Ritesh Rana | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ritesh Rana |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2019-present |
Ritesh Rana is an Indian film director and screenwriter who works in Telugu cinema. Born and raised in Hyderabad, India, Ritesh has made significant contributions to the realm of unconventional crime capers in Telugu cinema. He made his directorial debut in 2019's Comedy-Thriller Mathu Vadalara which also marked the debut of Sri Simha Koduri [1] post the success of the film, he made Happy Birthday [2] starring Lavanya Tripathi in a dual role. [3]
Ritesh Rana spent his formative years in Hyderabad, where he developed a deep appreciation for cinema, particularly Chiranjeevi films. This early exposure fueled his passion for storytelling.
Ritesh's journey into the cinematic world took a unique turn when he began sharing his thoughts on cinema through IMDB discussion boards. This interaction with the film community, coupled with his educational background in animation and mass communication, laid the foundation for his foray into filmmaking.
Ritesh Rana made his mark with his debut film, "Mathu Vadalara," a 2019 crime comedy. [4] The film, described as his calling card, showcased his ability to weave unconventional narratives. Notable for its references to Chiranjeevi hits and the introduction of a quirky television serial called "Ore naa kodaka," Mathu Vadalara set the stage for Ritesh's distinctive storytelling style.
In 2020, a hindi-remake was in work with Ritesh Rana at helm as Director and Chiranjeevi (Cherry) as Producer. [5]
Building on the success of his debut, Ritesh Rana ventured into his second project, "Happy Birthday," a surreal crime comedy thriller. Released in 2022, the film features Lavanya Tripathi in the lead and double role, supported by a talented ensemble cast. [6] Ritesh's vision for "Happy Birthday" explores a world where guns play a central role, and the film's non-linear narrative adds layers of complexity to the storytelling. [7]
Despite downplaying grandiose comparisons to cinematic universes, Ritesh Rana has gained attention for his distinctive storytelling. Notably, director S. S. Rajamouli expressed confidence [8] in the success of "Happy Birthday," lauding it as a hit movie. [9] Ritesh Rana continues to explore new concepts and has even hinted at plans for a sequel to "Happy Birthday." [10]
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Film | Director | Writer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Mathu Vadalara | Yes | Story | Co-wrote with R. Teja |
| 2022 | Happy Birthday | Yes | Yes | [11] [12] |
| Collaborator | Mathu Vadalara | Happy Birthday |
|---|---|---|
| Satya |  | |
| Vennela Kishore | | |
| Naresh Agastya | | |
| Vidyullekha Raman | | |
| Gundu Sudarshan | | |
| Kaala Bhairava(music director) | | |
| Suresh Sarangam (Cinematographer) | | |
| Chiranjeevi (Cherry) [13] (Producer) | | |
| Hemalatha Pedamallu (Producer) | | |
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) and nominee(s) | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Critics Choice Film Awards | 28 March 2020 | Best Writing | Ritesh Rana, R. Teja | Mathu Vadalara | Nominated | [14] |
| South Indian International Movie Awards | 18 September 2021 | Best Comedian – Telugu | Satya | Nominated | [15] | |
| Best Male Debut – Telugu | Sri Simha | Won | ||||
| Best Debut Director – Telugu | Ritesh Rana | Nominated |
Petla "Puri" Jagannadh is an Indian film director, screenwriter, and producer, who works primarily in the Telugu film Industry. He made his directorial debut with the Telugu film Badri starring Pawan Kalyan, Renu Desai and Ameesha Patel. In 2006, he directed the Telugu film Pokiri, premiered at the 7th IIFA Film Festival held in Dubai. The film was later re-made into several Indian languages, and brought Puri widespread Indian recognition. He made his Hindi film debut in 2004, with the film Shart: The Challenge. In 2011, he directed the Hindi film Bbuddah... Hoga Terra Baap starring Amitabh Bachchan, which was archived in the Oscar library.
V. V. Vinayak is an Indian film director and screenwriter known for his works in Telugu films. He is known for directing action comedy and masala films.
Sri Simha Koduri is an Indian actor, who works in Telugu films. He first appeared as a child artist in Yamadonga (2007). After working in various off-screen roles, Simha made his debut as a lead actor in Mathu Vadalara (2019) for which he won SIIMA Award for Best Male Debut – Telugu.
Lavanya Tripathi Konidela is an Indian actress who predominantly works in Telugu films, along with Tamil films. Tripathi is a recipient of several awards along with two SIIMA Awards and one Filmfare Awards South nominations.
Adivi Sesh Sunny Chandra is an Indian actor, director and screenwriter who primarily works in Telugu-language films. Known for his work in action and suspense thrillers, he's received various awards including an IIFA Award Telugu, a SIIMA Award, and a Nandi Award.
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Konidela Varun Tej is an Indian actor who works in Telugu films. Born in the Allu–Konidela family, Tej is the son of actor Nagendra Babu. Tej made his acting debut in 2014 with Mukunda.
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Mehreen Pirzada is an Indian actress and model who predominantly appears in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi and Punjabi films. Pirzada made her acting debut in 2016 with the Telugu film Krishna Gaadi Veera Prema Gaadha. She made her Hindi debut with Phillauri and Tamil debut with Nenjil Thunivirundhal both in 2017.
Sunitha Tati is an Indian film producer who produces Telugu films under Guru Films. Her notable productions include Oh! Baby, Courier Boy Kalyan and Sahasame Swasaga Sagipo.
Mathu Vadalara is a 2019 Indian Telugu-language comedy thriller film directed by debutant Ritesh Rana. The film features Sri Simha, Satya, Naresh Agastya and Athulya Chandra in lead roles while Brahmaji and Vennela Kishore play supporting roles. Kaala Bhairava scored the music.
Dimple Hayathi is an Indian actress who predominantly works in Telugu and Tamil films.
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Kaala Bhairava is an Indian playback singer and music director, who works predominantly in Telugu cinema. He has sung songs in Tamil, Hindi and Kannada in addition to Telugu. He was the composer of the films Mathu Vadalara, Karthikeya 2 and Colour Photo, which received positive reviews and critical acclaim. Bhairava is recipient of a National Film Award.
SIIMA Award for Best Debut Director – Telugu is presented by Vibri media group as part of its annual South Indian International Movie Awards, for best film direction done by an debut director in Telugu films. The award was first given in 2012 for films released in 2011.
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Pan-Indianfilm is a term related to Indian cinema that originated with Telugu cinema as a mainstream commercial film appealing to audiences across the country with a spread to world markets. The movement gained popularity since 2015, post the success of Baahubali: The Beginning. The term "pan-Indian film" is used for a film that is simultaneously marketed and released in multiple languages across India – Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam. Such films make an attempt to appeal to the audiences across the country, cutting across the linguistic, regional and cultural barriers.
Happy Birthday is a 2022 Indian Telugu-language surreal crime comedy film written and directed by Ritesh Rana, and produced by Mythri Movie Makers and Clap Entertainment. It stars Lavanya Tripathi in a dual role along with Naresh Agastya, Vennela Kishore, and Satya.
S. S. Rajamouli is an Indian filmmaker who primarily works in Telugu cinema and is known for his action, fantasy, and epic genre films. He is the highest grossing Indian director of all time. He is a recipient of various national and international honours including a New York Film Critics Circle award, a Critics' Choice Movie Award, two Saturn Awards, and three National Film Awards.