Ravichandran
Born
Veeraswamy Ravichandran

(1961-05-30) 30 May 1961
Other namesRasika
Occupations
  • Actor
  • filmmaker
  • composer
  • Lyricist
  • Television Presenter
Years active1982–present
Spouse
Sumathy
(m. 1986)
Children3, including Manoranjan[1]
Parent
RelativesBalaji (brother)[3]

Veeraswamy Ravichandran is an Indian actor, director, producer, music director, lyricist and editor in the Kannada Film Industry. He is the son of film producer N. Veeraswamy. As producer, Ravichandran continues to run his father's production house, Sri Eswari Productions. He is popularly known as "Crazy Star", a title fans have prefixed to his name.[4] He is famous for bringing innovations to Kannada film industry beginning with Premaloka (1987).

Personal life

Ravichandran was born on 30 May 1961 in Vellore, Madras State (now Tamil Nadu), India to Tamil Mudaliyar N. Veeraswamy and Pattammal. His father is N. Veeraswamy was a producer of Kannada films. Ravichandran married Sumathi, on Valentine's Day; 14 February 1986.[5] The couple has a daughter Geethanjali, two sons Manoranjan and Vikram. Manoranjan made his acting debut with Saheba (2017).[6][7]

Film career

He made his first on screen appearance as child actor in Dhoomakethu and Kula Gourava - both starring Dr.Rajkumar, the latter also being his father's first movie as independent producer. He made his debut as a producer with Prema Matsara (1982). He began his acting career with an antagonist role in Khadeema Kallaru (1982) which was produced by him. His second film was Chakravyuha (1983) which was also co-produced by him. He then appeared in few more successful films before casting himself and introducing Juhi Chawla in Premaloka (1987) which turned out to be a blockbuster. He is often considered as "The Show Man" of Kannada cinema for his multi-faceted works in his associated films.[8]

Ravichandran initially acted in and directed movies produced by his own banner, Eswari Productions. After Premaloka, he accepted acting offers from other producers. He has worked with leading directors of the Kannada film industry such as Rajendra Singh Babu and D. Rajendra Babu. His association with D. Rajendra Babu is very successful, resulting in several hits, including Naanu Nanna Hendthi (1985), Ramachaari (1991), Sriramachandra (1992), Annayya (1993) and Yaare Neenu Cheluve (1998).[9]

Shanti Kranti (1991) was the most expensive film ever made in Kannada industry at that time. The film was a multilingual project with Rajinikanth and Nagarjuna in prominent roles in Tamil and Telugu respectively but the film did not do well in box-office.[10] Ramachaari (1991), Halli Meshtru (1992), Putnanja (1995) were notable blockbusters in 90s. Ravichandran and Hamsalekha collaborated on dozens of movies. The end of their long-standing partnership proved to be unsuccessful for both of them. In 2002, Ravichandran embarked on an ambitious film called Ekangi. Shot inside a massive glass mansion built at a cost of Rs 80 lakh, it was a unique take on loneliness. The success of Malla (2004) began a new chapter in his career.

He started his company Eswari Audio later to be known as Eswari Entertainments. He was also awarded as the Best Musical Director on the state level. He not only brought the trend of Big-Budget Movies to Kannada cinema but also brought in Digital Grading technology. He started selling music cassettes through cable operators to beat piracy. Ravichandran was also seen on television as a judge in Dancing-star season-2 on Colors Kannada.[11]

His most recent successes were Maanikya (2014), Drishya (2014) and Hebbuli (2017).

In 2019, Ravichandran played the role of Krishna in Kurukshetra. This was the first mythological film in his career.

In 2021, he reprised his role as Rajendra Ponnappa in Drishya 2 receiving praise like its predecessor.[12]

Filmography

As actor

Year Title Role Notes
1968 Dhoomakethu Child actor
1971 Kula Gourava Young Shankar Child actor
1982 Khadeema Kallaru Johnny
1983 Chakravyuha Khoya Khoya [lower-alpha 1]
1984 Naane Raja Raja
Premigala Saval
Pralayanthaka Raja / Johnny [lower-alpha 1]
1985 Savira Sullu Muddukrishna [lower-alpha 1]
Pithamaha
Swabhimana
Naanu Nanna Hendthi Ravi [lower-alpha 1]
1986 Na Ninna Preetisuve Vijay
Asambhava
Poi Mugangal Raja Tamil film; credited as Rakesh
1987 Premaloka Ravi
Paruva Ragam Ravi Tamil film
Sangrama Arjun Brahmavar
1988 Brahma Vishnu Maheshwara Narayan
Ranadheera Ranadheera (Murali)[lower-alpha 2]
Anjada Gandu Anand
Ramanna Shamanna Shyam
1989 Yuddha Kaanda Ravi Bramhavar
Yuga Purusha Raaja
Kindari Jogi Kindari Jogi / Ravi [lower-alpha 1]
Poli Huduga
1990 Bannada Gejje Manu
Abhimanyu
1991 Ramachaari Ramachaari Also singer
Shanti Kranti Subhash
Shanti Kranti Bharath Telugu film
Nattukku Oru Nallavan Bharath Tamil film
Shanti Kranti Bharath Hindi film
1992 Halli Meshtru Meshtru
Gopi Krishna Gopikrishna (Muddukrishna)[lower-alpha 2]
Guru Brahma Guru/Bhramah
Chikkejamanru
Sriramachandra Srirama / Chandra[lower-alpha 3]
Belliyappa Bangarappa Guest appearance
1993 Gadibidi Ganda Gopal
Annayya Annayya
Mane Devru Ranganath
1994 Chinna Chinna
Rasika Krishna
Jaana Ravishankar
1995 Putnanja Putnanja
1996 Sipayi Sipayi/Shivu
1997 Kalavida Vishwa
Mommaga
Cheluva Cheluva / Vijay[lower-alpha 3]
1998 Yaare Neenu Cheluve Surya
Mangalyam Tantunanena Vijay
Kanasalu Neene Manasalu Neene Himself Guest appearance
Preethsod Thappa Raja
1999 Ravimama Ravi
Naanu Nanna Hendthiru Sriram
Sneha Murali
O Premave Raja
Chora Chittha Chora
2000 Mahathma [13]
Preethsu Thappenilla Balu
O Nanna Nalle Raja
2001 Premakke Sai Venu
Kanasugara Ravi
Usire Mutthu
2002 Preethi Mado Hudugarigella Ravi
Ekangi Ravi
Kodanda Rama Kodanda
2003 Ondagona Baa Raghu
2004 Malla Mallikarjuna / Shiva[lower-alpha 3] Also a lyricist
Rama Krishna Rama
Sahukara Muthu
2004 Aham Premasmi God of Love Also editor
Pandu Ranga Vittala Vithala (Pandu, Ranga)[lower-alpha 2]
2006 Neenello Naanalle Special Appearance
Hatavadi Balu
Odahuttidavalu Puttaraju
Ravi Shastri Ravi Shastri
Neelakanta Neelakanta
2007 Ugadi Sanjay
2008 Nee Tata Naa Birla Ravi
2009 Rajakumari Music Teacher Guest appearance
2010 Hoo Anand
Naariya Seere Kadda Gopal
Aithalakkadi Special appearance
2011 Mallikarjuna Mallikarjuna / Surya [lower-alpha 3]
Kalla Malla Sulla Ravi
2012 Narasimha Narasimha
Dashamukha Ravindranath R.
Crazy Loka Basavaraj Kattimane
2014 Crazy Star Ravi
Maanikya Adishesha
Drishya Rajendra Ponnappa
Paramashiva Shiva
2015 Love You Alia Ravi
2016 Apoorva Rajashekar
Lakshmana Police Officer Guest appearance
Mungaru Male 2 Preetham's father
2017 Hebbuli Sathya Moorthy
2018 Seizer Seizer's Boss
Buckasura Chakaravrthy
2019 Padde Huli Manju's father
Dasharatha Dasharatha
Kurukshetra Krishna
Aa Drushya Surya Tej
2021 Kannadiga Gunabhadra
Drishya 2 Rajendra Ponnappa
2022 Ravi Bopanna Ravi Bopanna
Head Bush Professor Guest appearance
Vijayanand Ganesh Dada
2023 Kranti Bhargava Rayanna
KD - The Devil Annayyappa

As director, producer and writer

Year Film Credited as Notes
Director Producer Writer Music director Editor
1982 Prema Matsara Yes
Khadeema Kallaru Yes
1983 Chakravyuha Yes
1984 Inquilaab Yes Hindi Film
Pralayanthaka Yes
1985 Savira Sullu Yes
Naanu Nanna Hendthi Yes
Padikkadavan Yes Tamil Film
1987 Premaloka YesYes Yes
Paruva Ragam YesYes YesTamil film
1988 Ranadheera YesYes Screenplay
1989 Kindari Jogi YesYes Yes
1991 Ramachaari Yes
Shanti Kranti YesYes Telugu Film
Nattukku Oru Nallavan YesYes YesTamil Film
Shanti Kranti YesYes YesHindi Film
1992 Halli Meshtru YesYes
Gopi Krishna YesYes Yes
1993 Mane Devru Yes Yes
1994 Chinna Yes Yes
1995 Putnanja YesYes Yes
1996 Sipayi YesYes Yes
1997 Kalavida Yes Yes
Mommaga Yes Screenplay
Cheluva Yes
1998 Preethsod Thappa Yes Yes
1999 Naanu Nanna Hendthiru Yes
Sneha Yes
O Premave Yes
Chora Chittha Chora Yes
2000 Mahathma Yes
Preethsu Thappenilla Yes
O Nanna Nalle Yes YesYes
2002 Ekangi YesYes YesYes
Kodanda Rama Yes YesYes
2004 Malla Yes YesYes
2005 Ayya LyricsYes
Aham Premasmi YesYes YesYesYes
Thunta Lyrics
Pandu Ranga Vittala Yes
2006 Hatavadi YesYes YesYesYes
Neelakanta Yes
2010 Hoo Yes ScreenplayYes
AithalakkadiLyrics
Naariya Seere KaddaLyrics
2014 Crazy Star YesYes YesYesYes
2016 Apoorva YesYes YesYesYes
2022 Ravi Bopanna YesYes ScreenplayYesYes

Awards

Cinema Express Awards

  • Cinema Express Award For Best Debut Director - Premaloka - 1987
  • Cinema Express Award For Best Actor - Premaloka - 1987
  • Cinema Express Award For Best Director - Ranadheera - 1989

Karnataka State Film Awards

Other Awards

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Ravichandran co-produced the film with N. Veeraswamy.
  2. 1 2 3 Ravichandran played a single character with two or more names.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Ravichandran played dual roles in this film.

References

  1. "Ravichandran to direct son Vikram Ravichandran". The Times of India. India. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  2. "Passion for the reel". Deccan Herald. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  3. "Did you know Naagarahavu turned Vishnuvardhan into a star overnight?". The New Indian Express. India. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  4. "Happy Birthday Ravichandran: Rare Pics of 'Crazy Star'!". 30 May 2015.
  5. "Ravichandran celebrates 25th marriage anniversary on V-Day". 15 February 2011.
  6. "Ravichandran's son Manoranjan makes his debut!". Sify. Archived from the original on 17 June 2014.
  7. "Ravichandran launches his son Vikram". The Times of India.
  8. "V Ravichandran : Kannada Actor| Writer Age, Movies, Biography, Photos".
  9. "Exclusive biography of #Ravichandran and on his life".
  10. "India's biggest flop was India's most expensive film, earned just Rs 8 crore with three superstars, maker went bankrupt". DNA India. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  11. "Sandalwood Movie Actor V Ravichandran Biography, News, Photos, Videos".
  12. "Drishya 2 movie review: The truth, lies, and everything in between". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  13. "Movie Review".
  14. "Ravichandran receives an honorary doctorate at BCU's first convocation". 11 April 2022. Archived from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
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