Born in 8 December 1926 in Kutaisi. In 1943-46 he had studied at the department of direction of the Tbilisi State Institute of Theatre. In 1953 he was graduated from the Film Direction Faculty of Moscow All-Union Institute of Cinematography (studio of Sergei Iutkevich and Mikhail Rom). After making several documentaries he made feature film of "Magdana’s Donkey” together with Tenghiz Abuladze, which was awarded a prize of 1956 Cannes International Film Festival. In 1973-2005 he was a director of Georgian Film Studio. In 1980 he was awarded the title of the people’s artist of the Soviet Union.