V. Ravichandran
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| V. Ravichandran | |
| Born | 30 May Bangalore |
| Other name(s) | Ravichandran, Crazy Star |
| Notable roles | Prema Loka, Ranadheera, Ramachari |
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 filmaking 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.
[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 Devaru, Yaare Neenu Cheluve, Sipayi, Malla, and Aham Premasmi.
[edit] General Assessment
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.
Ravichandran turned music director ever since.
[edit] Criticism
Several of Ravichandran's movies were criticized for vulgarity, double entendre, and crude display of the female form. His films were attacked for thin storylines, disjointed direction (most notably, Kindari Jogi, which he re-released after changing the ending), and bad taste.
Majority of Ravichandran's films are remakes of Hindi, Tamil, or Telugu hits. Ranadheera (Hero), Yudha Kanda (Meri Jung), Yuga Purusha (Karz), Gadibidi Ganda (Allari Mogudu) Annayya (Beta), Ramachari (Chinna Thambi), Gopi Krishna (Nadigan), Yaare Neenu Cheluve (Kadhal Kotai), O Nanna Nalle (Thulladha Manam Thullum), and Preethsod Thappa (Ninne Pelladata) are notable remakes that succeeded. Ravichandran was criticized for being unable to deliver a hit that had his original script and direction. Kindari Jogi, Shanti Kranti, Ekangi, and Aham Premasmi, which had his original script and direction were notable failures.
[edit] Filmography
- Khadeema Kallaru (1982)
- Chakravyuha (1983)
- Nanu Nanna Hendthi (1985)
- 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)
[edit] References
- Profiles n Personalities http://www.chitraranga.com/en/profiles/ravichandran.asp
- IMDb http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1119422/
- Hamsalekha, Ravichandran part company: http://www.screenindia.com/20000728/recele.htm
