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Sekhar Kammula

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Sekhar Kammula
Kammula in 2017
Born (1972-02-04) 4 February 1972 (age 52)[1][2]
Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, India
Alma materChaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology (B.Tech)
Rutgers University (M.S)
Howard University (M.F.A)
Occupations
  • Film director
  • screenwriter
  • producer
Years active1999–present
SpouseSri Vidya
AwardsNational Film Award
Websitewww.sekharkammula.in

Sekhar Kammula (born 4 February 1972) is an Indian film director, screenwriter and producer who works in Telugu cinema.[3][4] He has garnered two Filmfare Awards South, and six state Nandi Awards for his directional works.[5] Sekhar Kammula was among the director's delegation to represent South Indian Cinema at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.[6]

A Master of Science and Master of Fine Arts holder from Rutgers University and Howard University respectively, Sekhar Kammula made his directorial debut with the independent film Dollar Dreams (2000), which won him the National Film Award for Best First film of a director. The film was also screened at the International Film Festival of India.[7] Kammula went onto direct critically and commercially successful Telugu films Anand (2004), Godavari (2006), Happy Days (2007), Leader (2010), Fidaa (2017), and Love Story (2021).

Early life and education

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Sekhar Kammula was born in Eluru, Andhra Pradesh and brought up in Hyderabad, Telangana.[8] He graduated in Mechanical Engineering from Chaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology, and completed his Masters M.S from Rutgers University in Computer Science in the U.S. He worked in the IT industry for about 3 years and then joined a film school and got his M.F.A (Film) degree at Howard University, Washington D.C. During this time he worked on a number of films (short and feature length) in the U.S.[9]

Film career

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Kammula made his film directorial debut with the independent film Dollar Dreams (2000), shot in both Telugu and English which was a critical success, and won him the National Film Award for Best First film of a director. The film was screened at the International Film Festival of India.[7]

His second film, Anand (2004) was a commercial success and was among highest grossing Telugu films of that year.[10] His next film, Godavari, was praised by critics and was a commercial success.[citation needed]

In 2007, his directed Happy Days which depicted the regular college life of engineering students. The film was very successful, especially among the urban youth of then Andhra Pradesh.[11] The film was later remade in Tamil and Kannada languages. He then directed political film Leader which released in 2010 to positive reviews. Rediff.com noted that "If anything, the film is a wish-list of what one would like to see in the arena of politics, which Sekhar should be lauded for even trying."[12]

In 2012, Kammula written, produced and directed Life Is Beautiful, his first production venture. The film had a positive reception from critics and audience.[citation needed] Firstpost called the film a revamped version of Happy Days (2007) and noted similarities between the characters written by Kammula in both the films.[13] Later in 2014, he directed Anaamika, a Telugu remake of 2012 Hindi film Kahaani in which Nayantara played Vidya Balan's character.

In 2017, his romantic comedy film Fidaa, starring Varun Tej and Sai Pallavi, grossed over ₹90 crore worldwide at the box office.[14] In 2021, Kammula's Telugu film, Love Story, starring Naga Chaitanya and Sai Pallavi was released to mostly positive reviews.[15]

In 2024, film DNS, directed by Kammula, has started filming and features Tamil star Dhanush in the lead role.[16]

Film directorial style

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Sekhar Kammula’s films often focuses on the relationship between men and women in their routine life circumstances filled with both happiness and hardships. Sankeertana Varma of Film Companion calls film portrayal of his female characters as somewhat "special." She writes that they aren't particular "strong women" but they are real. Varma adds that though his female characters display their egos and throw tantrums, they are unbreakable and refuse to fit in the typical societal norms expected from a normal woman.[17] Kammula has also appreciated the work of other directors including the recent Telugu hit Vaarasudu.[18]

Filmography

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Kammula at Cinivaram, Ravindra Bharathi in 2017
Year Film Language Credited as Notes
Director Writer Producer
2000 Dollar Dreams
Telugu

English

Yes Yes Yes Directorial debut
2004 Anand Telugu Yes Yes Yes Also choreographer
2006 Godavari Telugu Yes Yes No
2007 Happy Days Telugu Yes Yes Yes Also choreographer
2008 Avakai Biryani Telugu No No Yes
2010 Leader Telugu Yes Yes No
2012 Life Is Beautiful Telugu Yes Yes Yes
2014 Anaamika Telugu
Tamil 		Yes Screenplay No Released in Tamil as Nee Enge En Anbe
2017 Fidaa Telugu Yes Yes No
2021 Love Story Telugu Yes Yes No
TBA Kubera † Tamil
Telugu
Hindi 		Yes Yes No Filming [19][20]
Cameo appearances

Awards and nominations

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Year Awards Category Film Result
1999 National Film Awards Best Debut Film of a Director Dollar Dreams Won
2004 Nandi Awards Best Director Anand Won
Second Best Film Won
2005 Filmfare Awards South Best Film Nominated
Best Director Nominated
2006 Nandi Awards Best Director Godavari Won
Second Best Film Won
2006 Filmfare Awards South Best Director Nominated
2007 Nandi Awards Best Film - Silver Happy Days Won
2008 Filmfare Awards South Best Film Won
Best Director Won
2008 CineMAA Awards Best Film Won
Best Director Won
Best Story Won
Best Screenplay Won
2009 Nandi Awards Best Story Writer Leader Won
2010 Filmfare Awards South Best Film Nominated
Best Director Nominated
2018 Filmfare Awards South Best Film Fidaa Nominated
Best Director Nominated
2018 Zee Cine Awards Telugu[23] Best Director Won

References

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  1. ^ Hymavathi, Ravali (4 February 2020). "Happy Birthday Shekar Kammula: First Look Poster Of NC20". www.thehansindia.com. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Priceless Gesture! GHMC sanitation workers show their gratitude towards Sekhar Kammula". The Times of India. 13 May 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  3. ^ Sangeetha Devi Dundoo (12 August 2012). "Life & Style : Return to innocence". The Hindu. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
  4. ^ "Sekhar Kammula supports Samantha". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 30 December 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Kammula". Archived from the original on 15 January 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2012.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ^ Prashanth Bhat (12 May 2011). "Sekhar Kammula at Cannes". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
  7. ^ a b "47th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
  8. ^ Ali, Sekhar Kammula (12 April 2021). Alitho Saradaga | Sekhar Kammula (Director) | 12th April 2021 | Full Episode | ETV Telugu. ETV Telugu. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Telugu Cinema interview - Sekhar Kammula - Telugu film director". idlebrain.com. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  10. ^ "Year 2004 — a flashback". The Hindu. 31 December 2004. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  11. ^ Ganeshan, Balakrishna (23 May 2020). "'Happy Days': Revisiting a Telugu film that depicted something close to college life". The News Minute. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  12. ^ Rajamani, Radhika. "Review: Leader comes at the right time". Rediff. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  13. ^ "'Life Is Beautiful' - 2012 version of 'Happy Days' (Telugu Movie Review)". Firstpost. 15 September 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  14. ^ Hooli, Shekhar H. (17 December 2017). "Tollywood in 2017: 15 highest grossing Telugu movies of the year - Baahubali 2, Khaidi No 150, JLK, DJ and others". www.ibtimes.co.in. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  15. ^ "Sekhar Kammula resumes filming 'Love Story'". The Hindu. 7 September 2020. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  16. ^ Sistu, Suhas (1 February 2024). "Nagarjuna to play a grey shaded role in 'DNS!'". www.thehansindia.com. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  17. ^ Varma, Sankeertana (16 September 2021). "What Makes Sekhar Kammula Unique In Telugu Cinema". Film Companion.
  18. ^ "Sekhar Kammula watched and much appreciated the recent Telugu hit Vijay's Vaarasudu high on emotions". The Times of India. 15 January 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  19. ^ "Latest: Rashmika Mandanna to romance Dhanush in D 51". 123telugu.com. 14 August 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  20. ^ Arikatla, Venkat (14 August 2023). "Dhanush's 51: First, Yet Crazy Combo". greatandhra.com. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  21. ^ a b "Shekar Kammula's cameo in Varun's Mukunda?". The Times of India. 17 January 2017.
  22. ^ "Postmortem - Godavari by Sekhar Kammula". Idlebrain.com.
  23. ^ Hooli, Shekhar H. (1 January 2018). "Zee Telugu Golden Awards 2017 winners list and photos". International Business Times, India Edition. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
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