre, this type of story, and that type of story. As I watch movies I make some version of it in my head that isn't quite what I'm seeing - taking the things I like and mixing them with stuff I've never seen before."
  • "Violence is one of the most fun things to watch."
  • "When I make a film, I am hoping to reinvent the genre a little bit. I just do it my way. I make my own little Quentin versions of them... I consider myself a student of cinema. It's almost like I am going for my professorship in cinema, and the day I die is the day I graduate. It is a lifelong study."
  • "The good ideas will survive."
Quentin Tarantino has made his name as a revolutionary director with a deep knowledge of his art
Quentin Tarantino has made his name as a revolutionary director with a deep knowledge of his art AFP / Alberto PIZZOLI