P. Sheshadri

P. Sheshadri
P. Sheshadri in 2013
Born	Pattabhiramaiah Sheshadri (1963-11-23) 23 November 1963 (age 60) Dandinashivara, Tumkur, Mysore State (now Karnataka), India
Occupation	Film director
Website	www.psheshadri.com

Pattabhiramaiah Sheshadri (born 23 November 1963) is an Indian film director who works in Kannada cinema. He is known for his films Munnudi , Atithi , Beru , Tutturi , Vimukthi , Bettada Jeeva , Bharath Stores and December-1 . He has also worked as a director in various television serials.

Sheshadri became the first director to win a National Film Award eight times consecutively when his film December-1 won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada and the National Film Award for Best Screenplay. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Early life and education

Parents of P. Sheshadri

Sheshadri was born on 23 November 1963 in the village of Dandinashivara in Karnataka to Pattabhiramaiah, a primary school teacher, and Kamalamma. He is the youngest of four siblings. ^[1] He completed his Master's degree in Kannada literature and also received a Diploma in journalism.

P. Sheshadri, with wife and son

Career

Before 1990: Journalism

Sheshadri began his career working at Navakarnataka Prakashana, a publishing house, where he designed cover pages for the publication. ^[1] His next job was at Suddi Sangaati, a Kannada weekly. He wrote film reviews and features on films during his time there which provided him an opportunity to understand the Kannada film industry. He began attending film festivals where he was exposed to world cinema for the first time. This inspired him to make his own films. ^[1]

P. Sheshadri, V.Manohar at a ceremony

P. Sheshadri (first in second row), V.Manohar (third in second row) and Bolwar Mahammad Kunhi (fourth in second row)

1990–1995: Entry into films

Sheshadri started working in films and television by writing scripts and assisting the established Kannada film director T. S. Nagabharana. ^[1]

1995–2000: Working in television

Sheshadri began to direct television serials as a way to earn a living. His first serial was Inchara in 1995 followed by Kamanabillu and Kathegaara in 1996 and Maayamruga in 1999.

2000–present: First film and directorial career

During the 31st International Film Festival of India in New Delhi in 2000, Sheshadri watched the Malayalam film Karunam which had won the Best Feature Film award at the festival. He learnt during a conversation with the film's director that it was made on a budget of ₹1 million. This gave him the confidence that a film could be made with a small budget. ^[1]

Sheshadri then decided to adapt Bolwar Mahammad Kunhi's book Muttuchera into a film titled Munnudi . He approached numerous producers assuring them he could make the film on a budget of ₹1 million but he was turned down by all of them and was also told that no Hindus would watch the film as all the characters in the story are Muslims and no Muslims would watch the film either since the story speaks up against their beliefs. ^[1]

It was at this point that the idea to finance the film in a cooperative model struck him and he approached his friends from the film industry who each agreed to invest ₹100,000 each into the project. Munnudi ended up making a profit of ₹1 million at the end of its run. ^[1]

Sheshadri and his friends decided to invest those profits into making his next film titled Atithi which starred Prakash Raj in the lead role. Sheshadri has continued to use this cooperative model and has financed five of his films using this method. ^[1]

Filmography

Films

Year	Title
2000	Munnudi
2002	Atithi
2004	Beru
2005	Thutturi
2008	Vimukthi
2010	Bettada Jeeva
2012	Bharath Stores
2014	December-1
2015	Vidaaya
2017	Beti
2019	Mookajjiya Kanasugalu
2021	Mohandas

Television

Year	Title
1995	Inchara
1996	Kamanabillu
1996–1997	Kathegaara
1999–2000	Maayamriga
2000–2001	Nikshepa
2001–2002	Kannaamuchaale
2003	Uyyale
2003–2004	Subbanna
2005–2006	Mounaraaga
2008–2009	Suprabhatha
2012	Chakrateertha
2015	Saakshi

Awards

Sheshadri receiving the Roopakala Award, 2011

• For his Contribution to Kannada Cinema, awarded Honorary Puttanna Kanagal Award in Karnataka State Film Awards 2018. ^[4]

National Film Awards

Year	Film	Category
2000	Munnudi	Best Film on Other Social Issues
2001	Atithi	Best Feature Film in Kannada
2004	Beru
2005	Thutturi	Best Film on Environment Conservation/Preservation
2008	Vimukthi	Best Feature Film in Kannada
2010	Bettada Jeeva	Best Film on Environment Conservation/Preservation
2012	Bharath Stores	Best Feature Film in Kannada
2013	December-1	Best Feature Film in Kannada
		Best Original Screenplay

Karnataka State Film Award

Year	Film	Category	Ref
2000-01	Munnudi	Special Film of Social Concern
2012	Bharath Stores	Second Best Film
2014	Vidaaya	Best Screenplay	[5]
2018	Mookajjiya Kanasugalu	Best Screenplay	[6] [7]
	life time achievements	Puttanna Kanagal Award	[8]

Dhaka International Film Festival

Year	Film	Category
2006	Thutturi	Children's Film: Best Audience Award

References

1. "Setting a new benchmark". The Hindu. 22 July 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
2. "National Awards for Bharath Stores". The New Indian Express. 19 March 2013. Archived from the original on 22 March 2013.
3. "Producers lack interest in artistic films: Sheshadri". The Hindu . The Hindu Group. 5 December 2005. Archived from the original on 20 April 2007. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
4. "KARNATAKA STATE FILM AWARDS 2018: RAGHAVENDRA RAJKUMAR AND MEGHANA RAJ BAG TOP HONOURS; CHECK OUT ALL WINNERS". bangalore mirror. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
5. After national honour, 'Harivu' bags top State film award
6. "KARNATAKA STATE FILM AWARDS 2018: RAGHAVENDRA RAJKUMAR AND MEGHANA RAJ BAG TOP HONOURS; CHECK OUT ALL WINNERS". bangalore mirror. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
7. "Karnataka State Film Awards 2018: Raghavendra Rajkumar and Meghana Raj Bag Top Honours". News18. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
8. "KARNATAKA STATE FILM AWARDS 2018: RAGHAVENDRA RAJKUMAR AND MEGHANA RAJ BAG TOP HONOURS; CHECK OUT ALL WINNERS". bangalore mirror. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2020.

External links

• Official website Archived 31 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine
• P. Sheshadri at Youtube
• P. Sheshadri at IMDb