Dharani | |
|---|---|
| Born | V. C. Ramani |
| Occupation | Film directorScreenwriter |
| Years active | 1999–2011 |
Dharani (bornV. C. Ramani) is a former Indian film director and screenwriter who primarily worked inTamil cinema as well as directing oneTelugu film.[1][2] He is best known for directing the hat-trick action films,Dhill (2001),Dhool (2003), andGhilli (2004).[3]
He pursued English literature degree at Loyola College then learnt editing at film institute. He also owned an orchestra under the name Dilip Ramani. After his diploma in film technology, he assisted six directors.[4]
He first directed the filmEthirum Pudhirum, loosely based on forest brigandVeerappan and his younger brother's death, starringMammootty. Political controversies ensured its delayed release in 1999. It received critical acclaim and was awarded second place in theTamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film. The film's producer T. Ajay kumar made Dharani the director of his next production, starringVikram,Dhill. The film was a box-office success and his next filmDhool, produced byA. M. Rathnam in 2003, again with Vikram along withJyothika andReemma Sen, was a box office success. He worked withA. M. Rathnam again for the filmGhilli starringVijay andTrisha, that was a blockbuster movie and a comeback movie in Vijay's career.[5] It was followed byTelugu filmBangaram, featuringPawan Kalyan in the lead. In 2008, he directedKuruvi, rejoining the lead cast ofGhilli. Unlike the previous success inGhilli,Kuruvi was an sleeper hit at the box office after completion of 150 days. In 2011, he remade the 2010 Hindi filmDabangg in Tamil asOsthe, withSilambarasan in the lead role, which was again declared an average hit.
Dharani announced that he would make a Telugu sports-based film titledMerupu withRam Charan Teja andKajal Aggarwal, and the film had an official launch in late April 2010. The film progressed slowly throughout 2010 and was later shelved by 2011.[6] He has not directed any film since.[7]
| Year | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Ethirum Pudhirum | Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Third Best Film |
| 2001 | Dhill | |
| 2003 | Dhool | |
| 2004 | Ghilli | Remake ofOkkadu |
| 2006 | Bangaram | Telugu film |
| 2008 | Kuruvi | |
| 2011 | Osthe | Remake ofDabangg |
| Film | Vidyasagar | S. Gopinath | V. T. Vijayan | Ashish Vidyarthi | Vivek | Trisha |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ethirum Pudhirum (1999) | Yes | |||||
| Dhill (2001) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Dhool (2003) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Ghilli (2004) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Bangaram (2006) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Cameo | ||
| Kuruvi (2008) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Osthe (2011) | Yes | Yes |