V. Ravichandran
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| V. Ravichandran | |
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| Born | 30 May Bangalore |
| Other name(s) | Ravichandran, Crazy Star |
V. Ravichandran is an actor, director, producer, music director, and lyricist in the Kannada film industry. He is the son of the highly successful producer, the late N.Veeraswamy. As producer, Ravichandran continues to run his father's production house, Eswari Productions. He is popularly known as "Crazy Star" Ravichandran, a title fans have prefixed to his name.
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[edit] Early acting career
Ravichandran played minor roles in several Kannada films in the early 1980s. His first film as an actor was Khadeema Kallaru (1982), a commercial failure, which he also directed. He essayed a negative role in the 1983 blockbuster Chakravyuha starring Ambarish in the lead role.
In the mid-1980s, Ravichandran starred in lead roles in prominent films such as Swabhimana, Savira Sullu, Pralayantaka, and Naanu Nanna Hendthi. Several of these were modest successes, which brought him mediocre but not significant recognition.
[edit] Prema Loka
Ravichandran shot into instant fame when Prema Loka, which he produced, directed, and starred in the lead role became one of the biggest successes 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, the legendary music director.
Prema Loka 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 an entire generation of directors, most notably, Upendra who publicly commended Ravichandran for bringing richness into the Kannada film industry.
[edit] Film career
Ravichandran has had a chequered career spanning more than two decades as actor, director, producer, music director, and lately, as a lyricist.
[edit] Acting career
As the leading actor, Ravichandran's initial movies were box-office failures characterized by weak storyline, and poor direction. His major commercial success as the leading actor prior to Prema Loka was Naanu Nanna Hendthi, a comedy starring Urvashi in the female lead role.
Post-Prema Loka, Ravichandran starred in several blockblusters most notably Ranadheera, Anjada Gandu, Yuddha Kaanda, Ramachari, Halli Meshtru, Gadibidi Ganda, Annayya, Sipayi, Yaare Neenu Cheluve, Mangalyam Tantunanena, and Preethsod Tappa.
Ravichandran is considered a mediocre actor but a talented technician. However, his role as a mentally challenged adult in Ramachari won him critical praise. He has mostly performed non-challenging roles--typically, a police officer (Shanti Kranti and Abhimanyu), lover boy (Prema Loka, 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 few projects awaiting release.
[edit] As director
Ravichandran's first major success as director was Prema Loka.
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 Prema Loka, 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.
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 Prema Loka, 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 is very successful, with whom he has churned out several hits like naanu nanna henthi, annayya, ramachari, yaare ninu cheluve, sriramachandra and etc.
Ravichandran is close-pal with Producer Rockline Venkatesh, with whom he worked on several movies, notably, Yaare Neenu Cheluve, Preethsod thappa, ondagona baa,
His spat with Rajendra Singh Babu was rumoured to be a hot-headed one. Singh babu would emphasize that Director is Supreme, but Ravichandran would urge that Director syill needs a Hero to convey his theme.
Also, Ravichandran would oppose singh Babu's measures. Working together in bannada gejje and later in yugapurusha (which was a remake of subhash ghai's karz). Differences between them reached to the stage, where they stopped working together, however looser was the industry.
Ravichandran, is known to be perfectionist and artists recall him shooting a single scene/sequence, until it is perfect. However, after a lean patch in late 90's, Ravichandran is said to have made amends to this and churned out quickies.
[edit] As producer
Ravichandran is known to produce very expensive movies in an industry that has a limited market. Prema Loka was the costliest movie in 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 Shanti Kranti, the costliest movie ever made in Kannada 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 Ramachari the same year. Made with a modest budget, Ramachari ironically, became one of the biggest blockbusters of the year.
Other notable films he has produced include Ranadheera, Mane Devru, Sipayi, Malla, Ekangi and Aham Premasmi.
[edit] Music director
He is one of the most creative music director.
[edit] Trail Blazer
Ravichandran is generally credited with introducing a culture of producing big-budget films in Kannada. His other notable contribution includes introducing an innovative approach to direction and filmmaking.
Ravichandran is also credited with "discovering" the talented Hamsalekha. Together, they worked in over 50 films and created several popular numbers. Music was one of the strengths of Ravichandran's movies. However, the duo parted company after Preethsod Thappa, only to work again in Ondagona Baa, which was a commercial and musical failure.
The music rights of Premaloka fetched a great dividends to lahari recording company. His association with Hamsalekha led to chart-buster songs in almost every movie. Inspired with this, Ravichandran started his own Audio company, Eswari Audio.
He would take an even greater risk, for his brother's debut movie Aham premaasmi. He bypassed the entire music industry and sold the music-cassettes through Cable-Operators.
In spite of many businessmen creating new avenues of sales in kannada films, Ravichandran showed that there are still many innovations left to be explored.
Hamsalekha was not taken to compose music for Maangalyam tantu naanena in 1996. Rumours spread that Ravichandran and Hamsalekha had split. But they joined hands again to work for Preethsod Thappa. However, they both parted ways and have never worked together again. Ravichandran turned music director after this leading to movies like naanu nanna nalle, ekaangi, sneha and etc. However, songs in those songs have not been hot-cakes alike his older movies.
[edit] Filmography
- Khadeema Kallaru (1982)
- Chakravyuha (1983)
- Nanu Nanna Hendthi (1985)
- Nane Raja
- Asambhava (1986)
- Prema Loka (1987)
- Sangrama (1988)
- Ranadheera (1988)
- Anjada Gandu (1998)
- Yudha Kanda (1989)
- Shanti Kranti (1991)
- Ramachari (1991)
- Halli Meshtru (1992)
- Gopi Krishna (1992)
- Ondagona Baa (2003)
- Aham Premasmi (2005)
- Mane Devru
- Maangalyam Thantunaanena
- Swaabhimaana
- Brahma Vishnu Maheshwara
- Jaana Hai Tumhe
- Ekangi
- Yaare Neenu Cheluve
- Kanasugara
- Sipayi
- Putnanja
- Ravishastri
- Ramakrishna
- Kodandarama
- Hatavadi
[edit] References
- Profiles n Personalities http://www.chitraranga.com/en/profiles/ravichandran.asp
- Hamsalekha, Ravichandkdran part company: http://www.screenindia.com/20000728/recele.htm
MY SWEAT HERO RAVI CHANDRA
MY RAVICHANDAN
MY NAME CHANDRU
