Ram Madhvani

Last updated

Ram Madhvani
Ram Madhvani at his office.jpg
Ram Madhvani at Mumbai Office
Born
Occupation(s)Film director, Film producer
SpouseAmita Madhvani


Ram Madhvani is an Indian film director, producer, and creator known for one of the few people who has received the national award for his film Neerja, an International Emmy nomination for his series Aarya and two Cannes advertising award for his commercials.

Contents

He is the Co-founder, Director, and Producer at Equinox Films, Ram Madhvani Films, and Equinox Virtual, a company establishing itself in the global gaming ecosphere, in partnership with Amita Madhvani. [1]

Ram is acclaimed for his National Award-winning Hindi feature film ‘Neerja’, starring Sonam Kapoor and Shabana Azmi. Under Ram Madhvani Films, Ram and Amita has created the International Emmy-nominated series, ‘Aarya’, starring Sushmita Sen. The first season premiered on Disney+ Hotstar on June 19, 2020, followed by Season 2 on December 10, 2021.

His Hindi feature film ‘Dhamaka starring Kartik Aaryan and Mrunal Thakur released on 19th November  2021 on Netflix as a global release and was listed amongst five action films to be streamed by The New York Times in Dec 2021. The highly anticipated Season 3 of ‘Aarya’ was released in two parts on 3rd November 2023 and 9th February 2024 respectively, captivating audiences worldwide. Currently, all seasons are streaming worldwide and available via Hulu, further solidifying Ram Madhvani's reputation as a prominent figure in Indian cinema and streaming content. [2] [3]

Ram is further poised to captivate audiences once again with his upcoming release, "The Waking of a Nation." This groundbreaking show explores a pivotal event in Indian history.

Career

Ram Madhvani is a respected filmmaker internationally for producing and directing feature films, web series, commercials, short films and music videos.

Advertisements

In his career, Ram Madhvani has handcrafted some of India's most memorable ads for Adidas, Happydent White, and Airtel’s commercials, which have garnered universal praise. His Equinox Films has three producers and four directors working with global clients.

In 2000, he won the Bronze Lion for Forte organ donation film and in 2007, the Silver Lion at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity for the Happydent White commercial. The latter also won Ram the Best Director, Best Film, and Best Production

Design at the Asia Pacific Awards. Happydent has also been voted one of the Top 20 Commercials of the Millennium by the Gunn Report, with Ram ranked number 11 in the Most Awarded Directors by the same report. It was the only Indian advertisement on the list. The Commercials for Happydent and LMN, directed by Ram, were amongst the Top 20 of the last twenty years in the Shots magazine. [4]

In 2012, Ram was the president of the jury for film craft at Adfest Bangkok.

In 2011, an advertisement he directed for Hippo Baked Munchies won Silver for Best Direction in the Film Craft Awards at Adfest Bangkok. In 2022, Ram has also been a part of the jury for the Best Drama Series Category for International Academy Of Television Arts & Science Awards.

Ram has also won numerous awards at the Indian Advertising Festivals.

Feature Films & Web Series

In 2002, Madhvani released his directorial debut feature film, ‘Let’s Talk’, [5] with actors Boman Irani and Maia Katrak, which premiered at the Locarno Film Festival and won him the Best Debut Director at the Srinivas Gollapudi National Awards. [6]

In 2007, Aamir Khan approached Ram to direct the song ‘Bheja Kum’ for the film ‘Taare Zameen Par’.

In 2012, Ram was again approached to direct the official theme song video for Aamir Khan's TV series ‘Satyamev Jayate’.

In February 2015, Ram directed the aviation drama biographical film ‘Neerja’, starring Sonam Kapoor, Shabana Azmi and Shekhar Ravjiani, which was critically acclaimed and commercially successful. It was produced under the banner of Fox Star Studios and Bling Unplugged, with Amita Madhvani being the Associate Producer. [7] The film also won the prestigious National Award for Best Hindi Feature Film.

In June 2020, Ram launched his own production house [8] - Ram Madhvani Films - while simultaneously entering the world of web series with ‘Aarya’, featuring Sushmita Sen. The first season marked India's presence on the global map by bagging an International Emmy nomination in 2021. [9]

After the success of ‘Aarya’ and ‘Neerja’, Ram Madhvani Films announced an adaptation of the South Korean film ‘The Terror Live’, titled ‘Dhamaka’, co-produced with RSVP movies, featuring Kartik Aaryan and Mrunal Thakur. [10] The film was released on November 19, 2021, on Netflix. The film, a dramatic thriller, was released on 19th November 2021 on Netflix. [11] The film opened to positive reviews and further enhanced Ram's status as a reputed filmmaker.

Ram was the creator and a co-director for Aarya Season 2, which streamed on Disney+ Hotstar on 10th December 2021. The series was critically acclaimed and loved by OTT viewers all around the world and it was hailed as one of the most riveting family crime dramas in the digital space.

Ram was the creator, co-producer and also a co-director for Aarya Season 2, which streamed on Disney+ Hotstar on December 10, 2021. The series received widespread critical acclaim and garnered immense love from OTT viewers globally. It was hailed as one of the most captivating family crime dramas in the digital space. Additionally, Ram continued its success with the release of Aarya Season 3, [12] [13] captivating audiences with its gripping narrative and stellar performances.

Ram also known for his compelling narratives, along with his co-producer Amita Madhvani are set to create "The Waking of a Nation", a groundbreaking web series. The show explores the pivotal event in Indian history, shedding light on its profound impact on the Indian independence movement. With meticulous attention to historical detail and a commitment to authenticity, Madhvani aims to offer viewers a poignant portrayal of courage, resilience, and the quest for justice amidst one of the darkest chapters in India's fight for freedom. [14]

Short films

Ram Madhvani directed a short documentary film titled ‘Everlasting Light’, showcasing Indian film superstar Amitabh Bachchan, premiered at the Lincoln Center in New York. Richard Peña, director of the Lincoln Center, wrote: "It is rare that a film on an artist is itself a work of art."

In March 2017, he released his short film This Bloody Line, [15] on the Sir Cyril Radcliffe and on the Partition, commissioned by ‘#BigShorts for India Tomorrow’ by India Today. [16] [17]

Filmography

Key
Denotes films that are not yet been released

Films

YearTitleDirectorProducerNotes
2000 Mission Kashmir AssociateNo
2002 Let's Talk YesCo-producer
2016 Neerja YesNo
2021 Dhamaka YesYes Netflix film
TBADiveNoYesAnnounced

Web series

YearTitleDirectorProducerPlatform
2020–present Aarya YesYes Disney+ Hotstar, Hulu

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sushmita Sen</span> Indian actress (born 1975)

Sushmita Sen is an Indian actress. She won the Miss Universe 1994 pageant, after previously winning Femina Miss India at age 18. Since her pageant wins, she has worked as an actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kabir Khan (director)</span> Indian filmmaker

Kabir Khan is an Indian film director, screenwriter and cinematographer who works in Hindi cinema. He started his career working in documentary films, and then made his feature film directorial debut in 2006 with the adventure thriller Kabul Express. He is best known for directing Ek Tha Tiger (2012) and Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015). His latest film 83 was released in 2021. new release upcoming

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chandrachur Singh</span> Indian actor born- 1968

Chandrachur Singh is an Indian actor, who mainly works in Hindi cinema. He is the recipient of a Filmfare Award, in addition to receiving nomination for an IIFA Award and a Screen Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunny Singh (actor)</span> Indian actor (born 1985)

Sunny Singh is an Indian actor who works in Hindi films. After working in television, he made his film debut with a brief role in Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji (2011), and had a supporting role in Akaash Vani (2013). His first commercial success was the buddy film Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2 (2015), and his highest-grossing release came in 2018 with the romantic comedy Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Imtiaz Ali (director)</span> Indian film director

Imtiaz Ali is an Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is best known for directing Jab We Met (2007), Love Aaj Kal (2009), Rockstar (2011), Highway (2014) ,Tamasha (2015) and Amar Singh Chamkila (2024).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ankur Bhatia</span> Indian actor and model

Ankur Bhatia is an Indian actor and model. He grew up in Bhopal, India. He made his acting debut in 2010 in Payal Sethi's Grant St. Shaving Co which was produced by Mira Nair. In 2012, he won the Best Actor Commendation Award at the NYU Tisch School of the Arts Film Festival for Coconut Grove. In 2013, Ankur played a negative role in a Bollywood/Tollywood film Zanjeer /Toofan, remake of Zanjeer. He appeared in Apoorva Lakhia's Haseena, starring Shraddha Kapoor, which was released in the theatres on 18 August 2017. In 2020, he played a pivotal role in Disney+ Hotstar show Aarya, starring Sushmita Sen and directed by Ram Madhvani.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kartik Aaryan</span> Indian actor (born 1990)

Kartik Aaryan is an Indian actor who works in Hindi films. While pursuing a degree in engineering, he made his acting debut with Luv Ranjan's buddy film Pyaar Ka Punchnama (2011). He went on to star in the romances Akaash Vani (2013) and Kaanchi (2014), but these failed to propel his career forward.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mrunal Thakur</span> Indian actress (born 1992)

Mrunal Thakur is an Indian actress who predominantly works in Hindi and Telugu films. She began her acting career with the television soap operas Mujhse Kuchh Kehti...Yeh Khamoshiyaan (2012) and Kumkum Bhagya (2014–2016). For the latter, Thakur won the Indian Television Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

<i>Neerja</i> 2016 film by Ram Madhvani

Neerja is a 2016 Indian Hindi-language biographical thriller film directed by Ram Madhvani and written by Saiwyn Quadras and Sanyuktha Chawla Shaikh. It was produced by Atul Kasbekar's company, Bling Unplugged, alongside Fox Star Studios. The film stars Sonam Kapoor as the eponymous lead, with Shekhar Ravjiani, Shabana Azmi, Yogendra Tiku, Kavi Shastri and Jim Sarbh in supporting roles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Sarbh</span> Indian actor (born 1987)

Jim Sarbh is an Indian actor known for his work in films and stage productions. He has received several awards including a Filmfare OTT Award, and an IIFA Award with a nomination for an International Emmy Award. Additionally, he has directed and acted in numerous theatre productions in India.

Vinit Kakar is an Indian film and television actor. He is well-known for portraying various characters in Indian mythology television series and contestant in the first season of Lock Upp.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RSVP Movies</span> Indian film production company

RSVP Movies is an Indian film production and distribution company established by Ronnie Screwvala in 2017.

<i>Aarya</i> (TV series) Indian crime-thriller drama television series

Aarya is an Indian crime-thriller drama television series on Disney+ Hotstar, co-created by Ram Madhvani and Sandeep Modi, who also directed the series, with Vinod Rawat, serving as the co-director. Produced by Madhvani under the banner Ram Madhvani Films, along with Endemol Shine Group, it stars Sushmita Sen in the title role and is based on the Dutch drama series Penoza. The series is about Aarya, an independent woman who seeks to protect her family and joins a mafia gang in order to get revenge for her husband's murder. Recently, the show has been nominated for International Emmy Awards for best Drama series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sreeleela</span> American actress (born 2001)

Sreeleela is an Indian actress who predominantly works in Telugu and Kannada cinema. She began her career as a child artist in 2017, before playing a leading role in the 2019 Kannada film Kiss, and then starred in the Telugu films Pelli SandaD (2021) and Dhamaka (2022). The lattermost won her the SIIMA Award for Best Actress – Telugu. In 2023 and 2024, she had four critical and commercial failures in Skanda, Aadikeshava, Extra Ordinary Man, and Guntur Kaaram.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sushmita Sen filmography</span>

Sushmita Sen is an Indian actress known for her work in Hindi cinema and two Tamil films. She made her debut in 1996 with Mahesh Bhatt's thriller Dastak. She then starred in the Tamil-language romantic action film Ratchagan (1997). In 1999, Sen won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of a model in David Dhawan's critically and commercially successful comedy-drama Biwi No.1. Her next release was the musical drama Sirf Tum the same year. The film earned her critical appreciation and was financially successful. She also attained commercial recognition for her performance of the song "Dilbar". She had two releases in 2001: fantasy comedy film Kyo Kii... Main Jhuth Nahin Bolta and romantic drama Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai. Both films failed to create an impact at the box office.

<i>Dhamaka</i> (2021 film) Indian film directed by Ram Madhvani

Dhamaka (transl. Blast) is a 2021 Indian Hindi-language thriller film written and directed by Ram Madhvani. An official remake of the 2013 film The Terror Live, the film stars Kartik Aaryan as a journalist who receives a threat after exclusively interviewing a terrorist, who blew up Moasfak

<i>Shehzada</i> (2023 film) Film directed by Rohit Dhawan

Shehzada (transl. Prince) is a 2023 Indian Hindi-language action film directed by Rohit Dhawan. A remake of the 2020 Telugu-language film Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo, it stars Kartik Aaryan in the lead role who also makes his production debut with the film. Kriti Sanon, Paresh Rawal, Manisha Koirala and Ronit Roy appear in key roles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sandeep Modi</span> Indian filmmaker

Sandeep Modi is an Indian filmmaker known for writing and directing Aarya , a thriller released on Disney+ Hotstar starring Sushmita Sen. The series was India's submission to the 2021 International Emmy Awards. Modi is also known for being the showrunner and director of The Night Manager, starring Aditya Roy Kapur, Anil Kapoor and Sobhita Dhulipala; produced by Ink Factory and Banijay, and is currently streaming on Disney+ Hotstar. Other than TV series, Modi has also written and directed Chumbak, which had a world premiere on October 13, 2017, at MAMI 19th Mumbai Film Festival.

Sameer Vidwans is an Indian film director, actor and writer known for his work in Marathi cinema. He won the Filmfare Awards Marathi for Best Director for Anandi Gopal and the film also won the National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues.

<i>Chandu Champion</i> 2024 film directed by Kabir Khan

Chandu Champion is an upcoming Hindi language biographical sports drama film written and directed by Kabir Khan and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, under Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment. The film stars Kartik Aaryan in the lead as India's first Paralympic gold medalist Murlikant Petkar.

References

  1. "We at Equinox are ready, hungry & willing to adapt: Ram Madhvani - Exchange4media". Indian Advertising Media & Marketing News – exchange4media. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  2. PTI (23 September 2021). "International Emmy Awards 2021: Sushmita Sen's 'Aarya', Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Vir Das nominated". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  3. "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  4. "The Great Indian Ad Battle: Unheard stories of Perfetti Van Melle-owned brand Happydent's Palace commercial". www.storyboard18.com. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  5. "Let's Talk: An enjoyable experience". The Times of India. 10 December 2002. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  6. "Ram Madhwani bags Gollapudi Srinivas National award". The Times of India. 16 March 2003. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  7. "64th National Film Awards Winners: Sonam Kapoor starrer 'Neerja' wins Best Hindi Feature Film, Akshay Kumar declared Best Actor". The Times of India. 8 April 2017. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  8. Jha, Lata (5 June 2020). "'Neerja' director Ram Madhvani launches production house". mint. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  9. "Emmy nomination reaffirms our faith: Ram Madhvani on 'Aarya 2'". The Times of India. 12 November 2021. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  10. "Dhamaka movie review: Kartik Aaryan 2.0 delivers intense performance in this gripping thriller". Hindustan Times. 19 November 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  11. Hungama, Bollywood (18 October 2021). "Kartik Aaryan starrer Dhamaka to release on November 19 on Netflix : Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama" . Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  12. Mishra, Pratikshya (4 November 2023). "'Aarya Season 3' Review: Guess Sushmita Sen Never Misses". TheQuint. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  13. "'Aarya Season 3' X Review: Internet calls Sushmita's show 'too good to be missed'". India Today. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  14. Ramachandran, Naman (8 November 2021). "Ram Madhvani, Creator of Emmy-Nominated Disney Series 'Aarya,' Sets 'The Waking of a Nation' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  15. Alexander, Deepa (3 April 2017). "Ram Madhvani's short film This Bloody Line". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  16. "Watch: Neerja director Ram Madhavani's short shows how nationalism divided India". India Today. 20 March 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  17. Alexander, Deepa (3 April 2017). "Ram Madhvani's short film This Bloody Line". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 26 March 2024.