Ramchandra PN

Ramchandra PN is an award winning filmmaker making feature films, short films, documentaries and TV programs. He is a kannadiga based in Mumbai.

Early Days:

Ramchandra Perampalli Neckar was born in Udupi town in the erstwhile undivided Dakshina Kannada District (presently Udupi District) in the coastal area of the state of Karnataka in southern India in the year 1965. Thanks to a transferable job that his father had, Ramchandra PN completed his education in various schools and colleges in Kota, Kundapura, Mumbai, Manipal, Dharwad and Udupi.

Early Interests:

Ramchandra PN’s initial foray into the arts got kindled during his college days in Poornaprajna College, Udupi. After having participated as an actor as well as a back stage worker in various plays directed by local Kannada theater directors, he attuned his creative instincts by attending various theater workshops conducted by renowned Kannada theater personalities like Chidambar Rao Jambe and Gangadhar Swamy.

Interest in Films:

Ramchandra PN was an active member of the now defunct Chitra Samudaya, a film society in Udupi whose secretary owned a 16 mm projector. So, by the time he was in his twenties he had seen classics like Seventh Seal, Bicycle Thieves, Pather Panchali, Roshomon and Gatashraddha. At the age of nineteen, he along with his cousin and their friends made a short film with a VHS camera that was owned by a friend whose father was in the Middle East. Since they had no editing facilities, they shot the film in the editing order.

Training in Films:

Ramchandra PN’s growing interests in films took him to Mangalore, Heggodu and Bangalore where he attended various film appreciation courses conducted by the likes of K.V. Subanna, Sateesh Bahadhur, PK Nair, Nirad Mahapatra, Hariharan, Girish Kasaravalli and Abdul Rehaman Pasha. Finally, in 1987 dropping out from his Law and Charted Accounting studies, he joined the the Film & TV Institute of India, Poona to do a three year course in Film Direction and Screenplay Writing.

Professional Life:

Ramchandra PN has been residing in Mumbai since 1990. As a freelancer, he has been making feature films, documentaries, short films and TV programs in English, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi and Tulu.

Awards:

*In 2006, Ramchandra PN made a Tulu language digital feature film called SUDDHA, also called as ‘The Cleansing Rites’. This film won the Best Indian Film at the Osian Cinefan Festival of Asian Film held at New Delhi. The five members jury had given the award for 'its poetic, evocative and uncompromising style reflecting the moods of contemporary India.'

*In 2004, his short film ‘Heart Troubles of Ramchand Yavathman Tirchuinapalli Azamghar’ won the best short film at the Abuja International Film Festival, Nigeria.

Work Done:

*Feature Film:
Suddha - The Cleansing Rites (Tulu)

The Bangalore Edition of the Newspaper 'The Hindu' had described the film as follows.

"The allure of the 105-minute Tulu film is mainly due to its impressive technical accomplishments. Camerawork by Sameer Mahajan uses light and shade superbly and captures the mood and feel of the story. The interiors of the typical rural house — with peeling walls and old-world appendages — which stand as mute witness of the breaking family have been shot with care and sensitivity."

*Short Fiction:Mani Bhai Pass Hogaya (Hindi)Out of Tune (English)Heart Troubles of Ramchand Yavathmal Tiruchinapalli Azamghar (Hindia and English)The Hot Shot (Only Music)

*Documentaries:Makkala Panchayat (Kannada)Shaky Souls, Empty Chairs, Testing Times (Hindi, Kannada, English) Baratha Uvaacha… (English) Virus No. 1 (Hindi, Gujrati, English)Kodavas – the worrier race (English) My Banjara Diary (English) Gently Down the Stream (English)Voices from Mini-Tibet (Hindi)

*TV Programs:Chacha Chaudary (Hindi, Sahara One)Idhu Yaake Heege? (Kannada) Mr & Mrs 55, Kumarapark (e) (Kannada, ETV)Swamy Swamy (Kannada, ETV)Surabhi (Hindi, Doordarshan)Swar Sadhana (Hindi, Doordarshan)

References:

* [http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/21/stories/2006072108810200.htm/ article]
* [http://www.upperstall.com/heart.html/ article]
* [http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0758438/combined/ Imdb]
* [http://www.cinemaya.net/c8-pg.asp?alb=awi/ award]
* [http://www.screenindia.com/fullstory.php?content_id=9651/ article]
* [http://www.microfilmmaker.com/critiques/Issue6/suddha.html/ review]
* [http://www.apunkachoice.com/happenings/20060724-0.html/ article]

External links

* [http://www.graftii.com/ezine06.aspx/ article]