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Danish Renzu

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Danish Renzu
Born11 March, 1988
Kashmir, India
NationalityIndian
Alma materUniversity of California, Los Angeles
Occupations
  • Director
  • screenwriter
  • producer
Notable workHalf Widow, The illegal

Danish Renzu is an Indian born Los Angeles based film director, producer, and screenwriter.[1] He is also the founder of Renzu Films. Renzu is best known for directing and producing films like Half Widow, The illegal,[2][3] and Songs of Paradise featuring Saba Azad, Soni Razdan, Lillete Dubey,[4] currently in post production.[5][6][7][8]

Renzu has received numerous accolades, his film The illegal as a writer and director was shortlisted for nominations for the Best Picture Category at the Academy Awards 2019.[9]

Early life and education

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Danish Renzu was born in Kashmir, India.[10] In 2005, he shifted to Los Angeles for further studies,[11] where he graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles. He holds a degree in Electrical Engineering and UCLA Writers' Program certification in screenwriting from the same university.[12]

Career

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Renzu started directing short movies in 2015. He directed two short films In Search of America, Inshallah (2014) and First Love (2015). His first feature film Half Widow was released in 2017 and narrates the story of a woman searching for her husband against the backdrop of the Kargil War.[13][14] His second directorial film was The illegal (2019)[15] starring Suraj Sharma of Oscar-winning film Life of Pi, Shweta Tripathi, and Adil Hussain.[16] The film was shortlisted for nominations for the Best Picture Category at the Academy Awards 2019.[9]

He also directed and produced the music video Ae Savere starring Soni Razdan and Taha Shah Badussha which traces a life of a Kashmiri Pandit woman returning to Kashmir. It was very well received. His recent award winning short films The Good News and My Father's Doctor are both streaming on Jio Cinema. [17]

His film Songs of Paradise is coming in 2024 produced by Excel Entertainment.[18]

Recently Renzu announced his Music label, Renzu Music representing many Kashmiri artists with an intention to create a platform for artists in the valley.[19]

Filmography

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Year Film Director Writer Notes
2023 Songs of Paradise Green tickY Green tickY
My Father’s Doctor Green tickY Green tickY
2022 The Good News[1] Green tickY Green tickY
2019 The Illegal Green tickY Green tickY Critics’ Choice Award for Best Film, Audience Poll Award and Special Award, Best Narrative Feature, Best Feature Film and Best Director
2017 Half Widow[20] Green tickY Green tickY Best feature (Audience Award), Best Director Award, (Grand Prize) Best Feature Film
2014 In Search of America, Inshallah Green tickY Nominated for Award of Excellence for Best Director, Winner in Best Short Film Category

Awards and recognition

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Awards and recognition
Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2021 Austin Film Festival Best Feature Film and Best Director The illegal Nominated [9][21]
2019 Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) Jury Special Prize Won
2018 New Jersey International Festival Best Feature Film (Grand Prize) Won
2017 South Asian Film Festival Best Feature (Audience Award) Won
2015 Canada Short Film Festival Award Award of Excellence for Best Director (Short film) Nominated

References

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  1. ^ a b Tagat, Anurag (5 May 2022). "Premiere: Watch the Teaser for Kashmiri Short Film 'The Good News' by Filmmaker Danish Renzu". Rolling Stone India. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  2. ^ "'The Illegal' movie review: A sublime take on hopes, aspirations and despair". Deccan Herald. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  3. ^ "The Illegal Movie Review: Suraj Sharma pays the price of his American dream". India Today. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  4. ^ Bukhtiyar, Idrees (12 September 2022). "'Kashmir needs to have its own regional cinema'". Greater Kashmir. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  5. ^ Dore, Shalini (29 June 2017). "AFI Alums Pitch in for Classmate's Movie". Variety. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Hrithik Roshan's girlfriend Saba Azad to play lead role in Danish Renzu's Songs Of Paradise; deets inside". Pinkvilla. 26 September 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  7. ^ Sehgal, Chirag (15 December 2022). "Saba Azad Wraps Up Rocket Boys 2, Minimum, and Songs of Paradise Shoot; Deets Inside". News18. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  8. ^ "Saba Azad to play Raj Begum in Danish Renzu's Songs Of Paradise - Exclusive". The Times of India. 25 September 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  9. ^ a b c Ramanan, Manju (21 March 2021). "Oscar nominee 'The Illegal,' written and directed by Danish Renzu, to release on OTT". FilmFare. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  10. ^ Chhibber, Mini Anthikad (17 April 2021). "Danish Renzu talks about 'The Illegal'". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  11. ^ Seta, Keyur. "We have had enough of 'Bumbro' from Kashmir: Danish Renzu on Half Widow". Cinestaan. Archived from the original on 24 March 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  12. ^ Bhat, Adil (19 September 2017). "A window to the Valley - Danish Renzu talks about reviving cinema in Kashmir". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  13. ^ Bhat, Niyati (10 January 2020). "Half Widow does not fall into the Bollywood trap of the formula Kashmir film". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  14. ^ Seta, Keyur. "Half Widow review: Hopeful end to grim tale of a missing husband". Cinestaan. Archived from the original on 23 March 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  15. ^ Seta, Keyur. "The Illegal review: This story of immigrants in the US is filled with reality and hope". Cinestaan. Archived from the original on 13 February 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  16. ^ Roy, Lachmi Deb (25 March 2021). "'I Am An Immigrant From Assam To Delhi, So I Can Relate To 'The Illegal': Adil Hussain". Outlook India. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  17. ^ Ramanan, Manju (10 August 2021). "Taha Shah and Soni Razdan talk of their music video 'Ae Savere', shot in Kashmir". FilmFare. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  18. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (30 January 2024). "Excel Entertainment Boards Kashmir-Set Music and Woman Empowerment Tale 'Songs of Paradise'". Variety. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  19. ^ Tagat, Anurag (20 May 2023). "Kashmir's New Record Label Renzu Music Launches Debut Release with Pensive Song 'Hoshdar'". RollingStone. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  20. ^ HK, Varun (2 April 2021). "Cinema has a responsibility to bring people together, says 'The Illegal' director Danish Renzu". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  21. ^ "Past Films". Austin Film Festival. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
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