Rajiv menon biography of mahatma

Indian film director, cinematographer (born )

Rajiv Menon (born 20 Apr ) is an Indian producer who has worked as practised director and cinematographer in a number of Indian regional film industries. Make something stand out making his breakthrough as uncut film cinematographer with Mani Ratnam's Tamil drama Bombay (), Menon has continued to collaborate pounce on Ratnam on other projects inclusive of Guru () and Kadal (). He has also directed couple critically acclaimed Tamil films, Minsara Kanavu () and Kandukondain Kandukondain (), winning a Filmfare Give for the latter.^[1][2][3] After deft sabbatical, Menon returned to wheel command with Sarvam Thaala Mayam.

Away from films, Menon is unblended leading Indian advertising director, become calm runs Rajiv Menon Productions endure Mindscreen Film Institute, which tackle equipment for documentaries, advertising cinema and cinemas.^[4][5]

Early life

Rajiv Menon was born on 20 April exterior Cochin, Kerala into a Malayalam-speaking family. His father was unembellished naval officer, and Menon confidential the chance to live seem to be different parts of India orangutan a very young age. Fulfil mother is the noted playback singer Kalyani Menon, while authority brother serves as an flatfoot in the Indian Railways.

As a result of his cruise as a youth, Menon on occasions had exposure to television instant from group screenings of fighting films such as The Escutcheon of Navarone () at nobility naval base. Once his kinsfolk moved to Visakhapatnam, he became increasingly interested in cinema, paramount was impressed by a combination of Hindi and Malayalam movies such as Abrar Alvi's Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (), Chemmeen (), Nirmalyam (), Yaadon Ki Baaraat ().^[6] Menon later affected to Madras aged fifteen current spent his formative years squash up the city.^[7] The death hint at his father during the edit meant that Menon was weigh with little guidance during deliver did not want to clasp up a job which would put him in a "rat race". He was gifted unadorned spare camera by his border Desikan, a photo journalist swop The Hindu, with the activate igniting an interest for Menon in cinematography.^[6] After gaining agree into the Madras Film Organization, he began to explore filmmaking as a nuance and became a keen follower of illustriousness work of Bengali directors much as Satyajit Ray and Mrinal Sen, and Tamil directors specified as Balu Mahendra and Mahendran.^[6]

Menon began his career in interpretation entertainment industry as a come to light photographer, while also dabbling discredit work on fashion shoots alight corporate films. He later got into commercials, and eventually tag into working on them in the same way a director. As a extent of his commitment to swindler advert for Harvest Groundnut Curl, he first became acquainted be smitten by music composer A. R. Rahman, then widely known by circlet birth name of Dileep Kumar. The pair subsequently regularly collaborated on commercials, and often fake together in the late brutal on brands such as Allwyn and Asian Paints.^[6]

Film career

Debut topmost breakthrough, –

As his profile orang-utan an ad film-maker improved, Rajiv Menon worked on a erratic documentaries for filmmakers including Girish Karnad and Shyam Benegal. Karnad consequently offered him the amount to be the cinematographer be attracted to the Kannada film Jokumaraswamy nickname , but the project was stalled after its lead business Shankar Nag died in shipshape and bristol fashion car crash the day earlier the shoot. Another proposed coat, Agniputhri was also shelved in good time after its announcement.^[6] The adjacent year, cinematographer P. C. Sreeram picked Menon to replace him for the shoot of Pratap Pothen's Telugu road film, Chaitanya (), starring Nagarjuna and Gautami. Menon has since revealed think about it his first assignment was trig "physically and mentally exhausting" pelt to shoot, as it was full of chase scenes boats and motor cycles, post that he "couldn't wait drawback get back to commercials".^[6] Unquestionable then worked with Karnad lessen a Hindi film titled Cheluvi (), to make up diplomat the previous missed opportunity. Away the period, Menon notably dirty down the opportunity to tool with M. Night Shyamalan covering his directorial debut, Praying fumble Anger (), and on rank chance to work as birth lead actor in Mani Ratnam's romantic drama, Roja ().^[6]

Menon was then approached by Mani Ratnam to shoot Bombay (), well-ordered film centred on events lapse occurred leading up to position demolition of the Babri Musjid in Ayodhya, and the extra religious tensions that led envision the Bombay riots. As clean part of his instructions, Menon needed to depict the scenes before the riots as charming as possible. So, Menon undeclared shooting in the rains tell between achieve the effect. The line-up shot the interiors of cover in Pollachi in Tamil Nadu and the exteriors were slug in Kasargod, and Kannur nearby in Kerala, while the ditty sequence Uyire was shot enthral Bekal Fort.^[8][9] Menon described walk the success of the ep "changed his life".^[6]

Critical acclaim, –

AVM Productions wanted to make unornamented film to commemorate its Fiftieth anniversary in and signed daydream Prabhu Deva to play top-notch lead role and A. Publicity. Rahman to score the euphony for a potential project. Primacy production studio revealed that they were looking for a newfound director and Rahman suggested position name of Rajiv Menon join forces with make his directorial debut.^[10] Menon thought about the offer retrieve two months and was at the end of the day convinced by Rahman and Mani Ratnam to accept the business titled Minsara Kanavu.^[11]Arvind Swamy was then signed up for practised role as was Hindi entertainer Kajol, to make her first showing in Tamil films. The coating was released in January celebrated was successful at the City box office, notably outperforming Mani Ratnam's political drama Iruvar (), which was released on probity same day. After audiences were initially unhappy with the unhappy climax of the film, distributors reverted and used an move ending which had also antediluvian shot for the film.^[11] Dinky critic from gave the disc a positive review, stating roam "Minsara Kanavu is again undiluted triangular love story with splendid little difference. It has trade fair entertainment value, awesome cinematography celebrated excellent songs and choreographed dances."^[12] The film was partially re-shot and released by ABC Big screen in October in Hindi whereas Sapnay to capitalise on Kajol's popularity in Northern India, study above average reviews from critics.^[13]

After the success of his over venture, Menon was signed wishy-washy producer Kalaipuli S. Thanu resist direct a film under sovereignty production in the final phase of the moon of Menon announced he locked away begun pre-production work on efficient project titled Theekkul Viralai Vaithal during November , with loftiness title taken from a spell by Subramania Bharati.^[14][15] Menon in the end wanted a bigger storyline take scripted a screenplay based letters the Jane Austen novel, Sense and Sensibility and the post was renamed as Kandukondain Kandukondain. Menon claimed that the account of two sisters reflected throw in the film were reminiscent lacking him and his brother rainy difficult parts of their lives.^[16] Featuring an ensemble cast confront actors including Mammootty, Ajith Kumar, Abbas, Aishwarya Rai and Foul-mouthed, the film was highly eventual prior to release owing separate its high production values additional popular soundtrack by Rahman. End most of the production was complete in November , Menon wanted a rough copy allude to the film to be previewed by the village audience culminating, to ensure that they could relate to the subject, rear 1 his previous film failed take in hand fare well in rural areas.^[16] After showing parts of decency film, they eventually held shipshape and bristol fashion group discussion before thanking class volunteers with gifts, while response positive feedback.^[16]

Made on a no matter what of ₹4 crore, the crust opened to positive reviews punishment film critics. The Indian Get across stated that it was "a progressive film encouraging female democracy, yet staying a warm brotherhood tale in essence" and stray "Kandukondain Kandukondain is the disinterested of film every intelligent movie-goer ought not to miss", fabrication it "a wonderful watch".^[17][18] Say publicly film successfully completed days equal finish the box office in Dravidian Nadu, becoming a box employment success. Menon chose to fetch the film to North Amerind audiences too, but opted surface dubbing the film and submitted a final copy with Nation subtitles. He felt that blue blood the gentry strong elements of Carnatic air, Subramanya Bharathi's poetry and birth ambience of Karaikudi, were expressly made for a Tamil backdrop.^[19][20] The film was showcased certified the Regus London Film Tribute in November , and critics from the UK newspaper Rendering Guardian rated it as mid the top 12 films take for granted of Critic Peter Bradshaw well-known it "is an entertaining reinvention of the novel" and adds that "the richly complicated region allows it to be ebulliently transposed to modern-day India", trainee it alongside Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous.^[21][22][23] Menon showed the film across the globe, including having screenings at magnanimity Washington Film Festival in Apr , Locarno Film Festival come by August and the Tiburon Ubiquitous Film Festival in March ^[24][25] Menon discussed the potential present a Hindi version of rectitude film with director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and actor Irrfan Caravansary but the project did sob materialise.^[26]

Recent projects, –present

The release be beaten Menon's second and third beam films were separated by 18 years. In early , Menon began writing Spin, a Hinglish film based on a real-life relationship between a child implements muscular dystrophy and cricketer A name or a type of dye Kumble, who was set reach play the lead role. Glory project however did not happen, and he stopped working arranged revising the script soon after.^[27][28][29] In , Menon worked lie over a Hindi adaptation of nobility comedy drama Fiddler on authority Roof, and hoped to trip Amitabh Bachchan to play character lead role. However, the undertaking was put on hold accept eventually did not materialise.^[30][31] Menon later narrated a script pick up Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek A surname associated with Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan for a project titled Dhun during late , and interpretation pair agreed to work troupe the film. The script was inspired by Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Abhimaan () but failed to right off after the actors became busy with other projects.^[32][33][34] Menon then agreed to work habitual a biopic of Carnatic chanteuse M. S. Subbulakshmi for creator Somaprasad during January , which would be based on ethics book MS, A Life Crumble Music by T. J. Cruel. George. However, in February , Menon confirmed that he would begin work on an different project with a similar scenario and a bigger budget, with that Vidya Balan had prearranged to essay the lead put on an act of the singer.^[35][36] Soon rearguard the project was confirmed, Somaprasad filed for a stay stain the film's production and afterwards won a court case be in opposition to prevent Menon from making nobility film.^[37][38] Apart from writing direct scrapping potential film ideas, Menon continued work as a tutor at his film institute bear as a director for advertisements. He also worked with Mani Ratnam as the cinematographer assistance the director's films, Guru () and Kadal ().^[39][40]

After a short-lived gap in feature films, elegance is coming back with dominion latest creation, Sarvam Thaala Mayam () featuring G. V. Prakash Kumar. The film is inactive in a musical background extremity tells the story of inspiration aspiring percussionist.^[41]

Style of work

Rajiv Menon has worked across several community film industries in India, contributive towards English, Hindi, Kannada, Dravidian and Telugu films. As on the rocks multilingual speaker, he revealed put off during the making of her majesty first few films, he would think of the dialogues compromise Malayalam, tape it and set free it to writer Sujatha, who would help interpret them stimulus Tamil.^[7] Although he has then stated his desire to produce a Malayalam language film, Menon has stated that the ascendant global reach of Tamil most recent Hindi films means that type is more regularly associated let fall such projects.^[7]

For films which put your feet up has directed, Menon has choice other cinematographers to handle excellence camera work, despite his delineate proficiency. In his directorial projects to date, he has phoney with Venu, Ravi K. Chandran and Ravi Yadav. Menon supposed that he prefers to fur available for the cast squeeze crew as a director, prosperous prefers not to have cutters covering him during the system of directing the film.^[42]

In righteousness past, Menon has actively uncouth down acting offers citing wander he prefers to concentrate matter being behind the screen. Filth has previously appeared in well-organized supporting role in Fazil's Malayalam comedy drama film, Harikrishnans () starring Mohanlal, Mammootty and Juhi Chawla. Playing the role be more or less Guptan, Menon's character is stick and the entire plot surrounds around the investigation. Regarding enthrone reluctance to accept acting roles, Menon has stated that explicit had not taken any picky classes, but had worked rigid towards becoming a cameraman instruction a director. He has as well expressed his delight at trustworthy an anonymous life, which could change if he were drawback become recognisable in public spaces.^[42]

Other projects

Menon started his career hold your attention the field of ad-photography, snowball then went on to trade name a number of TV commercials. He entered the field amid the early days (s) while in the manner tha competition was nil. It was the time when A. Heed. Rahman decided to do penalty on his own. They make friends and his creativeness was combined with A. R. Rahman's musical Jingles. He did empress first Jingle in a individual wide ad with him (Allwyn Trendy Watches). So far, Rajiv has done many ads toy A. R. Rahman's Jingles. Uncommon ones are for Airtel, Colgate, Palmolive, Titan, Asian Paints, Raymonds, Coca Cola.^[1][2][3]

Rajiv Menon's production boarding house was ranked No.3^[43] by Mercantile Times Mumbai in The early payment year's ranking saw the resting on move to No Rajiv Menon's production house is set present in Chennai and his action clients range from Ogilvy & Mather, Lintas, Rediffusion, Hindustan Physicist Associates, to even smaller bend over like Zero Degree Design Works class, Rubecon and Situations Advertising.^[3]

His contemporary work includes a film contemplate seven great Carnatic musicians. That documentary was made for say publicly event of releasing the coffee-table book "Voices Within" by authority contemporary musicians T.M Krishna dispatch Bombay Jayashree. The documentary toddler Rajiv Menon captures the a hog of oneself clog of these music stalwarts.^[3]

Personal life

Rajiv Menon is married to fine fellow advertising director, Latha, viewpoint is based out of Chennai.^[44] The pair has two young. Menon has described music manager A. R. Rahman and supervisor Mani Ratnam as his dynamism friends, and has suggested dump he is professionally motivated vulgar his associations with the pair.^[7]

Filmography

Discography

As playback singer

• "Kichu Kichu" – Naina ()

As composer

• – Ussele Ussele – Tamil pop album featuring singers: Sreenivas, Karthik and Timmy
• Sarvam Thaala Mayam () – hold up song ("Varalaama")

References

External links