Gunasekar | |
---|---|
Born | Gunasekar 2 June 1964 (age 59) [1] Narsipatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India |
Occupations |
|
Spouse | Ragini |
Children | 2; including Neelima |
Gunasekar (born 2 June 1964) is an Indian film director and screenwriter known for his works in Telugu cinema. He has directed films in action, romance, mythological, and historical drama genres. He has won a National Film Award, multiple Nandi Awards, and a Filmfare Award South.
Gunasekhar directed the historical epic film Ramayanam (1997), which won the National Film Award for Best Children's Film and was screened at the International Children's Film Festival of India. [2] [3] His 2003 action film, Okkadu was huge commercial success becoming the highest grossing Telugu film of that year and was remade into various Indian languages. [4] [5] His other notable films include Sogasu Chooda Tharamaa (1995), Choodalani Vundi (1998), Manoharam (2000), and Rudhramadevi (2015).
Before venturing into mainstream film direction, Gunasekar worked as an associate director to D. V. Narsaraju, Kranthi Kumar, and Ram Gopal Varma. [6] Gunasekhar made his directorial debut with the socio-political Lathi (1992), for which he received the state Nandi Award for Best First Film of a Director.
He directed the super-hit romance film, Sogasu Chooda Tharamaa (1995), which received the Nandi Award for Best Feature Film. In 1997, Gunasekhar directed the mythological film Ramayanam , which won the National Film Award for Best Children's Film and was screened at the International Children's Film Festival of India. [2] [3]
His next film was the action thriller Choodalani Vundi (1998), which introduced the DTS sound to the Telugu screen and was a box-office hit. [7] The film was later remade into Hindi as, Calcutta Mail . He then directed the political thriller, Manoharam (2000), which again bagged the Nandi Award for Best Story, and the Nandi Award for Best Feature Film.
His 2003 action film, Okkadu , was a huge critical and commercial success, becoming the highest grossing Telugu film of that year and was remade into various Indian languages. [4] [5] The 2004 drama film, Arjun , was screened at the International Film Festival of India in the mainstream section. [8]
His 2015 historical film, Rudhramadevi which was released in October 2015 to widely mixed reviews but despite that it became an average grosser of the year. [9] [10] [11]
His latest venture was mythological romantic drama film Shaakuntalam which was theatrically released on 14 April 2023. The film was panned by critics and became a huge commercial failure. [12]
Gunasekher is married to Ragini, and the couple have two daughters, Neelima and Yukhta. [13]
Year | Film | Director | Producer | Screenwriter | Awards and Honors |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1992 | Laati | Yes | No | Yes | Nandi Award for Best First Film of a Director [14] |
1995 | Sogasu Chooda Tharamaa | Yes | No | Yes | Nandi Award for Best Screenplay Writer |
1997 | Ramayanam | Yes | No | Yes | National Film Award for Best Children's Film International Children's Film Festival of India |
1998 | Choodalani Vundi | Yes | No | Yes | |
2000 | Manoharam | Yes | No | Yes | |
2001 | Mrugaraju | Yes | No | Yes | |
2003 | Okkadu | Yes | No | Yes | Nandi Award for Best Director Filmfare Award for Best Director – Telugu |
2004 | Arjun | Yes | No | Yes | International Film Festival of India |
2006 | Sainikudu | Yes | No | Yes | |
2010 | Varudu | Yes | No | Yes | |
2012 | Nippu | Yes | No | Yes | |
2015 | Rudhramadevi | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
2023 | Shaakuntalam | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Swathi Muthyam is a 1986 Indian Telugu-language romantic drama film written and directed by K. Viswanath and produced by Edida Nageswara Rao. The film stars Kamal Haasan and Radhika, while Gollapudi Maruti Rao, J. V. Somayajulu, Nirmalamma, Sarath Babu, and Y. Vijaya play supporting roles. The soundtrack and background score were composed by Ilaiyaraaja. Swathi Muthyam depicts the plight of a young widow who is rescued by an autistic man.
K.S. Sowmya, better known by her stage name Soundarya, was an Indian actress known for her works primarily in Telugu cinema in addition to Tamil, Kannada, Hindi and Malayalam films. She has received three Nandi Awards, two Karnataka State Film Awards and six Filmfare Awards South. In 2002, she received the National Film Award for Best Feature Film as a producer for the Kannada film Dweepa.
Allu Arjun is an Indian actor known for his works mainly in Telugu cinema. One of the highest paid actors in India, Allu Arjun is also known for his dancing skills. He is a recipient of several awards including a National Film Award, six Filmfare Awards and three Nandi Awards. He has appeared in Forbes India's Celebrity 100 list since 2014. He is popularly referred to as "Stylish Star".
Okkadu is a 2003 Indian Telugu-language romantic sports action film directed by Gunasekhar and produced by M. S. Raju. The film stars Mahesh Babu, Bhumika Chawla and Prakash Raj. The music was composed by Mani Sharma and editing by A. Sreekar Prasad. In the film, Ajay is a Kabaddi player who rescues Swapna from a powerful factionist Obul Reddy when the latter tries to forcefully abduct her.
Trivikram Srinivas, often credited with his Pen name Trivikram also called Guruji and 3V at times, is an Indian film director and screenwriter who works in Telugu cinema. He is one of the highest-paid directors in South Indian cinema. He has garnered six state Nandi Awards for Best Dialogue Writer and two Filmfare Awards for Best Director. In 2015, he received the BN Reddy National Award for his contribution to Indian cinema.
Arjun is a 2004 Indian Telugu-language action drama film written and directed by Gunasekhar and produced by G. Ramesh Babu. The film starred Mahesh Babu as the titular character along with Shriya Saran, Keerthi Reddy, Raja Abel, Prakash Raj, and Saritha. The music was composed by Mani Sharma with cinematography by Sekhar V. Joseph and editing by A. Sreekar Prasad. The film released on 18 August 2004 and was successful at the box-office. It was later dubbed into Hindi as Maidan-E-Jung (2008) and in Tamil as Varenda Maduraikku. The film was screened at the International Film Festival of India in the mainstream section. This was Keerthi Reddy's final acting performance prior to her retirement from the film industry. The film won three Nandi Awards.
Veeramachaneni Jagapathi Chowdary, professionally known as Jagapathi Babu, is an Indian actor known for his works in Telugu cinema. He has also appeared in Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi and Kannada films. Babu has appeared in 170 feature films, and has received four Filmfare Awards and seven state Nandi Awards.
Chota K. Naidu is an Indian cinematographer, best known for his distinct style of cinematography for films like, Matru Devo Bhava, Choodalani Vundi, and Kotha Bangaru Lokam. Naidu is part of the Indian Society of Cinematographers, the South Indian Cinematographers Association and the Telugu Cinematographers Association. He received two state Nandi Awards for Anji, Kotha Bangaru Lokam and two Filmfare Awards South for Kotha Bangaru Lokam, Damarukam for his cinematography. His outstanding contribution to the Indian Film Industry and the Indian Television Industry working as a DOP for Telugu, Tamil and Hindi films, and in television is appreciated from last 30 and odd years.
Choodalani Vundi is a 1998 Indian Telugu-language action thriller film written and directed by Gunasekhar, and produced by C. Aswani Dutt under Vyjayanthi Movies. This film stars Chiranjeevi, Soundarya, Anjala Zaveri and Prakash Raj. The film has music composed by Mani Sharma with cinematography by Chota K. Naidu.
The Nandi Awards are the awards that recognise excellence in Telugu cinema, Telugu theatre, Telugu television, and Lifetime achievements in Indian cinema. Presented annually by the Government of Andhra Pradesh the awards are named after the big granite bull at Lepakshi - a cultural and historical symbol of the Telugu people.
FEFSI Vijayan is an Indian action choreographer, stunt coordinator, actor who works in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi language films. He has the record of being the youngest stunt master in the Indian film industry at the age of 22. He became a stunt man at the age of 17 due to family situation. He is the son of stunt choreographer Swaminathan who is known for composing Lion fight done by MGR in Adimai Penn. Swaminathan was a prominent fight master for MGR films & for that Vijayan had very close relationship with MGR. He was the president of the FEFSI and thus, earning him the nickname FEFSI Vijayan. His son, Shabarish is an actor who has starred in few films. During his heyday, he was widely touted as one of the best stunt coordinators of Bollywood and South Indian film industry.
O Seeta Katha is a 1974 Indian Telugu-language film directed by K. Viswanath. The film won the Nandi Award for Best Feature Film (Silver), and the Filmfare Best Film Award (Telugu). The film was later remade both in Malayalam and Tamil languages as Mattoru Seetha and Moondru Mudichu, respectively. The film was screened at the Asian and African film Festival at Tashkent. C. Ashwani Dutt was Executive Producer for the film.
Rudramadevi is a 2015 Indian Telugu-language 3D biographical action film based on the life of Rudrama Devi, one of the prominent rulers of the Kakatiya dynasty in the Deccan, and one of the few ruling queens in Indian history. The film written and directed by Gunasekhar features Anushka Shetty in a title role as Rudramadevi, alongside an ensemble cast including Allu Arjun, Rana Daggubati, Vikramjeet Virk, Krishnam Raju, Prakash Raj, Suman, Nithya Menen, Adithya, and Catherine Tresa. The film is narrated by Chiranjeevi. The film's soundtrack and background score were composed by Ilaiyaraaja.
Ramayanam, also known as Bala Ramayanam, is a 1997 Indian Telugu-language mythological film directed by Gunasekhar and produced by M. S. Reddy. Based on the Hindu epic Ramayana, the film features overs 3000 child actors. It stars N. T. Rama Rao Jr. as Lord Rama and Smitha Madhav as Sita.
Rudhramadevi is the soundtrack to the 2015 Telugu historical film of the same name directed by Gunasekhar. The film stars Anushka Shetty, Allu Arjun, Rana Daggubati and Krishnam Raju. The soundtrack album and background score were composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The audio music was planned to release separately in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh states having the Chief ministers of these states as chief guests. The songs were released simultaneously in Visakhapatnam and Warangal on 25 July 2015.
Gona Ganna Reddy, son of king Gona Budda Reddy who contributed to the Ranganatha Ramayanam as Dwipada Kavyam in the Telugu language and a military chieftain to one of the few ruling queens Rani Rudrama Devi in Indian history. He ruled Vardhamaanapuram in Nagarkurnool district.
Suryadevara Radha Krishna, also known as S. Radha Krishna or Chinna Babu, is an Indian film producer known for his works in Telugu cinema. He produces films under his production house, Haarika & Hassine Creations. Even though his other production house, Sithara Entertainments, is his own, his nephew, Suryadevara Naga Vamsi, mainly produces the films under the banner, while he presents them.
Allu Arjun is an Indian actor who primarily appears in Telugu films. In 1985, at the age of three, he made his debut in the film Vijetha, directed by A. Kodandarami Reddy. Sixteen years later, Arjun made a small appearance as Gopi, a dancer, in the 2001 film Daddy directed by Suresh Krissna. He had his first leading role in the 2003 film Gangotri, directed by K. Raghavendra Rao which was the latter's hundredth film as a director. In the film, Arjun played an adolescent named Simhadri living in Rayalaseema, who falls in love with a factionist's daughter.
Shaakuntalam is an 2023 Indian Telugu-language historical romantic drama film written and directed by Gunasekhar. It is produced by Neelima Guna under Gunaa Teamworks and distributed by Sri Venkateswara Creations. Based on a popular play Abhignyana Shakuntalam by Kalidasa, the film features Samantha in the title role of Shakuntala and Dev Mohan as Dushyanta, the king of Puru dynasty along with Mohan Babu, Jisshu Sengupta, Madhoo, Gautami, Aditi Balan and Ananya Nagalla in supporting roles. In the film, Shakuntala and King Dushyant marry, but Dushyant forgets all about Shakuntala due to a sage's curse.