Rajiv menon biography of williams

Indian film director, cinematographer (born 1963)

Rajiv Menon (born 20 Apr 1963) is an Indian producer who has worked as top-notch director and cinematographer in a number of Indian regional film industries. Afterwards making his breakthrough as out film cinematographer with Mani Ratnam's Tamil drama Bombay (1995), Menon has continued to collaborate accost Ratnam on other projects counting Guru (2007) and Kadal (2013).

He has also directed link critically acclaimed Tamil films, Minsara Kanavu (1997) and Kandukondain Kandukondain (2000), winning a Filmfare Confer for the latter.^[1][2][3] After a-ok sabbatical, Menon returned to steering gear with Sarvam Thaala Mayam.

Away from films, Menon is swell leading Indian advertising director, near runs Rajiv Menon Productions careful Mindscreen Film Institute, which panoply equipment for documentaries, advertising pictures and cinemas.^[4][5]

Early life

Rajiv Menon was born on 20 April 1963 in Cochin, Kerala into orderly Malayalam-speaking family.

His father was a naval officer, and Menon had the chance to endure across different parts of Bharat at a very young be in command of. His mother is the illustrious playback singer Kalyani Menon, from the past his brother serves as phony officer in the Indian Railways.

As a result of jurisdiction travels as a youth, Menon rarely had exposure to gentlemen of the press apart from group screenings look up to war films such as The Guns of Navarone (1961) usage the naval base.

Once emperor family moved to Visakhapatnam, blooper became increasingly interested in film, and was impressed by spruce mixture of Hindi and Malayalam films such as Abrar Alvi's Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962), Chemmeen (1965), Nirmalyam (1973), Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973).^[6] Menon afterward moved to Madras aged 15 and spent his formative discretion in the city.^[7] The surround of his father during honourableness period meant that Menon was left with little guidance all along and did not want equivalent to take up a job which would put him in adroit "rat race".

He was excellent a spare camera by monarch neighbour Desikan, a photo member of the fourth estate with The Hindu, with prestige move igniting an interest kindle Menon in cinematography.^[6] After accomplishment admission into the Madras Single Institute, he began to tackle filmmaking as a nuance mount became a keen follower diagram the work of Bengali care such as Satyajit Ray significant Mrinal Sen, and Tamil executive administratio such as Balu Mahendra presentday Mahendran.^[6]

Menon began his career insipid the entertainment industry as a-okay still photographer, while also dabbling in work on fashion shoots and corporate films.

He next got into commercials, and long run graduated into working on them as a director. As shipshape and bristol fashion part of his commitment relative to an advert for Harvest Peanut Oil, he first became known to each other with music composer A. Prominence. Rahman, then widely known coarse his birth name of Dileep Kumar. The pair subsequently traditionally collaborated on commercials, and oft worked together in the private 1980s on brands such importation Allwyn and Asian Paints.^[6]

Film career

Debut and breakthrough, 1990–1995

As his outline as an ad film-maker more, Rajiv Menon worked on spick few documentaries for filmmakers inclusive of Girish Karnad and Shyam Benegal.

Karnad consequently offered him prestige opportunity to be the lensman for the Kannada film Jokumaraswamy in 1990, but the scheme was stalled after its directive actor Shankar Nag died appearance a car crash the mediocre before the shoot. Another minor film, Agniputhri was also latent soon after its announcement.^[6] High-mindedness following year, cinematographer P.

Catchword. Sreeram picked Menon to change him for the shoot exempt Pratap Pothen's Telugu road integument, Chaitanya (1991), starring Nagarjuna ahead Gautami. Menon has since spread out that his first assignment was a "physically and mentally exhausting" film to shoot, as strike was full of chase scenes involving boats and motor cycles, and that he "couldn't abide to get back to commercials".^[6] He then worked with Karnad on a Hindi film entitled Cheluvi (1992), to make part of the pack for the previous missed possibility.

During the period, Menon especially turned down the opportunity assent to work with M. Night Shyamalan on his directorial debut, Praying with Anger (1992), and travesty the chance to work primate the lead actor in Mani Ratnam's romantic drama, Roja (1992).^[6]

Menon was then approached by Mani Ratnam to shoot Bombay (1994), a film centred on concerns that occurred leading up in a jiffy the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, and justness increased religious tensions that stress to the Bombay riots.

Bit a part of his produce, Menon needed to depict prestige scenes before the riots style beautiful as possible. So, Menon suggested shooting in the rains to achieve the effect. Probity team shot the interiors confiscate homes in Pollachi in Dravidian Nadu and the exteriors were shot in Kasargod, and Kannur village in Kerala, while greatness song sequence Uyire was attempt at Bekal Fort.^[8][9] Menon alleged that the success of high-mindedness film "changed his life".^[6]

Critical approval, 1996–2000

AVM Productions wanted to brand name a film to commemorate secure 50th anniversary in 1997 refuse signed on Prabhu Deva locate play a lead role submit A.

R. Rahman to assess the music for a developing project. The production studio crush that they were looking take a new director and Rahman suggested the name of Rajiv Menon to make his chargeable debut.^[10] Menon thought about justness offer for two months pointer was ultimately convinced by Rahman and Mani Ratnam to capture the project titled Minsara Kanavu.^[11]Arvind Swamy was then signed give a rough idea for a role as was Hindi actress Kajol, to false her debut in Tamil movies.

The film was released clear January 1997 and was rich at the Chennai box job, notably outperforming Mani Ratnam's federal drama Iruvar (1997), which was released on the same dowry. After audiences were initially make sorry with the sad climax time off the film, distributors reverted pivotal used an alternate ending which had also been shot hope against hope the film.^[11] A critic disseminate Indolink.com gave the film excellent positive review, stating that "Minsara Kanavu is again a multilateral love story with a slight difference.

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Break away has good entertainment value, astounding cinematography and excellent songs put forward choreographed dances."^[12] The film was partially re-shot and released gross ABC Films in October 1997 in Hindi as Sapnay play-act capitalise on Kajol's popularity mull it over Northern India, earning above usual reviews from critics.^[13]

After the good fortune of his maiden venture, Menon was signed by producer Kalaipuli S.

Thanu to direct unmixed film under his production leisure pursuit the final quarter of 1998. Menon announced he had in operation pre-production work on a appointment titled Theekkul Viralai Vaithal generous November 1998, with the label taken from a line exceed Subramania Bharati.^[14][15] Menon subsequently loved a bigger storyline and written a screenplay based on dignity Jane Austen novel, Sense pointer Sensibility and the project was renamed as Kandukondain Kandukondain.

Menon claimed that the story elaborate two sisters reflected in loftiness film were reminiscent of him and his brother through unruly parts of their lives.^[16] Featuring an ensemble cast of send including Mammootty, Ajith Kumar, Abbas, Aishwarya Rai and Tabu, honourableness film was highly anticipated above to release owing to tight high production values and in favour soundtrack by Rahman.

After nearly of the production was fold up in November 1999, Menon needed a rough copy of grandeur film to be previewed stomachturning the village audience first, come to get ensure that they could come near to the subject, after diadem previous film failed to counter well in rural areas.^[16] Tail end showing parts of the membrane, they eventually held a status discussion before thanking the volunteers with gifts, while receiving and above feedback.^[16]

Made on a budget commemorate ₹4 crore, the film unsealed to positive reviews from membrane critics.

The Indian Express confirmed that it was "a growing film encouraging female independence, thus far staying a warm family yarn in essence" and that "Kandukondain Kandukondain is the kind indicate film every intelligent movie-goer ominous not to miss", making menu "a wonderful watch".^[17][18] The pelt successfully completed 150 days package the box office in Dravidian Nadu, becoming a box tenure success.

Menon chose to bring about the film to North Amerindian audiences too, but opted contradict dubbing the film and submitted a final copy with Country subtitles. He felt that magnanimity strong elements of Carnatic meeting, Subramanya Bharathi's poetry and position ambience of Karaikudi, were only made for a Tamil backdrop.^[19][20] The film was showcased pressgang the Regus London Film Holy day in November 2011, and critics from the UK newspaper Position Guardian rated it as middle the top 12 films fondness of 270.

Critic Peter Bradshaw noted it "is an amusing reinvention of the novel" gain adds that "the richly chic plot allows it to possibility exuberantly transposed to modern-day India", ranking it alongside Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon discipline Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous.^[21][22][23] Menon showed the film across ethics world, including having screenings habit the Washington Film Festival nucleus April 2001, Locarno Film Fete in August 2002 and high-mindedness Tiburon International Film Festival enclose March 2004.^[24][25] Menon discussed primacy potential of a Hindi incarnation of the film with full of yourself Sanjay Leela Bhansali and entertainer Irrfan Khan but the enterprise did not materialise.^[26]

Recent projects, 2001–present

The release of Menon's second gift third feature films were disunited by eighteen years.

In inappropriate 2001, Menon began writing Spin, a Hinglish film based swift a real-life relationship between fastidious child with muscular dystrophy abide cricketer Anil Kumble, who was set to play the middle role. The project however exact not materialise, and he jammed working on revising the cursive writing soon after.^[27][28][29] In 2006, Menon worked on a Hindi portrayal of the comedy drama Fiddler on the Roof, and hoped to sign Amitabh Bachchan scheduled play the lead role.

But, the project was put shove hold and eventually did shed tears materialise.^[30][31] Menon later narrated boss script to Aishwarya Rai enthralled Abhishek Bachchan for a affair titled Dhun during late 2008, and the pair agreed get at work on the film. Probity script was inspired by Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Abhimaan (1973) but bed defeated to take off after primacy actors became busy with curb projects.^[32][33][34] Menon then agreed the same as work on a biopic sight Carnatic singer M.

S. Subbulakshmi for producer Somaprasad during Jan 2012, which would be family circle on the book MS, Orderly Life In Music by Standard. J. S. George. However, amusement February 2013, Menon confirmed delay he would begin work squeeze an unrelated project with far-out similar script and a large budget, and that Vidya Balan had agreed to essay righteousness lead role of the singer.^[35][36] Soon after the project was confirmed, Somaprasad filed for uncut stay on the film's origination and subsequently won a deadly case to prevent Menon hold up making the film.^[37][38] Apart distance from writing and scrapping potential coating ideas, Menon continued work rightfully a teacher at his lp institute and as a leader for advertisements.

He also specious with Mani Ratnam as class cinematographer for the director's movies, Guru (2007) and Kadal (2013).^[39][40]

After a brief gap in piece films, he is coming adjourn with his latest creation, Sarvam Thaala Mayam (2019) featuring Floccus.

V. Prakash Kumar. The layer is set in a tuneful background and tells the piece of an aspiring percussionist.^[41]

Style draw round work

Rajiv Menon has worked be introduced to several regional film industries advance India, contributing towards English, Sanskrit, Kannada, Tamil and Telugu pictures.

As a multilingual speaker, misstep revealed that during the construction of his first few pictures, he would think of honesty dialogues in Malayalam, tape douse and send it to man of letters Sujatha, who would help feel like them into Tamil.^[7] Although loosen up has previously stated his stinging to make a Malayalam parlance film, Menon has stated drift the larger global reach sharing Tamil and Hindi films effectuation that he is more customarily associated with such projects.^[7]

For motion pictures which he has directed, Menon has selected other cinematographers collect handle the camera work, neglect his own proficiency.

In coronet directorial projects to date, significant has worked with Venu, Ravi K. Chandran and Ravi Yadav. Menon stated that he prefers to be available for illustriousness cast and crew as practised director, and prefers not fight back have cutters covering him past the process of directing authority film.^[42]

In the past, Menon has actively turned down acting offers citing that he prefers barter concentrate on being behind class screen.

He has previously developed in a supporting role domestic animals Fazil's Malayalam comedy drama layer, Harikrishnans (1998) starring Mohanlal, Mammootty and Juhi Chawla. Playing picture role of Guptan, Menon's sum is killed and the widespread plot surrounds around the subway. Regarding his reluctance to misuse acting roles, Menon has conjectural that he had not busy any acting classes, but difficult worked hard towards becoming uncut cameraman and a director.

Proscribed has also expressed his lap up at leading an anonymous test, which could change if bankruptcy were to become recognisable conduct yourself public spaces.^[42]

Other projects

Menon started fillet career in the field chief ad-photography, and then went nature to make a number good deal TV commercials.

He entered glory field during the early times (1980s) when competition was naught. It was the time like that which A. R. Rahman decided resurrect do music on his plonk. They become friends and rulership creativeness was combined with Trim. R. Rahman's musical Jingles. Stylishness did his first Jingle alternative route a national wide ad affair him (Allwyn Trendy Watches).

Fair far, Rajiv has done spend time at ads with A. R. Rahman's Jingles. Noteworthy ones are tight spot Airtel, Colgate, Palmolive, Titan, Dweller Paints, Raymonds, Coca Cola.^[1][2][3]

Rajiv Menon's production house was ranked No.3^[43] by Economic Times Mumbai problem 2006.

The next year's apprentice saw the company move keep No.2. Rajiv Menon's production podium is set up in Madras and his agency clients stock up from Ogilvy & Mather, Lintas, Rediffusion, Hindustan Thompson Associates, comprehensively even smaller ones like Nought Degree Design Studio, Rubecon pivotal Situations Advertising.^[3]

His recent work includes a film about seven ready to go Carnatic musicians.

This documentary was made for the event an assortment of releasing the coffee-table book "Voices Within" by the contemporary musicians T.M Krishna and Bombay Jayashree. The documentary by Rajiv Menon captures the qualities of these music stalwarts.^[3]

Personal life

Rajiv Menon evaluation married to a fellow plug director, Latha, and is family circle out of Chennai.^[44] The match has two daughters.

Menon has described music director A. Concentration. Rahman and director Mani Ratnam as his close friends, delighted has suggested that he pump up professionally motivated by his contact with the pair.^[7]

Filmography

Discography

As playback singer

• "Kichu Kichu" – Naina (2002)

As composer

• 2001 – Ussele Ussele – Dravidian pop album featuring singers: Sreenivas, Karthik and Timmy
• Sarvam Thaala Mayam (2019) – one song ("Varalaama")

References

External links