Ravi Chopra | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1946-09-27)27 September 1946 |
| Died | 12 November 2014(2014-11-12) (aged 68) |
| Education | St. Xavier's College, Mumbai (BA) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1969–2009 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Father | B.R. Chopra |
| Family | Chopra family |
Ravi Chopra (27 September 1946 – 12 November 2014) was an Indian filmmaker, best known for directing the television showMahabharat (1988–1990).
Chopra was the son of producer and directorB.R. Chopra and nephew ofYash Chopra.Aditya Chopra andUday Chopra are his cousins.
He was married to Renu since 1975, they have two children together.
On 23 October 2012, he was diagnosed with a severe lung ailment and was discharged fromBreach Candy Hospital after a week. "He was discharged from hospital on October 26," hospital sources said, without going into details. He was being treated for lung cancer at CMC Vellore.[1] Chopra died on 12 November 2014 at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai where he had been admitted a few days earlier for a lung ailment. He was 68 years old, and survived by his wife and two children.[2][3][4]
Chopra started his career assisting his father B.R. Chopra in films like,Dastaan (1972) andDhund (1973). He also assisted his uncle Yash Chopra inIttefaq (1969). Eventually, he made his independent directorial debut withZameer (1975), produced under the family banner, B. R. Films.
In 1980, he directed the ensembledisaster filmThe Burning Train, which over the years is considered a cult classic.[5] Other films he directed includedMazdoor (1983),Aaj Ki Awaaz,Dehleez (1986),Pratigyabadh andKal Ki Awaz (1992).
During 1988-89 along with his father, he directed the TV series Mahabharat. After his father's death the only movie Ravi produced wasBhoothnath (2008).
Ravi directed the highly successful television serialMahabharat, which aired during 1988–1990, and the televisionmini-series,Ramayan, which was aired in 2002. He also directed mythological shows like Vishnu Puran and Ma Shakti. His TV series Aap Beeti was one of the most popular TV show on Doordarshan National in the early 2000s.
Chopra was served with a legal notice in 2009 by20th Century Fox, which charged thatBanda Yeh Bindaas Hai blatantly plagiarised their 1992 filmMy Cousin Vinny.[6] Chopra and the production company, BR Films, denied the charges in court in May 2009. The film's release was to be delayed until June 2009 by order of theBombay High Court.[7][8]
A lawsuit was filed against BR Films by20th Century Fox for copying their film without buying the rights.[8][9] Fox sought damages of $1.4 million; they had given Chopra permission "to make a film loosely based on theAcademy Award winning movie" but concluded the final product was a "substantial reproduction" of the original.[10] Fox eventually accepted a $200,000 settlement from the film's producer.[11] Although since the death of Ravi Chopra in 2014, it has not seen a theatrical release.[12][13]
The Telegraph, listing a number of other Bollywood movies "inspired" by Hollywood blockbusters, noted that the case would "decide whether Indian filmmakers can continue to get their 'inspiration' with impunity, or buy rights the legal way."[9]
| Year | Title | Director | Producer | Writer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Ittefaq | No | No | No | Assistant director |
| 1972 | Dastaan | No | No | No | Assistant director |
| 1973 | Dhund | Associate | No | No | |
| 1975 | Zameer | Yes | No | No | |
| 1978 | Tumhari Kasam | Yes | No | No | |
| 1980 | The Burning Train | Yes | No | Yes | |
| Insaf Ka Tarazu | No | Associate | No | ||
| 1981 | Agni Pareeksha | No | Associate | No | |
| 1982 | Nikaah | No | Associate | No | |
| Teri Meri Kahani | No | Associate | No | Television film | |
| 1983 | Dharti Aakash | No | Associate | No | Television film |
| Mazdoor | Yes | No | No | ||
| 1984 | Aaj Ki Awaaz | Yes | Associate | No | |
| 1986 | Dahleez | Yes | Associate | No | |
| 1987 | Awam | No | Associate | No | |
| 1991 | Pratigyabadh | Yes | No | No | |
| 1992 | Kal Ki Awaz | Yes | Yes | No | Co-directed withB.R. Chopra |
| 1999 | Eastside | No | Yes | Yes | |
| 2003 | Baghban | Yes | No | No | |
| 2004 | Karma | No | Yes | No | Short film |
| 2006 | Baabul | Yes | No | Yes | |
| 2008 | Heaven on Earth | No | Executive | No | |
| Bhoothnath | No | Yes | No | ||
| 2009 | Cooking with Stella | No | Executive | No | |
| TBA | Banda Yeh Bindaas Hai | Yes | Yes | No | Unreleased |
| Year | Title | Director | Producer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Bahadur Shah Zafar | Yes | Yes |
| 1987 | Chunni | Yes | No |
| 1988–1990 | Mahabharat | Yes | No |
| 1993–1996 | Kanoon | Yes | No |
| 1995 | Ek Se Badhkar Ek | Yes | No |
| 1995–1996 | Jhansi Ki Rani | Yes | No |
| 1997 | Aurat | Yes | Yes |
| 1997–1998 | Mahabharat Katha | Yes | Yes |
| 2000–2002 | Vishnu Puran | Yes | No |
| 2001 | Aap Beeti | Yes | Yes |
| 2001–2002 | Ramayan | Yes | Yes |
| 2002–2003 | Maa Shakti | Yes | Yes |
| 2004–2005 | Kamini Damini | Yes | Yes |
| 2008 | Sujata | No | Yes |
In 1985, Chopra was nominated forBest Director at the32nd Filmfare Awards for his filmAaj Ki Awaaz (1984).[14]
In 2004, he was nominated at theIIFA Awards andScreen Awards for Best Director for his filmBaghban (2003).[15][16]
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| National | |
| Other | |
