Rajesh Touchriver

Rajesh Touchriver
Rajesh Touchriver
Born	Rajesh Touchriver; Idukki, Kerala, India
Occupation	director, producer, designer, writer
Years active	1997 – present
Website	www.rajeshtouchriver.com

Rajesh Touchriver (M. S. Rajesh) is an Indian filmmaker, production designer and scriptwriter. He has won several state awards, national and international awards for his feature films, documentaries and short films.^[1]^[2] He worked with the National School of Drama, New Delhi as a designer in 1995. By the year 1998, he had directed more than 30 plays in Malayalam, English and Telugu languages. Rajesh won the Charles Wallace Trust Award in 2001 and pursued his master's degree in visual language/scenography and direction from the Wimbledon College of Art, London.^[3]

In 2002 he directed In the Name of Buddha which was later screened in the Spotlight on India section at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival.^[4]^[5] In 2013, he directed Na Bangaaru Talli which won four Nandi awards (from the state of Andhra Pradesh),^[6] the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu, Best Music Direction (Background Score), and five international awards.^[7]^[8]

He has also served on the jury of 62nd National Film Awards, Govt. of India, 2014, ALIIF 2016, IIFF 2016, 65th National Film Awards, Govt. of India, 2017, Filmfare awards 2017.

Early life[]

Rajesh Touchriver was born in Arakulam, Idukki district, Kerala, India as the youngest son of Mr Siva Sankaran Nair and Mrs Rukmini Amma. He had some early training in Kalaripayattu. He took his bachelor's degree in Design and Direction from the School of Drama and Fine Arts in 1992, Trissur, Kerala.

Film career[]

Rajesh's debut film In the Name of Buddha (2002) was premiered at the Oslo International Film Festival and won critical acclaim. Controversial in theme, the film is a treatment^[9] of the ethnic conflict then raging in Sri Lanka. The film was screened at international film festivals in 2003 and won the Best Foreign Film award at the Beverly Hills International Film Festival, the Newport Beach International Film Festival and at the Wine Country International Film Festival in the same year.^[2] Rajesh directed two Telugu films in the interim: 10 the Strangers and Alex, the Blue Fox.^[10]^[11] In 2013, he directed the Malayalam film Ente. Its Telugu version "Naa Bangaaru Talli" won the national film award for the Best Feature Film in Telugu in 2013, Best Feature Film Award at the 2013 Trinity International Film Festival^[12] and Film maker of the Year and Award of Excellence from IFFCRM, Indonesia in 2013,^[13] and Nandi Awards 2013 from the Andhra Pradesh Government.

Documentaries and short films[]

Rajesh has made several short films and documentaries on human trafficking, HIV/AIDS and communal riots that support the media advocacy initiatives of the United Nations and NGOs, national and international. His film for the United Nations, One Life, No Price for social sensitisation against human trafficking was well received by civil society organisations internationally. Amitabh Bachchan, Preity Zinta and John Abraham appear in the film as spokespersons for the cause.^[14]

Anamika, the Nameless on a similar theme which was shot in the red light areas of India in Mumbai, Kolkata, Pune and Delhi,^[15] won the AC award under the "Best Foreign Award – Documentary Short Film" category^[16] and the Best Documentary Film Award at the Hyderabad International Film Festival.^{[citation needed]} The film has been included in the curriculum of National Police Academy and National Judicial Academy.^[17]

The Sacred Face, a short film on child sexual abuse, sent the audience back home unsettled at its screening in Hyderabad.^[18]

Music videos[]

Following the success of in the Name of Buddha, Rajesh directed the music video for "Sunshowers" for Maya Arulpragasam (M.I.A.). He directed "Ente Malayalam", for the Manorama Music channel to commemorate the 50th year of Kerala formation.

Feature films – screenplay & direction[]

In the Name of Buddha (150 mins, English/Sinhalese/Tamil/Hindi, 35mm anamorphic, 2002)
10-The Strangers (125 mins, Telugu, Hindi, 35mm anamorphic, 2005)
Alex-The Blue Fox (160 mins, Telugu, 35 mm anamorphic, 2005)
Naa Bangaaru Talli (125 mins, Telugu, 35mm anamorphic, 2013)
Ente (125 mins, Malayalam, 35mm anamorphic, 2013)
Raktham – The Blood ( 123 mins, Telugu, 2019)
Patnagarh [2][3](135 mins, Telugu, 2019)
Patnagarh (135 mins, Odia, 2019)^[14]

^[15] [4]

Cyanide (Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada)- 2020, Under preproduction [5][6][7]

Short films – screenplay & direction[]

THE SILENT CRY (12 mins, English, 2017)
The Sacred Face (13 mins, English, 2006)
Pehachan (14 mins, Hindi, 2008)
Needalu (Shadows) (14 mins, Telugu, 2009)
Main Aur Meri Sachaien (13 mins, Hindi, 2009)

Documentaries – screenplay, direction, cinematography[]

SWARAKSHA – (20 mins, English, HD, 2017)
TO INFINITY AND BEYOND – Govt of Telangana & Govt of Andhra Pradesh(30 mins, English, HD, 2015)
Synergy in Action – (20 mins, English, HD, 2007)
One Life No Price – (9 mins, English, HD, 2007)
The Man, His Mission – (11 mins, English, DV, 2006)
Aparajitha – (26 mins, English, DV, 2006)
Anamika – The Nameless – (26 mins, English/Hindi/Telugu, Oriya, Kannada, DV, 2005)
Building Bridges – (11 mins, English, DV, 2004)
Me and Us – (24 mins, English, DV, 2004)
Agni – (34 mins, Hindi, DV, 2004)
Shanti Ki Aur – (30 mins, Hindi, DV, 2004)
A Chance to Live – (30 mins, English, DV, 2004)
Dahan – (34 mins, Hindi, DV, 2004)
Astha-An Ode to Life – (26 mins, English, DV, 2004)
Of Freedom and Fear – (30 mins, English/Telugu, DV, 2003)
Bhagnagar – (15 mins, Hindi, DV, 2003)

Music videos – screenplay, direction[]

"Sunshowers" for MIA XL Recording, London, UK (3 mins, English, Super 16 mm, 2004)[8]
"Hire Fire" for Prajwala (music album containing six 4 mins songs against human trafficking, Hindi/Telugu, DV, 2004)^[16]

Commercials – direction[]

Ente Malayalam – 50 yrs celebration of formation of Kerala state (2 mins, Malayalam, 35 mm, 2006) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYY3QV19gqg
Whose Child ? – (30 secs, Telugu, DV, 2004)
Why? – (30 secs, Telugu, DV, 2004)
Reach Out – (30 secs, Telugu, DV, 2004)

Feature films – production design[]

Quicksand – (English, 35mm, 2001)
Student #1 – (Telugu, 35mm, 2001)
Nuvvu Leka Nenu Lenu – (Telugu, 35mm, 2002)
Manasantha Nuvve – (Telugu, 35mm, 2001)
Iddaru Mitralu – (Telugu, 35mm, 1999)
Kalisundaam Raa – (Telugu, 35mm, 1999)

Awards[]

The Indie Gathering International Film Festival, Ohio, USA

Best Foreign Feature Film – RAKTHAM (The Blood) (2017)^[19]
Best Cinematography – Ramathulasi RAKTHAM (The Blood) (2017)^[19]
Best Overall Feature Film – Peoples Choice – RAKTHAM (The Blood) (2017)^[19]

National Film Awards

Nandi Awards (Govt of Andhra Pradesh State Awards)

International Awards

Best actor Award LIFFT INDIA FILMOTSAV – 2019
Best Music – Background score Award LIFFT INDIA FILMOTSAV – 2019
Best director (Regional cinema) RAJASTHAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL – 2018

Best foreign feature film Award - CROSSING THE SCREEN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2017
Best feature film- AUDIENCE AWARD – INDE GATHERING INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL- 2017
Best Film maker of the Year Award IFFCRM, Jakarta, Indonesia – 2013
Award of Excellence from IFFCRM, Indonesia – 2013^[2]
Best Feature Film Award Trinity International Film Festival – 2013
Best Documentary Film Award Hyderabad International Film Festival – 2008
Best Editing Award Festival De Cine De Granada – 2007
Best Foreign Documentary film Award Action Cut International Film Festival 2006
Best outstanding Alumnus Award – School of Drama- 2003
Best Film Award Wine country International Film Festival- 2003
Best Film Award New port Beach International Film Festival – 2003
Best foreign film Award Beverly Hills International Film Festival- 2003
The Charles Wallace India Trust Award.- 2001^[17]^[18]

Nominations[]

Best Original Screenplay of a Foreign Language film (RAKTHAM- THE BLOOD) – Madrid International Film Festival – 2018
Best Foreign Language Feature Film (NAA BANGAARU TALLI) – Madrid International Film Festival – 2018
Best Editing of a Foreign Language Feature Film (RAKTHAM – THE BLOOD) – Madrid International Film Festival -2018
Best Lead Actress in a Foreign Language Feature film (NAA BANGAARU TALLI) – Madrid International Film Festival -2018
Best Original Score of a Feature Film (RAKTHAM – THE BLOOD) – Madrid International Film Festival -2018
Best Feature Film (RAKTHAM – THE BLOOD) – The Indie Gathering International Film Festival, Ohio, USA – 2017
Best Director (RAKTHAM – THE BLOOD) – The Indie Gathering International Film Festival, Ohio, USA – 2017
Best Feature Lead Actor (RAKTHAM – THE BLOOD) – The Indie Gathering International Film Festival, Ohio, USA – 2017
Best Feature Lead Actress (RAKTHAM – THE BLOOD) – The Indie Gathering International Film Festival, Ohio, USA – 2017

Official Screenings[]

Madrid International Film Festival – 2018 (RAKTHAM- THE BLOOD)
Beijing International Film Festival, China – 2014
Myrtle Beach International Film Festival, USA – 2014
Indian Film Festival of Ireland – 2014
Asia Pacific Screen Awards – 2014
20th Kolkata International Film Festival – 2014
Kolhapuri International Film Festival – 2014
Indian Film Festival of Cincinnati – 2014
Hyderabad Bengali Film Festival – 2014
Cinema of Resistance – Darpana, Ahmedabad – 2014
Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival – 2014
IFFK (International Film Festival of Kerala) – 2003
Festival of Festivals, St. Petersburg – 2003
Asian Film festival of Dallas – 2003
Human Rights Film Festival – 3 Continents – 2003
Durban International Film Festival – 2003
Oslo International Film Festival – 2002
Cannes International Film Festival – 2002

References[]

External links[]

Official website

[1] Trouble in paradise | Film | The Guardian

[autogenerated1-2] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c The Hindu : Touch and go

[3] Real story in reel life – The Hindu

[4] "Touch and go". The Hindu. 12 June 2003. Archived from the original on 21 August 2003.

[5] ttp://rrtd.nic.in/Film%20Bulletin-Apl03.htm

[6] ttp://wwwthetelugufilmnagar.com/2017/03/01/2013-nandi-awards-winnerslist/amp

[7] National Film Awards: And the winners are – IBNLive

[8] ttp://www.alllightsfilmmagazine.com/index.php/filmosphere/movies-more/news/777-indian-film-industry-proclaims-their-presence-loudly-in-iffsrv-and-iffcrm-2013

[9] "Trouble in paradise", Luke Harding, The Guardian, 8 May 2003

[10] 10 – The Strangers Telugu Movie – Preview, Trailers, Gallery, Review, Events, Synopsis

[11] CineGoer.com – Telugu Movie Reviews – Alex

[12] Trinity International Film Festival: 2013 AWARD WINNERS

[13] Winners of the International Film Festival for Comedy, Romance, and Musical

[autogenerated3-14] Jump up to: ^a ^b UNODC and Bollywood unite against trafficking

[autogenerated2-15] Jump up to: ^a ^b The Hindu : Life Thiruvananthapuram : Speaking out for the `nameless'

[autogenerated4-16] Jump up to: ^a ^b Best film award for docu on sex trade – The Times of India

[autogenerated6-17] Jump up to: ^a ^b http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=299172

[autogenerated5-18] Jump up to: ^a ^b The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Documentary on incest shocks viewers

[indiegathering2017-19] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c [1]

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