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{{short description|Indian film director and writer (born 1969)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Sandeep A. Varma
| image = Sandeep A. Varma.jpg
| caption = Sandeep at a screening of Manjunath at IIMPact 2014 in Singapore
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1969}}
| birth_place = [[Delhi]], [[India]]
| nationality = Indian
| occupation = Film director/writer
}}

'''Sandeep A. Varma''' (born 1969 in New Delhi) is an Indian [[film director]] and writer. He is best known for ''[[Manjunath (Film)]]'' (2014), a biopic based on the true story of [[Manjunath Shanmugam]], the IIML graduate and Indian Oil sales officer who was killed by the mafia for exposing corruption in the oil sector.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/the-story-of-manjunath-picked-me-says-director-sandeep-varma-1499953.html|title=The story of Manjunath picked me, says director Sandeep Varma- Entertainment News, Firstpost|date=2014-04-29|website=Firstpost|language=en|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref>

== Early life ==

Varma received his early education from [[St. Columba's School, Delhi]] and then received a B.E from [[BITS Pilani]] and an MBA from [[Faculty of Management Studies – University of Delhi|FMS College]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bollywood Director Sandeep Varma Biography, News, Photos, Videos|url=https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/hindi/director/sandeep-varma|access-date=2020-06-06|website=nettv4u|language=en}}</ref>

==Career==
Sandeep A. Varma has written and directed many TV commercials such as for IMS-ICAP,<ref>{{Cite web|title=ICOMO changes the rules of educational advertising|url=https://www.afaqs.com/company-briefs/21209_icomo-changes-the-rules-of-educational-advertising|access-date=2020-06-06|website=afaqs!}}</ref> as well as several short films, two of which - ‘Water Conservation’ and ‘Street Children’ - were screened at the Kerala International film festival (2003) and Philadelphia Short film festival (2003). In 2014, Sandeep wrote and directed the feature film Manjunath based on the life of [[Shanmugam Manjunath|Manjunath Shanmugam]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Who killed Manjunath? A biopic tries to find the answer|url=http://www.sunday-guardian.com/artbeat/who-killed-manjunath-a-biopic-tries-to-find-the-answer|access-date=2020-06-06|website=www.sunday-guardian.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-04-29|title=The story of Manjunath picked me, says director Sandeep Varma- Entertainment News, Firstpost|url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/the-story-of-manjunath-picked-me-says-director-sandeep-varma-1499953.html|access-date=2020-06-06|website=Firstpost|language=en}}</ref> Paloma Sharma in [[Rediff.com]] called Manjunath "a brave film".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Review: Manjunath is a brave film|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/review-manjunath-is-a-brave-film/20140509.htm|access-date=2020-06-06|website=Rediff|language=en}}</ref> [[Taran Adarsh]] in [[Bollywood Hungama]] called it "realistic and powerful".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hungama|first=Bollywood|title=Manjunath Review 3.5/5 {{!}} Manjunath Movie Review {{!}} Manjunath 2014 Public Review {{!}} Film Review|website=[[Bollywood Hungama]] |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/manjunath/critic-review/manjunath-movie-review/|access-date=2020-06-06|language=en}}</ref> [[Sify.com]] called Varma "an astute storyteller".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Manjunath review: Don't miss this rare gem!|url=https://www.sify.com/movies/imanjunathi-review-dont-miss-this-rare-gem-review-bollywood-pcmbqeaijgchc.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606134545/https://www.sify.com/movies/imanjunathi-review-dont-miss-this-rare-gem-review-bollywood-pcmbqeaijgchc.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 June 2020|access-date=2020-06-06|website=[[Sify]]|language=en}}</ref>

In his recent works, he has written and directed the upcoming web series 'Us & Them'<ref>{{Cite web |last=Suthar |first=Author: Manisha |date=2022-02-23 |title=Exclusive: Natasha Rastogi joins the cast of JAR Pictures' web series Us and Them |url=https://www.iwmbuzz.com/digital/news-digital/exclusive-natasha-rastogi-joins-the-cast-of-jar-pictures-web-series-us-and-them/2022/02/23 |access-date=2022-03-11 |website=IWMBuzz |language=en}}</ref> with [[JAR Pictures|JAR pictures]], starring Paramvir Singh Cheema, Mukesh Tiwari, Vinay Pathak, Sushmita Mukherjee playing pivotal roles in the series. The series is currently in post production.

In 2016, Sandeep wrote and directed [[The Virgins (film)|The Virgins]], a short film with [[Piaa Bajpai|Pia Bajpai]], [[Divyenndu|Divyendu Sharma]] and [[Akshay Oberoi]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-06-30|title=Short film The Virgins: Out of the Closet|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-others/the-virgin-short-film-sex-taboo-sandeep-a-varma-2884534/|access-date=2020-06-06|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> The Virgins is a tongue in cheek approach to the social stigma around virginity in India.<ref>{{cite web|last=Tiwari|first=Nishi|date=2 July 2016|title=Short Cut: The Virgins|url=https://punemirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/film-reviews/SHORT-CUT-THE-VIRGINS/articleshow/53011696.cms|access-date=2020-06-06|website=Pune Mirror|language=en}}</ref> He wrote and directed Kahanibaaz,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-09-26|title=Short Film Kahanibaaz Review: An interesting concept|url=https://www.thedigitalhash.com/short-film-review-kahanibaaz-large-short-films/|access-date=2020-06-06|website=The Digital Hash|language=en-US}}</ref> a digital short thriller nominated as a semi-finalist in the Los Angeles Cine Fest and at the Pune Short Film Festival. Filmmamker [[Vishal Bhardwaj|Vishal Bharadwaj]] called Kahanibaaz a "well written and directed film".<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Ashish Vidyarthi an underrated, underutilized actor: Vishal Bhardwaj|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/ashish-vidyarthi-an-underrated-underutilized-actor-vishal-bhardwaj/1390771|access-date=2020-06-06}}</ref> In 2019, Sandeep directed The Disguise, an 18-minute short film in London which won the Ritwik Ghatak Award at the 2nd South Asian Short Film Festival and was screened at the 14th Habitat Film Festival in Delhi.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title='Kahaanibaaz' director working on international film 'The Disguise'|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/kahaanibaaz-director-working-on-international-film-the-disguise/1404489|access-date=2020-06-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-05-22|title='Violence is created in the head'|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/islamophobia-riya-mukherjee-violence-is-created-in-the-head-5743134/|access-date=2020-06-06|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>

Sandeep Varma is a co-founder of [https://www.filmboardmovies.com/ Filmboard Movies]. In 2017, Sandeep along with Rajesh Butta started Filmboard, a disruptive omni-channel, B2B marketplace for any film production services.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Startup Filmboard Movies launched to make filmmaking an organised, corporate business|url=https://www.firstpost.com/business/startup-launched-to-make-filmmaking-an-organised-corporate-business-online-platform-offers-database-of-vendors-5829421.html|access-date=2020-06-06|website=Firstpost}}</ref> Varma is part of the elite academic council of SPJIMR's new program PSMEM which was launched in partnership with ''The Times of India'' Group.<ref>{{cite web|date=17 March 2017|title=Times Group launches strategic media mgmt course with SPJIMR - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/times-group-launches-strategic-media-mgmt-course-with-spjimr/articleshow/57678854.cms|access-date=2020-06-06|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>

Recently Sandeep has received awards on behalf of Filmboard: [https://www.siliconindia.com/news/general/filmboard-wins-prestigious-startup50-trailblazer-award-from-dun--bradstreet-nid-223735-cid-1.html "National Startup Awards in 2022"] Winner in Media & Entertainment and Dun & Bradstreet's [https://www.siliconindia.com/news/general/filmboard-wins-prestigious-startup50-trailblazer-award-from-dun--bradstreet-nid-223735-cid-1.html "Startup 50 Trailblazer Award"] for its innovative and quality approach.

== Filmography ==

===Director===
*''Kahin Door'' (2001)
*''[[Manjunath (Film)|Manjunath]]'' (2014)
*''[[The Virgins (film)|The Virgins]]'' (2016)
*''Kahanibaaz'' (2018)
*The Disguise (2019)

===Awards===
* 2015: Screen Award for Best Screenplay – ''[[Manjunath (Film)]]'' (Won)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.india.com/entertainment/screen-awards-2015-full-winners-list-shah-rukh-khan-shahid-kapoor-priyanka-chopra-deepika-padukone-honoured-248941/|title=Screen Awards 2015 full winners list: Shah Rukh Khan, Shahid Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone honoured|last=Parande|first=Shweta|date=2015-01-15|website=India News, Breaking News, Entertainment News {{!}} India.com|language=en|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref>
* 2015: Screen Award for Most Promising Debut Director – ''[[Manjunath (Film)]]'' (Nominated)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/in-the-reckoning-3/|title=21st Annual Life OK Screen Awards nominations|date=2015-01-08|website=The Indian Express|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Varma, Sandeep A.}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Hindi-language film directors]]
[[Category:Film directors from Delhi]]
[[Category:1969 births]]

Sandeep A. Varma - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article