| Sundeep Malani | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sundeep Malani 19 November 1971 Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| Occupation | Film director, film actor, screenplay writer, documentary film maker, choreographer, and film critic |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Spouse | Reshma Malani née Sequeira |
Sundeep Malani (born on November 19, 1971) is an Indian film director, documentary film maker, screenplay writer, actor, event organizer, film journalist, film critic, a Japanese interpreter and a die hard Sridevi fan! Besides, he speaks about 10 plus languages those include English, Hindi, Kannada, Tulu, Konkani, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Marathi and Japanese.
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Sundeep Malani was born in 1971 to a Roman Catholic family in Mumbai and was raised in Mangalore. Malani himself did his early schooling at the Milagres School in Mangalore and his BBM at SDM College, Mangalore.[1]
His father Ramesh Malani was a film distributor in Mangalore for many years and was the manager of Ramakanthi Theatre.[2] His father is a Sindhi who converted to Christianity in 1971,[2] while his mother Meena Cutinha, is a Mangalorean Catholic and the sister of actor Dolphy Cutinha, well known as "Dolla".[3]
Before his career in journalism, Malani worked as a Japanese translator for some years in Paradise Stone Exporting Company in Mangalore and Jin Information Systems in Bangalore. He was also a baila dancer in Eric Ozario's group in his earlier days, taking part in various functions and organised film dance competitions and cultural events in 1992 to 1995 — very successfully in Mangalore, under the name "Malani Presents Something Special!"
Malani completed a course in Sandesha and then became a film journalist for Canara Times. Later, he moved to Bangalore and started writing for the Times of India and then switched on to script writing for Kannada films.[1]
Malani has worked with several directors as an associate as well as directed many films.[2]
As associate director, he has worked with directors K. Subaash for the Kannada,Tamil and Telugu versions of One Two Three (starring Prabhu Deva and Jyothika) and Mugur Sundaram for the Kannada film Manasella Neene.[1] Malani co-directed the Kannada film, Miss California, which was the debut film of the current heartthrob Diganth..[4]
His directorial debut was SMS 6260, a Kannada-English film. It was produced by Indian American entrepreneur, Prahlad Arasu and his sister Janu Arasu, who played the lead heroine. Malani introduced a whole lot of newcomers with this venture.[5]
He has directed his first Bollywood film, Woh 5 Din, a suspense thriller shot in Nainital and Bareilly. It stars newcomers Akash Hora, Hunny Hora, Piush Anand, Anant Joshi and Jenica Kalra. The film is set to be released in 2011.
He has directed several short films. Prominent of them are: Jo Jo Laali (Kannada/Hindi), a film produced by House of Pandit, starring Kalpana Pandit, Akash Hora and Shrey Tejani. It deals with the sensitive issue of HIV Aids. The film has been well received, appreciated by classes and masses and has been entered in the International Platform.
Shaayad (Hindi/English) is a film, that will showcase in 2011 and deals with a living relationship, but with a twist and a strong hard hitting message. The theme being, sex is beautiful, nudity is divine, it is a sensual film which is produced by Filmalani (Home production).
As a screenwriter, Malani has co-written the script for the upcoming Bollywood film, Helloo India, starring Akshay Kumar and Udita Goswami.[6]. He has written the script/dialogue for the Kannada version of the Hindi thriller Lucky 13 titled Kidnap for Raaj Varma Entertainment.
Malani has acted in a few serials, films and stage (Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Tulu, Konkani and Hindi) out of which in a Konkani film Bogsanhe played the lead role, in three Tulu films character artist (Bangar Patler, 8 September Annajji, 18 Kannada films (Z, Julie, Indhradhanush, C/o Footpath, Tirupathi, Masala, Jootaata, etc.), 2 Tamil films, one Telugu film). He also acted in the Konkani films Kazar and Padri and the Tamil film, Yaar Indha Devathai.[7]
He has variously served as a TV host for local Mangalorean channels, events organizer, costume designer and directed a few music videos for local channels involving dancers and stage artistes of Mangalore.[7] Malani has acted in a few theatre plays as well.[7]
Malani has also been a part of the direction team in Onir's I Am series, worked on the I Am Abhimanyu and I Am Omar films.[8][9]
His another short film made in 3 languages is Hum Tum Aur Loan (Hindi), Yella Ok, Loan Yaake (Kannada) and A Loanly Life (English)[10]
At present, Malani has just completed the shoot of his Hindi feature film titled Jaanleva 555 for House of Pandit production starring Kalpana Pandit and a whole lot of newcomers facing the camera for the first time. The film was shot in Canon 5 D Mark II Camera, and it will be the first in Bollywood. The film is now in post production stages with a plan to release by the end of the year.
In recognition for his achievements, Malani has received the following awards:
Sundeep Malani is married to Reshma, the niece of popular Konkani singer, Meena Rebimbus. Reshma works in a logistics company and is a part-time costume designer. She has designed costumes for Kannada films like Preethse (Sonali Bendre and Shivraj Kumar), Indradhanush, Miss California, MS 6260 and for Pooja Gandhi in Onir's I Am Abhimanyu.
They have a son, Silver Rensan Malani. Silver has undergone dance training under the tutelage of choreographer Terence Lewis at his academy and was awarded the best dancer award in 2009.[11]
Sundeep's mother Meena Malani, is into stage and acting in regional Konkani films. Her brother Dolla is a famous comedian who has staged umpteen number of stage shows and comedy act across Dubai, Sharjah and Gulf countries. Famous amongst them were Doll Fell Chal and Dam Dim Dum.
Sundeep's dad is the cousin of actress Babita (Randhir Kapoor’s wife and Karisma/Kareena’s mother).[2]. One of Sundeep's distant relative is Tarun Mansukhani, the director of the popular Karan Johar hit film, Dostana. Also, Tamil actor Vijay happens to be a distant relative of Sundeep's wife's family.
Sundeep has been a film critic and a film journalist for couple of newspapers and periodicals. Started with writing for Canara Times, English daily from Mangalore on a Friday Film Section in his early days to then continuing at Times of India, Bangalore. He was the first one to have started giving importance to Kannada films in Bangalore Times and had a regular column, Simbly South that also featured news and articles related to Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam as well. He started writing reviews for the main edition on all the South languages.
From Times of India, he went on to write for websites and periodicals. Even his articles were appearing for film trade magazines. Presently owning his own Film Page - FILMALANI, that gives information and details about Hindi and South Indian films and reviews of the latest flicks every Friday.
Sundeep Malani is a diehard Sridevi fan. He has been her fan since he was a young school going kid. Being in Mangalore and brought up at a Filmi atmosphere (his dad being a film distributor) had the access to watch all films and has the collection of Sridevi's South films as well. A true fan indeed has all the collection of her films, songs, pictures and owns a webpage dedicated to the No.1 actress of Indian cinema. His fan page is: sridevi-malani.blogspot.com
| Year | Film | Language | Directed by | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 1995 A Dance Story | English | Sundeep Malani | Director and Choreographer |
| 2002 | One Two Three | Kannada | K. Subaash | Associate Director |
| 2002 | One Two Three | Telugu | K. Subaash | Assistant Director |
| 2002 | One Two Three | Tamil | K. Subaash | Assistant Director |
| 2002 | Manasella Neene | Kannada | Mugoor Sundaram | Associate Director |
| 2006 | Miss California | Kannada | Kudlu Ramakrishna | Co-Director |
| 2006 | SMS 6260 | Kannada | Sundeep Malani | |
| 2006 | SMS 6260 | English | Sundeep Malani | |
| 2011 | Helloo India | Hindi | Amit Kapoor and Shabnam Kapoor | Assistant Director |
| 2011 | I am Abhimanyu | Hindi | Onir | Assistant Director |
| 2011 | I am Omar | Hindi | Onir | Assistant Director |
| 2011 | Woh 5 Din | Hindi | Sundeep Malani | |
| 2011 | Jaanleva 555 | Hindi | Sundeep Malani |
| Year | Film | Language | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Albatross - a flying tale | English | Director |
| 2010 | Moments | Hindi | Director |
| 2010 | Jo Jo Laali - a heart wrenching lullaby | Kannada | Director |
| 2010 | Hum Tum Aur Loan | Hindi | Director |
| 2010 | Shaayad | English | Director |
| Year | Film | Language | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Fun With Language | Japanese | Director |
| 2010 | LMAI - The Evolution | English | Director |
| Year | Film | Type | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Jeevan Ki Shatranj | Hindi film | Junior Artist | |
| Chankya | Hindi serial | Soldier | ||
| 1992 | Gajab Tamasa | Hindi film | Junior Artist | |
| 1994 | Bangar Patler | Tulu film | Villain's son | |
| 1995 | September (8) | Tulu film | Comedian | |
| 1997 | Bogsanhe | Konkani film | Second Lead - Hotel Owner's son | |
| 2000 | Z | Kannada film | Villain | |
| Indradhanush | Kannada film | Guest in a Song | ||
| Swalpa Adjust Madkolli | Kannada film | Artist | ||
| 2001 | Aryabhata | Kannada film | Comedian | |
| 2002 | One Two Three | Kannada film | Boss | Also Associate Director |
| One Two Three | Tamil film | Boss | Also Assistant Director | |
| One Two Three | Telugu film | Boss | Also Assistant Director | |
| Manasella Neene | Kannada film | Hero's Friend | Also Assistant Director | |
| 2006 | Padri | Konkani film | Guest in a Song | |
| Miss California | Kannada film | Temple Priest | Also Co-Director. | |
| SMS 6260 | Kannada-English film | Guest College Lecturer | Also Director. | |
| 2007 | Masala | Konkani film | Scientist | |
| Tirupathi | Kannada film | Judge | ||
| Julie | Kannada film | Boss | ||
| c/o Footpath | Kannada film | Artist | ||
| 2008 | Jootata | Konkani film | Hotel Owner | |
| 2010 | Yaar Indha Devathai | Tamil film | Villain | post-production |
| Lahari | Kannada film | Villain | post-production | |
| Kazar | Konkani film | Comedian | post-production |