V. Ravichandran
Encyclopedia
V. Ravichandran is an actor
, director
, producer
, music director
, Editor
and lyricist
in the Kannada film industry. He is the son of film producer N. Veeraswamy. As producer, Ravichandran continues to run his father's production house, Sri Eswari Productions. He is popularly known as Crazy Star Ravichandran.
and Rajesh
. Ravichandran's initial movies were box-office hits. His major commercial success as a leading actor prior from Premaloka
, a comedy starring Juhi Chawla
in the female lead role. Post-Premaloka
, Ravichandran starred in several hits, most notably Ranadheera (which was a remake of Subhash Ghai
's Hero
), Anjada Gandu
, Yuddha Kaanda
, Ramachari, Halli Meshtru, Gadibidi Ganda, Annayya
, Sipayi, Yaare Neenu Cheluve, Mangalyam Tantunanena, Meshtru Gadibidi Gandu and Preethsod Tappa.
His role as a mentally challenged adult in Ramachari won him critical praise and was featured at the Ontario Film Festival. He has stuck to mostly stereotyped roles: a police officer (Shanti Kranti and Abhimanyu), lover (Premaloka, Anjada Gandu, and Preethsod Tappa), pop singer (Yuga Purusha
, and Gadibidi Ganda), rustic (Sipayi, Halli Meshtru, and Malla), and lawyer (Yudha Kaanda). He continues to act and has a few projects awaiting release.
He persuaded Chiranjeevi
to play a guest role in Sipaayi. He introduced Juhi Chawla
in his 1987 movie Premaloka before she showed up in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak
(1988). Poonam Dhillon
paired with Ravichandran in Yuddha Kaanda
.
Ravichandran has introduced a number of actresses from other parts of Indian cinema to Kannada cinema, including Juhi Chawla
, Khushbu
and Shilpa Shetty
.
, which he produced, directed, and starred in, became one of the landmark films in Kannada film history. It was made with a budget of a crore
rupees, the most expensive Kannada film in its time. It starred Juhi Chawla
as the female lead.
Premaloka also established Hamsalekha
, who would teamed up with Ravichandran for a long period and gave consistently popular music for the next 10 years.
Premaloka broke several records and defined much of Ravichandran's later filmmaking. It set the stage for lavish productions in the Kannada film industry, and inspired a generation of directors. Ravichandran is generally credited with introducing a culture of producing big-budget films in Kannada.
He is known as a non-conformist, and created his own style of filmmaking. Most of his movies show very little influence of other directors except Premaloka, which contains traces of Grease 2
. Notable aspects of his filmmaking include a curious combination of close-ups, abrupt fast-cuts
, and innovative camera angles. He is renowned in the Kannada film industry for his understanding of the technical aspect of cinema. His movies are lavishly mounted and stand out for superior production values distinguished for cinematography, sound, lighting, and special effects. Even directors of industry learn technical aspects from his film.
A distinct directorial feature is his innovative shooting of songs. Song-picturization in movies Ravichandran has directed often involve elaborate and richly-mounted settings
.
Ravichandran initially acted in and directed movies produced by his own banner, Eswari Productions. After Premaloka, he accepted acting offers from other producers. He has worked with leading directors of the Kannada film industry such as S. V. Rajendra Singh Babu and D. Rajendra Babu.
His association with D. Rajendra Babu has resulted in several hits including Naanu Nanna Henthi, Annayya, Ramachari, Yaare Neenu Cheluve and Sriramachandra.
He has also remade a few hit Telugu and Bollywood movies in Kannada.
Ravichandran is close friends with producer Rockline Venkatesh, with whom he worked on Yaare Neenu Cheluve, Nanu Nanna Hendthiru, Preethsod Thappa and Ondagona Baa.
Ravichandran is known to be a perfectionist and artists recall him re-shooting a single scene or sequence until it was perfect. He is known to have shot entire sequences again after the first cuts of the movie failed to satisfy him. However, after a lean patch in the late 90s, Ravichandran is said to have made amends to this and churned out quickies.
was the costliest movie of its time. Although his later films were comparatively less expensive, their budgets exceeded that of other Kannada films by several lakhs of rupees.
In 1991, Ravichandran released http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0173189/ Shanti Kranti, the costliest movie ever made in South India till then. Considered his magnum opus, the film was shot over four years with a budget of 40 million rupees, and was simultaneously made in Kannada, Telugu
, and Tamil
. Shanti Kranti turned out to be a huge failure at the box office.
Ravichandran also released another film the same year. Made with a modest budget, Ramachari became one of the biggest blockbusters of the year.
. Together, they worked in over 50 films and created several popular numbers. However, the duo parted company after Preethsod Thappa, only to work again in Ondagona Baa, which was a commercial and musical failure. In Hamsalekha's absence, Ravichandran took up the role of a music director and created a few popular tunes in Ekangi
and Aham Premasmi. But critics generally consider him an below average music director.He also gets state award as the best musical director.
Ravichandran started his own audio company, Eswari Audio Now it is Eshwari audio Eshwari Entertinments". For his brother's debut movie, Aham Premaasmi, he bypassed the entire music industry and sold the music cassettes through cable operators to beat piracy.And Brought " Digital Greding " Technology to Kannada Film Industry and also brought color
technicians from foreign.The whole film based on " Bagavadgita ".
nanu Nenu
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
, music director
Music director
A music director may be the director of an orchestra, the director of music for a film, the director of music at a radio station, the head of the music department in a school, the co-ordinator of the musical ensembles in a university or college , the head bandmaster of a military band, the head...
, Editor
Editor
The term editor may refer to:As a person who does editing:* Editor in chief, having final responsibility for a publication's operations and policies* Copy editing, making formatting changes and other improvements to text...
and lyricist
Lyricist
A lyricist is a songwriter who specializes in lyrics. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody.-Collaboration:...
in the Kannada film industry. He is the son of film producer N. Veeraswamy. As producer, Ravichandran continues to run his father's production house, Sri Eswari Productions. He is popularly known as Crazy Star Ravichandran.
As an actor
Ravichandran started his film career in the early 80's and acted in many movies produced by his father and grandfather along with well-known actors of the Kannada industry, including Ambarish, PrabhakarPrabhakar
Prabhakar is an Indian name.* Janardhan Sharma is known as Prabhakar in Nepal* Manoj Prabhakar, is a former Indian cricketer* Ponnam Prabhakar, an Indian politician and a member of 15th Lok Sabha...
and Rajesh
Rajesh (actor)
Rajesh is an Indian actor who has performed in Tamil, Malayalam films. He born in 1949 in a village called Anaikadu, in Thanjavur district near Pattukotai. He started his career as a teacher in Chennai. He worked as a secondary grade teacher for 7 years and entered into cinema. He acted in...
. Ravichandran's initial movies were box-office hits. His major commercial success as a leading actor prior from Premaloka
Premaloka
Premaloka is a Kannada feature film, starring Ravichandran Juhi Chawla and Leelavathi, released in 1987. Premaloka literally means "World of Love" in Kannada. It was a super hit film, becoming the biggest grosser of that time. The film had twelve songs, all of which are popular even today. The...
, a comedy starring Juhi Chawla
Juhi Chawla
Juhi Chawla is an Indian actress, film producer and television presenter.After being crowned as the winner of the Miss India beauty contest in 1984, Chawla pursued an acting career...
in the female lead role. Post-Premaloka
Premaloka
Premaloka is a Kannada feature film, starring Ravichandran Juhi Chawla and Leelavathi, released in 1987. Premaloka literally means "World of Love" in Kannada. It was a super hit film, becoming the biggest grosser of that time. The film had twelve songs, all of which are popular even today. The...
, Ravichandran starred in several hits, most notably Ranadheera (which was a remake of Subhash Ghai
Subhash Ghai
Subhash Ghai is an Indian film director, producer and screenwriter. His most notable films include Kalicharan ,Karz , Hero , Meri Jung , Karma ,Ram Lakhan ,Saudagar , Khalnayak , Pardes and Taal...
's Hero
Hero (1983 film)
Hero is a 1983 Indian Hindi film by Subhash Ghai. Jackie Shroff played the lead role, also called "Jackie", and achieved stardom overnight. Actress Meenakshi Sheshadri, who had been crowned Miss India in 1981 and played the lead female role in the film, gained popularity after this movie...
), Anjada Gandu
Anjada Gandu
Anjada Gandu is an Indian Kannada movie starring Ravichandran and Kushboo. It is still remembered for its brilliant music scored by Hamsalekha-Plot:...
, Yuddha Kaanda
Yuddha Kaanda
Yuddha Kaanda is an Indian Kannada movie starring Ravichandran, Poonam Dhillon.It is the remake of the Bollywood movie Meri Jung....
, Ramachari, Halli Meshtru, Gadibidi Ganda, Annayya
Annayya
Annayya is a Tollywood film which released on January 7, 2000 and was directed by Mutyala Subbayya. This film stars Chiranjeevi, Soundarya, Ravi Teja, Sarath Babu and Gangadhar Panday. Music was composed by Mani Sharma...
, Sipayi, Yaare Neenu Cheluve, Mangalyam Tantunanena, Meshtru Gadibidi Gandu and Preethsod Tappa.
His role as a mentally challenged adult in Ramachari won him critical praise and was featured at the Ontario Film Festival. He has stuck to mostly stereotyped roles: a police officer (Shanti Kranti and Abhimanyu), lover (Premaloka, Anjada Gandu, and Preethsod Tappa), pop singer (Yuga Purusha
Yuga Purusha
Yugapurusha is an Indian 1989 Kannada language film which stars Ravichandran, Khushboo.It is the remake of Bollywood movie Karz.Its music is by Hamsalekha. The movie is about reincarnation where a boy is murdered by her own girlfriend in his previous life for the sake of property. In the new life,...
, and Gadibidi Ganda), rustic (Sipayi, Halli Meshtru, and Malla), and lawyer (Yudha Kaanda). He continues to act and has a few projects awaiting release.
He persuaded Chiranjeevi
Chiranjeevi
Chiranjeevi is a Telugu film actor and a politician. He has appeared primarily in Telugu Cinema along with a few Tamil, Kannada and Hindi films. He made his acting debut in Punadhirallu . However, Pranam Khareedu released at the box office earlier...
to play a guest role in Sipaayi. He introduced Juhi Chawla
Juhi Chawla
Juhi Chawla is an Indian actress, film producer and television presenter.After being crowned as the winner of the Miss India beauty contest in 1984, Chawla pursued an acting career...
in his 1987 movie Premaloka before she showed up in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak
Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak
Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak or QSQT is a 1988 Indian Bollywood film written by Nasir Hussain and directed by his son Mansoor Khan. The film starred Hussain's nephew, Aamir Khan, along with Juhi Chawla in their first major roles. Upon release, the film became a box office hit and shot its leading stars...
(1988). Poonam Dhillon
Poonam Dhillon
Poonam Dhillon is an Indian Hindi film, theatre and TV actress. She is best known for her 1979 film, Noorie, for her six films with Rajesh Khanna Red Rose, Dard, Nishaan, Zamana, Awam and Sohni Mahiwal , Samundar Saveray Wali Gaadi and Naam .- Early life :Dhall was born 18 April 1962 in Kanpur,...
paired with Ravichandran in Yuddha Kaanda
Yuddha Kaanda
Yuddha Kaanda is an Indian Kannada movie starring Ravichandran, Poonam Dhillon.It is the remake of the Bollywood movie Meri Jung....
.
Ravichandran has introduced a number of actresses from other parts of Indian cinema to Kannada cinema, including Juhi Chawla
Juhi Chawla
Juhi Chawla is an Indian actress, film producer and television presenter.After being crowned as the winner of the Miss India beauty contest in 1984, Chawla pursued an acting career...
, Khushbu
Khushbu
Khusbhu is a volume of poetry, written by iconic Pakistani poetess and columnist, Parveen Shakir, and published in the year 1976.-Poetry:The poetry in Khushbu, like most of Shakir's subsequent work, can be majorly divided into two categories: the ghazal [plural: ghazalyaat], and free...
and Shilpa Shetty
Shilpa Shetty
Shilpa Shetty is an Indian film actress and model. Since making her debut in the film Baazigar , she has appeared in nearly 40 Bollywood, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada films, her first leading role being in the 1994 Aag. Although she has been through years of decline during her career, Shetty has been...
.
As director
Ravichandran shot to instant fame when PremalokaPremaloka
Premaloka is a Kannada feature film, starring Ravichandran Juhi Chawla and Leelavathi, released in 1987. Premaloka literally means "World of Love" in Kannada. It was a super hit film, becoming the biggest grosser of that time. The film had twelve songs, all of which are popular even today. The...
, which he produced, directed, and starred in, became one of the landmark films in Kannada film history. It was made with a budget of a crore
Crore
A crore is a unit in the Indian number system equal to ten million , or 100 lakhs. It is widely used in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan....
rupees, the most expensive Kannada film in its time. It starred Juhi Chawla
Juhi Chawla
Juhi Chawla is an Indian actress, film producer and television presenter.After being crowned as the winner of the Miss India beauty contest in 1984, Chawla pursued an acting career...
as the female lead.
Premaloka also established Hamsalekha
Hamsalekha
Hamsalekha is a music director and lyricist in the Kannada film industry. He also writes screenplays and dialogues for movies. He has composed music for over 300 feature films and has written lyrics for 300-odd feature films. He has also composed for Tamil and Telugu films...
, who would teamed up with Ravichandran for a long period and gave consistently popular music for the next 10 years.
Premaloka broke several records and defined much of Ravichandran's later filmmaking. It set the stage for lavish productions in the Kannada film industry, and inspired a generation of directors. Ravichandran is generally credited with introducing a culture of producing big-budget films in Kannada.
He is known as a non-conformist, and created his own style of filmmaking. Most of his movies show very little influence of other directors except Premaloka, which contains traces of Grease 2
Grease 2
Grease 2 is a 1982 American musical film and sequel to Grease, which is based upon the musical of the same name by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. Grease 2 was produced by Allan Carr and Robert Stigwood, and directed and choreographed by Patricia Birch, who also choreographed the first film...
. Notable aspects of his filmmaking include a curious combination of close-ups, abrupt fast-cuts
Fast cutting
Fast cutting is a film editing technique which refers to several consecutive shots of a brief duration . It can be used to convey a lot of information very quickly, or to imply either energy or chaos...
, and innovative camera angles. He is renowned in the Kannada film industry for his understanding of the technical aspect of cinema. His movies are lavishly mounted and stand out for superior production values distinguished for cinematography, sound, lighting, and special effects. Even directors of industry learn technical aspects from his film.
A distinct directorial feature is his innovative shooting of songs. Song-picturization in movies Ravichandran has directed often involve elaborate and richly-mounted settings
Set construction
Set construction is the process by which a set designer works in collaboration with the director of a production to create the set for a theatrical, film or television production...
.
Ravichandran initially acted in and directed movies produced by his own banner, Eswari Productions. After Premaloka, he accepted acting offers from other producers. He has worked with leading directors of the Kannada film industry such as S. V. Rajendra Singh Babu and D. Rajendra Babu.
His association with D. Rajendra Babu has resulted in several hits including Naanu Nanna Henthi, Annayya, Ramachari, Yaare Neenu Cheluve and Sriramachandra.
He has also remade a few hit Telugu and Bollywood movies in Kannada.
Ravichandran is close friends with producer Rockline Venkatesh, with whom he worked on Yaare Neenu Cheluve, Nanu Nanna Hendthiru, Preethsod Thappa and Ondagona Baa.
Ravichandran is known to be a perfectionist and artists recall him re-shooting a single scene or sequence until it was perfect. He is known to have shot entire sequences again after the first cuts of the movie failed to satisfy him. However, after a lean patch in the late 90s, Ravichandran is said to have made amends to this and churned out quickies.
As producer
Ravichandran is known to produce very expensive movies in an industry that has a limited market. PremalokaPremaloka
Premaloka is a Kannada feature film, starring Ravichandran Juhi Chawla and Leelavathi, released in 1987. Premaloka literally means "World of Love" in Kannada. It was a super hit film, becoming the biggest grosser of that time. The film had twelve songs, all of which are popular even today. The...
was the costliest movie of its time. Although his later films were comparatively less expensive, their budgets exceeded that of other Kannada films by several lakhs of rupees.
In 1991, Ravichandran released http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0173189/ Shanti Kranti, the costliest movie ever made in South India till then. Considered his magnum opus, the film was shot over four years with a budget of 40 million rupees, and was simultaneously made in Kannada, Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
, and Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
. Shanti Kranti turned out to be a huge failure at the box office.
Ravichandran also released another film the same year. Made with a modest budget, Ramachari became one of the biggest blockbusters of the year.
Music director
Ravichandran is credited with "discovering" the talented HamsalekhaHamsalekha
Hamsalekha is a music director and lyricist in the Kannada film industry. He also writes screenplays and dialogues for movies. He has composed music for over 300 feature films and has written lyrics for 300-odd feature films. He has also composed for Tamil and Telugu films...
. Together, they worked in over 50 films and created several popular numbers. However, the duo parted company after Preethsod Thappa, only to work again in Ondagona Baa, which was a commercial and musical failure. In Hamsalekha's absence, Ravichandran took up the role of a music director and created a few popular tunes in Ekangi
Ekangi
Ekangi is an Indian Kannada-language film directed and produced by Ravichandran. It starred Ravichandran, Ramya Krishnan, and Prakash Rai. It was an ambitious project, but did not succeed at the box office. A house was specially erected for the movie and entire movie is set in the house....
and Aham Premasmi. But critics generally consider him an below average music director.He also gets state award as the best musical director.
Ravichandran started his own audio company, Eswari Audio Now it is Eshwari audio Eshwari Entertinments". For his brother's debut movie, Aham Premaasmi, he bypassed the entire music industry and sold the music cassettes through cable operators to beat piracy.And Brought " Digital Greding " Technology to Kannada Film Industry and also brought color
technicians from foreign.The whole film based on " Bagavadgita ".
Filmography as music director
- Naanu Nanna Hendthiru (1999)
- Sneha (1999)
- O Premave (1999)
- Chora Chitta Chora (1999)
- Mahatma (2000)
- Preethsutapenilla (2000)
- O Nanna Nalle (2000)
- Yekangi (2002)
- Kodandarama (2002)
- Malla (2004)
- AyyaAyya (Kannada film)Ayya is a blockbuster 2005 Kannada-language film directed by Om Prakash Rao, starring Challenging star Darshan Thoogudeep and Rakshitha. Darshan plays the role of a brave police officer prepared to go any lengths to control crime in the city. The background music has been scored by V....
(2005) - Ahampremasmi (2005)
- Pandu Ranga Vittala (205)
- Hatavadi (2006)
- Neelakanta (2006)
- Hoo (2011)
- Manjin Hani (yet to release)
Filmography
Sl. No. / Film / Year of release / No. of days in theatersnanu Nenu
- Khadeema Kallaru (1982)
- Chakravyuha (1983)
- Pralayanthaka (1984)
- Premigala Savaal (1984)
- Nane Raja (1984)
- Saavira Sullu (1985)
- Pitha Maha (1985)
- Asambhava (1986)
- Swaabhimaana
- Nanu Nanna Hendthi (1985)
- Baa Nana Preethisu 1986
- Ramanna Shamann 1988
- Premaloka (1987)
- Ranadheera (1988)
- Sangrama (1988)
- Anjada Gandu (1988)
- Yuga Purusha 1989
- Kindari Jogi 1989
- Brahma Vishnu Maheshwara
- Yudha Kanda (1989)
- Poli Huduga (1989)
- Bannada Gejje (1989)
- Abhimanyu (1990)
- Shanthi Kranthi (1991) (Also directed) (Co-actors: KhushbooKushboo SundarNakhat Khan , better known by her stage name Kushboo is an Indian actress, television hostess and producer.-Early life:...
, Juhi ChawlaJuhi ChawlaJuhi Chawla is an Indian actress, film producer and television presenter.After being crowned as the winner of the Miss India beauty contest in 1984, Chawla pursued an acting career...
, AmbareeshAmbareeshMalavallii Huche Gowda Amarnath or M.H.Amarnath born 29 May 1952 at Maddur Taluk in Mandya District of Karnataka State is a Kannada film actor...
, RameshRamesh AravindRamesh Aravind or Ramesh is a popular Kannada, Tamil and Telugu movie actor. He is considered one of the most versatile actors in Indian cinema.-Early days:...
, Anant NagAnant NagAnant Nagarkatte popularly known as Anant Nag is an actor and politician from Karnataka, India. He is considered to be one of the all time greatest actors in the Kannada film industry with a vast number of commercially successful movies. As a result, he is popularly known as an actor with...
; produced by N Veeraswamy; music by HamsalekhaHamsalekhaHamsalekha is a music director and lyricist in the Kannada film industry. He also writes screenplays and dialogues for movies. He has composed music for over 300 feature films and has written lyrics for 300-odd feature films. He has also composed for Tamil and Telugu films...
) - Raamachari (1991)
- Halli Meshtru (1992)
- Gopi Krishna (1992)
- Guru Brahma (1992)
- Mane Devru
- Chikkeja Manru (1992)
- Sriram Chandra (1992)
- Gadibidi Ganda (1993)
- Annayya (1993)
- Chinna (1994)
- Rasika (1994)
- Jaana (1994)
- Maangalyam Thantunaanena
- Putnanja
- Sipayi... (1996)
- Kalavida (1997)
- Mommaga (1997)
- Cheluva (1997)
- Preethsodh Thappa (1998)
- Yaare Neenu Cheluve 1998
- Naanu Nanna Hendthiru 1999
- Ravimama (1999)
- Sneha (1999)
- O Premave 1999
- Chora Chitta Chora (1999)
- Mahatam 2000
- Preethsu Tappenilla (2000)
- O Nanna Nalle (2000)
- Pramakke Sai (2001)
- Kanasugara (2001)
- Usire (2001)
- Preethi Maado Hudugarigella (2002)
- Ekangi (2002)
- Kodandarama
- Ondagona Baa (3.10.2003)
- Malla (27.02.2004)
- Ramakrishna (28.05.2004)
- Sahukara (2004)
- Aham Premasmi (27.05.2005)
- Paandu Ranga Vittala 30.11.2005
- Ravi Shastri'(2006)'
- Hatavadi (24.03.2006)
- Neelakanta
- Ugadi
- Nee Tata Naa Birla (2008)
- Hoo (2011)
- Naariya Seere Kadda (2010)
- Mallikarjuna (May 2011)
- Kalla Malla Sulla (2011)
- Narasimha (2011)
- Crazyloka ( 2011 Kavitha lankesh )
- Paramashiva (2011)
- Manjina Hani (2011)
- Ondu Nimisha (2012)
- Aase an illuasion (2012)
Awards
- State award for Best Director,Actor,Music Director)-(Yekangi).
- State Puttanna Kanagal Award for Life time Achievements.
- Suvarna Filmfare Award for Life time Achievements
- Kannada Rajyotsava Award on 2010