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| birth_name = G. Neelakanta Reddy<ref name="idlebrain interview" />
| birth_name = G. Neelakanta Reddy<ref name="idlebrain interview" />
| birth_date =
| birth_date =
| birth_place = [[Kadapa]], [[Andhra Pradesh]]], India  
| birth_place = [[Kadapa]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], India  
| alma_mater = Loyola College, Vijayawada
| alma_mater = Loyola College, Vijayawada
| occupation = Director, Screen Writer
| occupation = Director, Screen Writer
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}}
}}


'''Neelakanta''' is an Indian film director and screenwriter who works predominantly in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] films director. He has received the [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu|National Award]] in the screenwriting for the feature ''[[Show (film)|Show]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Awards of Neelakanta|url=http://www.cineradham.com/biographies/directors/neelakanta/awards.html|publisher=Cine Radham|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302032946/http://www.cineradham.com/biographies/directors/neelakanta/awards.html|archive-date=2 March 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref> He won two [[National Film Awards]] & three [[Nandi Awards]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ipr.ap.nic.in/New_Links/Film.pdf|title=నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008)|trans-title=A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008)|publisher=[[Andhra Pradesh (magazine)|Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh]]|access-date=21 August 2020 | language=Telugu}}</ref>
'''Neelakanta''' is an Indian film director and screenwriter who works predominantly in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] films director. He has received the [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu|National Award]] in the screenwriting for the feature ''[[Show (film)|Show]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Awards of Neelakanta|url=http://www.cineradham.com/biographies/directors/neelakanta/awards.html|publisher=Cine Radham|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302032946/http://www.cineradham.com/biographies/directors/neelakanta/awards.html|archive-date=2 March 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref> He won two [[National Film Awards]] and three [[Nandi Awards]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ipr.ap.nic.in/New_Links/Film.pdf|title=నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008)|trans-title=A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008)|publisher=[[Andhra Pradesh (magazine)|Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh]]|access-date=21 August 2020 | language=Telugu}}</ref>
 


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
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Neelakanta always wanted to make films which eloquently depicted the psychological study of characters for the off-beat<ref>{{cite web|title=Directors show all the way|url=http://www.idlebrain.com/movie/archive/mr-missamma.html|publisher=Idle brain}}</ref> his passion materialised with [[Show (film)|Show]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Review|url=http://movies.fullhyderabad.com/show/telugu/show-movie-reviews-926-2.html|publisher=Fully hyderabad}}</ref> followed by ''[[Missamma (2003 film)|Missamma]]''. He received two national awards, one for Best Screenplay and the other for the Best Feature Film in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] for ''Show'' while state [[Nandi Awards|Nandi Award]] in the screenplay department for the latter.
Neelakanta always wanted to make films which eloquently depicted the psychological study of characters for the off-beat<ref>{{cite web|title=Directors show all the way|url=http://www.idlebrain.com/movie/archive/mr-missamma.html|publisher=Idle brain}}</ref> his passion materialised with [[Show (film)|Show]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Review|url=http://movies.fullhyderabad.com/show/telugu/show-movie-reviews-926-2.html|publisher=Fully hyderabad}}</ref> followed by ''[[Missamma (2003 film)|Missamma]]''. He received two national awards, one for Best Screenplay and the other for the Best Feature Film in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] for ''Show'' while state [[Nandi Awards|Nandi Award]] in the screenplay department for the latter.


He then made ''[[Sadaa Mee Sevalo|Sada Mee Sevalo]]'', with [[Shriya]] and [[Venu]] in lead roles,<ref>{{cite web|title=Sada mee sevalo is a dud|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/review/sada/20050328.htm|publisher=Rediff}}</ref> and later made a psychological thriller, ''[[Nandanavanam 120km]]''.  Both these films did not do well at the box office. Despite its commercial failure, ''Nanadanavanam'' got him huge critical acclaim.<ref>{{cite web|title=120 km away from routine flicks|url=http://www.cinegoer.net/reviews/nandanavanam.htm|publisher=cinegoer}}</ref> These were followed by ''[[Mr. Medhavi|Mr.Medhavi]]''. with [[Genelia]] and [[Raja Abel|Raja]] in the lead roles. This film, produced by [[RamaRao Bodduluri]], proved to be an above-average grosser. He also wrote dialogues for a Telugu remake of the [[Hindi]] hit ''[[A Wednesday!]]'', entitled ''[[Eeenadu]]''. In 2011, Neelakanta directed ''[[Virodhi (2011 film)|Virodhi]]'', featuring [[Meka Srikanth]] and [[Kamalinee Mukherjee]]. Neelakanta secured the [[Nandi Award for Best Dialogue Writer|best dialogue writer award]] in the year 2011 for this film. In 2013 he directed ''[[Chammak Challo (film)|Chammak Challo]]'', which gathered bad reviews for both the director and the film.<ref>{{cite web|title=writer sleeping under tree|url=http://english.tupaki.com/enews/view/Neelakantas-Writer-Sleeping-Under-Tree--/18443|publisher=tupaki}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Nothing flashy about this|url=http://www.123telugu.com/reviews/review-chammak-challo-nothing-flashy-about-this.html|publisher=123 telugu}}</ref>
He then made ''[[Sadaa Mee Sevalo|Sada Mee Sevalo]]'', with [[Shriya Saran]] and [[Venu Thottempudi]] in lead roles,<ref>{{cite web|title=Sada mee sevalo is a dud|url=http://www.rediff.com/movies/review/sada/20050328.htm|publisher=Rediff}}</ref> and later made a psychological thriller, ''[[Nandanavanam 120km]]''.  Both these films did not do well at the box office. Despite its commercial failure, ''Nanadanavanam'' got him huge critical acclaim.<ref>{{cite web|title=120 km away from routine flicks|url=http://www.cinegoer.net/reviews/nandanavanam.htm|publisher=cinegoer}}</ref> These were followed by ''[[Mr. Medhavi|Mr.Medhavi]]''. with [[Genelia]] and [[Raja Abel|Raja]] in the lead roles. This film, produced by [[RamaRao Bodduluri]], proved to be an above-average grosser. He also wrote dialogues for a Telugu remake of the [[Hindi]] hit ''[[A Wednesday!]]'', entitled ''[[Eeenadu]]''. In 2011, Neelakanta directed ''[[Virodhi (2011 film)|Virodhi]]'', featuring [[Meka Srikanth]] and [[Kamalinee Mukherjee]]. Neelakanta secured the [[Nandi Award for Best Dialogue Writer|best dialogue writer award]] in the year 2011 for this film. In 2013 he directed ''[[Chammak Challo (film)|Chammak Challo]]'', which gathered bad reviews for both the director and the film.<ref>{{cite web|title=writer sleeping under tree|url=http://english.tupaki.com/enews/view/Neelakantas-Writer-Sleeping-Under-Tree--/18443|publisher=tupaki}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Nothing flashy about this|date=15 February 2013 |url=http://www.123telugu.com/reviews/review-chammak-challo-nothing-flashy-about-this.html|publisher=123 telugu}}</ref>


In 2018, he directed the [[Malayalam cinema|Malayalam]] film ''[[Zam Zam (film)|Zam Zam]]'' starring [[Manjima Mohan]]. The film is an official remake of the Hindi film [[Queen (2014 film)|Queen]].
In 2018, he directed the [[Malayalam cinema|Malayalam]] film ''[[Zam Zam (film)|Zam Zam]]'' starring [[Manjima Mohan]]. The film is an official remake of the Hindi film [[Queen (2014 film)|Queen]].


==Filmography==
==Filmography==
 
*''Note: All films are in Telugu, unless otherwise noted.''
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
! Year
! Year
! Film   
! Film   
! Role
! Language
! Notes
! Notes
|-
|-
| 1994
| 1994
| ''[[Priyanka (1994 film)|Priyanka]]''
| ''[[Priyanka (1994 film)|Priyanka]]''
|Direction
|Tamil film;<br />Remake of Hindi film ''[[Damini&nbsp;– Lightning]]''
|[[Tamil language|Tamil]]
|Remake of Hindi film ''[[Damini&nbsp;– Lightning]]''
|-
|-
| 2002
| 2002
| ''[[Show (film)|Show]]''
| ''[[Show (film)|Show]]''
| Screenplay, direction
| Winner - two [[National Film Awards]]
| Telugu 
| Received two [[National Film Awards]]
|-
|-
| 2003
| 2003
| ''[[Missamma (2003 film)|Missamma]]''
| ''[[Missamma (2003 film)|Missamma]]''
| Screenplay, direction
| Winner - Four [[Nandi Awards]]
| [[Telugu language|Telugu]]
| Received Four Nandi Awards
|-
|-
| 2005
| 2005
| ''[[Sadaa Mee Sevalo]]''
| ''[[Sadaa Mee Sevalo]]''
| Screenplay, direction
| Telugu
|  
|  
|-
|-
| 2006
| 2006
| ''[[Nandanavanam 120km]]''
| ''[[Nandanavanam 120km]]''
| Screenplay, direction,
| Telugu
|   
|   
|-
|-
| 2008  
| 2008  
| ''[[Mr. Medhavi]]''
| ''[[Mr. Medhavi]]''
| Direction
| Telugu 
|  
|  
|-
| 2009
| ''[[Eeenadu]]''
| Dialogues
| Telugu 
| 
|-
|-
| 2011
| 2011
| ''[[Virodhi (2011 film)|Virodhi]]''
| ''[[Virodhi (2011 film)|Virodhi]]''
| Screenplay, direction
| Telugu 
| Screened at [[International Film Festival of India]]&nbsp;– 2011
| Screened at [[International Film Festival of India]]&nbsp;– 2011
Received Two Nandi Awards 2011
<br />Winner - Two [[Nandi Awards]] 2011
 
<br />Screened at [[Melbourne International Film Festival]]-2011<ref>{{cite web|title=IFFM neglected Telugu films|url=http://sirienterprises.net/?news_type=why-telugu-films-are-neglected-in-iffm|publisher=sisi enterprises|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221080018/http://sirienterprises.net/?news_type=why-telugu-films-are-neglected-in-iffm|archive-date=21 February 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
Screened at Melbourne International Film Festival-2011<ref>{{cite web|title=IFFM neglected Telugu films|url=http://sirienterprises.net/?news_type=why-telugu-films-are-neglected-in-iffm|publisher=sisi enterprises|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221080018/http://sirienterprises.net/?news_type=why-telugu-films-are-neglected-in-iffm|archive-date=21 February 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref>  
|-
|-
| 2013
| 2013
| ''[[Chammak Challo (film)|Chammak Challo]]''
| ''[[Chammak Challo (film)|Chammak Challo]]''
| Direction
|
| Telugu
|-
|-
| 2014
| 2014
| ''[[Maaya (2014 film)|Maaya]]''<ref>{{cite web | title = For 'Maaya', Harshvardhan Rane follows caveman's diet|publisher=CNN-IBN | url = http://ibnlive.in.com/news/for-maaya-harshvardhan-rane-follows-cavemans-diet/445975-71-216.html|date=17 January 2014| access-date = 25 May 2014 }}</ref>
| ''[[Maaya (2014 film)|Maaya]]''<ref>{{cite web| title = For 'Maaya', Harshvardhan Rane follows caveman's diet| publisher = CNN-IBN| url = http://ibnlive.in.com/news/for-maaya-harshvardhan-rane-follows-cavemans-diet/445975-71-216.html| date = 17 January 2014| access-date = 25 May 2014| archive-date = 25 May 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140525213532/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/for-maaya-harshvardhan-rane-follows-cavemans-diet/445975-71-216.html| url-status = dead}}</ref>
| Screenplay, direction
| Telugu 
| <ref>{{cite web|title=Maaya is Neelakanta's new film|url=http://www.action2cut.com/news/maaya-director-neelakanta-new-film-movies-list/|publisher=action cut|access-date=3 March 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140303211455/http://www.action2cut.com/news/maaya-director-neelakanta-new-film-movies-list/|archive-date=3 March 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| <ref>{{cite web|title=Maaya is Neelakanta's new film|url=http://www.action2cut.com/news/maaya-director-neelakanta-new-film-movies-list/|publisher=action cut|access-date=3 March 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140303211455/http://www.action2cut.com/news/maaya-director-neelakanta-new-film-movies-list/|archive-date=3 March 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|-
|TBA||''[[Zam Zam (film)|Zam Zam]]''||Direction||[[Malayalam language|Malayalam]]||Remake of Hindi film ''Queen''
| 2023
| ''[[Circle (2023 film)|Circle]]''
|
|-
|{{TBA}}||''[[Zam Zam (film)|Zam Zam]]''||Malayalam film;<br />Remake of Hindi film ''[[Queen (2014 film)|Queen]]''
|-
|}
|}
;As dialogue writer
* ''[[Eeenadu|Eenadu]]'' (2009)


==Awards==
==Awards==
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[[Category:Nandi Award winners]]
[[Category:Nandi Award winners]]
[[Category:People from Kadapa district]]
[[Category:People from Kadapa district]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian film directors]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian people]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian film directors]]
[[Category:Film directors from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Film directors from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Tamil film directors]]
[[Category:Tamil film directors]]
Line 138: Line 118:
[[Category:Best Original Screenplay National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Best Original Screenplay National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:21st-century screenwriters]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian screenwriters]]

Latest revision as of 10:46, 8 October 2025



Neelakanta
Neelakanta in 2018
Born
G. Neelakanta Reddy[1]

Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India
Alma materLoyola College, Vijayawada
OccupationDirector, Screen Writer

Neelakanta is an Indian film director and screenwriter who works predominantly in Telugu films director. He has received the National Award in the screenwriting for the feature Show.[2] He won two National Film Awards and three Nandi Awards.[3]

Personal life[edit | edit source]

Neelakanta is a native of Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh.[1] He studied at Loyola Public School and Loyola College in Vijayawada. Since his school days, Neelakanta has had a deep love for film direction and film making which is what drove him to Chennai after his graduation.

Career[edit | edit source]

Neelakanta always wanted to make films which eloquently depicted the psychological study of characters for the off-beat[4] his passion materialised with Show[5] followed by Missamma. He received two national awards, one for Best Screenplay and the other for the Best Feature Film in Telugu for Show while state Nandi Award in the screenplay department for the latter.

He then made Sada Mee Sevalo, with Shriya Saran and Venu Thottempudi in lead roles,[6] and later made a psychological thriller, Nandanavanam 120km. Both these films did not do well at the box office. Despite its commercial failure, Nanadanavanam got him huge critical acclaim.[7] These were followed by Mr.Medhavi. with Genelia and Raja in the lead roles. This film, produced by RamaRao Bodduluri, proved to be an above-average grosser. He also wrote dialogues for a Telugu remake of the Hindi hit A Wednesday!, entitled Eeenadu. In 2011, Neelakanta directed Virodhi, featuring Meka Srikanth and Kamalinee Mukherjee. Neelakanta secured the best dialogue writer award in the year 2011 for this film. In 2013 he directed Chammak Challo, which gathered bad reviews for both the director and the film.[8][9]

In 2018, he directed the Malayalam film Zam Zam starring Manjima Mohan. The film is an official remake of the Hindi film Queen.

Filmography[edit | edit source]

  • Note: All films are in Telugu, unless otherwise noted.
Year Film Notes
1994 Priyanka Tamil film;
Remake of Hindi film Damini – Lightning
2002 Show Winner - two National Film Awards
2003 Missamma Winner - Four Nandi Awards
2005 Sadaa Mee Sevalo
2006 Nandanavanam 120km
2008 Mr. Medhavi
2011 Virodhi Screened at International Film Festival of India – 2011


Winner - Two Nandi Awards 2011
Screened at Melbourne International Film Festival-2011[10]

2013 Chammak Challo
2014 Maaya[11] [12]
2023 Circle
TBA
Zam Zam Malayalam film;
Remake of Hindi film Queen
As dialogue writer

Awards[edit | edit source]

National Film Awards
Nandi Awards

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Interview with Neelakanta". Idle Brain.
  2. ↑ "Awards of Neelakanta". Cine Radham. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014.
  3. ↑ "నంది అవార్డు విజేతల పరంపర (1964–2008)" [A series of Nandi Award Winners (1964–2008)] (PDF) (in Telugu). Information & Public Relations of Andhra Pradesh. Retrieved 21 August 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  4. ↑ "Directors show all the way". Idle brain.
  5. ↑ "Review". Fully hyderabad.
  6. ↑ "Sada mee sevalo is a dud". Rediff.
  7. ↑ "120 km away from routine flicks". cinegoer.
  8. ↑ "writer sleeping under tree". tupaki.
  9. ↑ "Nothing flashy about this". 123 telugu. 15 February 2013.
  10. ↑ "IFFM neglected Telugu films". sisi enterprises. Archived from the original on 21 February 2015.
  11. ↑ "For 'Maaya', Harshvardhan Rane follows caveman's diet". CNN-IBN. 17 January 2014. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  12. ↑ "Maaya is Neelakanta's new film". action cut. Retrieved 3 March 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)

External links[edit | edit source]

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