It is easier to prove your skills and versatility if given an elaborate chance to prove yourself. But the real game begins when your important decisions hang in the balance and you have to prove the metal of your competence in a limited time frame. The entertainment industry has seen many accomplished directors, but Sriram Raghavan stands out from the rest. He has demonstrated his niche talent of turning a short film into a classic watch, apart from acing the trait of making neo-noir action thrillers.
Cinematic Career
Born on 22nd of June, 1963, Sriram Raghavan completed his schooling from the St. Vincent’s High School. He studied economics at Fergusson College in Pune.
For a brief period of time, he worked with Stardust. But soon he started feeling disenchanted with this, consequently, ended his stint with Stardust.
Later, he diverted his entire focus in fulfilling his passion for Cinema. For this, he graduated from the prestigious Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) where Rajkumar Hirani was his batchmate. While Hirani became skilled in making commercial masala movies, Sriram Raghavan focused on creativity, taking a unique route in his cinematic career.
Sriram Raghavan made his directorial debut through a documentary titled ‘Raman Raghav’. Raghuvir Yadav appeared in the lead role in this documentary. Afterwards, he wrote numerous episodes of CID and Aahat while working as a television soap opera writer.
In the 1990s, Ram Gopal Varma was considered a renowned filmmaker and even a cinema institution in himself. He had seen Raghavan’s documentary and was impressed with his directorial style. Ram Gopal Varma then produced Raghavan’s crime drama film ‘Ek Haseena Thi’. Sidney Sheldon’s “If Tomorrow Comes” inspired the film.
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The movie saw Urmila Matondkar and Saif Ali Khan in the lead roles in the film. It was well received by critics for his unique style of storytelling. His next direction, Johnny Gaddar, was also a crime thriller film. It proved to be a blockbuster hit and its songs became chart busters among the youth.
He also made films like Badlapur and Agent Vinod. Although these films couldn’t deliver success at the box office but received praises for their storytelling and acting.
In 2018, inspired by a French short film “L’Accordeur” , Sriram Raghavan decided to turn it into a full-length feature film. The film was ‘Andhadhun’ that propelled Ayushmann Khurrana to new heights. The film narrating the story of a blind pianist, received both critical acclaim and commercial success. It received two National Film Awards and two Filmfare Awards.
Andhadhun has become a cult. Notably it has been remade by other regional entertainment industries. This is why he stands out among his peers for his unique style and ability to turn a short film into a classic.
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