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Nag Ashwin

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Nag Ashwin Reddy
Ashwin in 2023
Born
Nag Ashwin Reddy

(1986-04-23) 23 April 1986 (age 38)
Nagarkurnool district, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Alma materManipal Academy of Higher Education (B.A)
OccupationFilm director Screenwriter
Years active2015–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2015)​
Children1
RelativesC. Aswani Dutt (Father-in-law)
Swapna Dutt (Sister-in-law)

Nag Ashwin Reddy (born 23 April 1986)[1] is an Indian film director and screenwriter who works in Telugu cinema. He is the recipient of a National Film Award, a Nandi Award, and a Filmfare Award.

After working as an assistant director to Sekhar Kammula, he made his directorial debut in 2015 with the coming-of-age film Yevade Subramanyam, which won him the Nandi Award for Best Debut Director. In 2018, Ashwin directed Mahanati, a biopic of actress Savitri. It emerged as the highest-grossing female-led South Indian film and won him the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu and the Filmfare Award for Best Director – Telugu. He expanded to big-budget cinema with the science fiction film Kalki 2898 AD (2024).

Early life[edit]

Nag Ashwin was born on 23 April 1986 in a Telugu family to Jayaram and Jayanthi Reddy, who are both doctors. He has a younger sister Nikhila, who is also a doctor. Ashwin's mother hails from Visakhapatnam and runs JJ Hospital, along with his father, in Hyderabad.[2]

Ashwin studied in The Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet, Hyderabad. He was classmates and friends with Rana Daggubati since class one.[3] He got his bachelor's degree in Mass Communication from Manipal Academy of Higher Education.[4] He then did a Film Direction course at the New York Film Academy.[5] He is a relative of D. Nageshwara Reddy, the founder of the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology (AIG).[citation needed]

Career[edit]

Ashwin (third from right) receiving an award from Venkaiah Naidu (third from left), the Vice President of India in 2018

Nag Ashwin began his career as an assistant director for the film Nenu Meeku Telusa?.[6] He then worked as assistant director to Sekhar Kammula in Leader (2010) and Life Is Beautiful (2012) and acted in minor roles in all three films.[7][8]

He made his directorial debut with Yevade Subramanyam (2015), which received positive reviews. It was a sleeper hit and gained a cult following post-release.

In May 2016, he announced that his next film would be a biopic of the Indian actress, Savitri, titled Mahanati. He spent six months researching about her life by reading articles and books, in addition to meeting old journalists and actors that associated with her. Backed by Vyjayanthi Movies, principal photography for the film began in May 2017 and was completed by March 2018. The film released on 9 May 2018 garnering both critical and commercial acclaim, and went on to win several awards.[9]

Mahanati was showcased in the Indian Panorama Mainstream section at the 49th International Film Festival of India,[10] and has also garnered the "Equality in Cinema Award" at the 2018 Indian Film Festival of Melbourne.[11] At the 66th National Film Awards 2019, the film won accolades including the Best Feature Film in Telugu.[12][13] Nag Ashwin received the Filmfare Award for Best Director – Telugu at the 66th Filmfare Awards South.[14]

In February 2020, he announced his next project, a science fiction action film, coinciding the occasion of 50th year since the establishment of Vyjayanthi Movies, Prabhas was announced to be the lead actor under the tentative title Prabhas 21 and was later changed to working title Project K.[15] However, the production was delayed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Filming began in July 2021, with a futuristic set erected at Ramoji Film City, in Hyderabad. Produced on a ₹600 crore budget, it is the most expensive Indian film till date. Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan were confirmed to be a part of the film.[16] It was the first Indian film to be presented at San Diego Comic-Con's Hall-H on 20 July 2023, where the makers unveiled the official title of the film as Kalki 2898 AD. The film released worldwide on 27 June 2024 opened to positive reviews from critics and audience. Collider in it's review stated that "Kalki 2898 AD is a unique sci-fi epic that successfully combines supernatural elements with cutting-edge technology", while appreciating performances of the lead cast particularly Prabhas and Bachchan, and the screenplay by Nag Ashwin.[17] Bunbury of Deadline Hollywood wrote that "It is terrific, cathartic fun – and, given that Vishnu’s next avatar has apparently yet to be born, what is described in the marketing blurbs as the Kalki Cinematic Universe can be expected to rage, burn and rip-roar for a good few editions yet, leaving audiences happily flattened with exhaustion" and praised Nag Ashwin's work.[18]

Personal life[edit]

In December 2015, Nag Ashwin married Priyanka Dutt, the second daughter of producer C. Aswani Dutt of Vyjayanthi Movies.[19] The couple has a son, Rishi.[20]

Filmography[edit]

Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released
FilmList of Nag Ashwin film credits
Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes Ref.
2015 Yevade Subramanyam Yes Yes No
2018 Mahanati Yes Yes No
2021 Pitta Kathalu Yes Yes No Segment: xLife [21][22]
Jathi Ratnalu No No Yes [23]
2024 Kalki 2898 AD Yes Yes No [24]
As assistant director and actor
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2008 Nenu Meeku Telusa? Barmani's assistant
2010 Leader Motorcycle rider Special appearance in "Hey CM" song [25]
2012 Life Is Beautiful Gold phase guy

Television[edit]

List of film credits as assistant director
Year Title Role Network Ref.
2024 Bujji & Bhairava Creator/Director Amazon Prime Video [26]

Awards and nominations[edit]

List of awards and nominations received by Nag Ashwin
Title Awards Category Result Ref.
Yevade Subramanyam Nandi Awards Best Debut Director Won [27]
5th SIIMA Award Best Director – Telugu Nominated [28]
Mahanati 66th Filmfare Awards South Best Director Won [14]
66th National Film Awards Best Feature Film – Telugu Won [13]
8th SIIMA Award Best Director Nominated [29]
Zee Cine Awards Telugu Best Director Won [30]
Ramineni Foundation Awards Best Director Won [31]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Nag Ashwin Birthday Special: రెండే… కానీ ప్రతిభలో మేటి!". NTV (in Telugu). 23 April 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Dr. L. Jayanthi Reddy". JJ Hospital. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Rana Happy on Deverakonda's Achievement". M9.news. 13 October 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  4. ^ Chowdhary, Y. Sunita (9 February 2015). "An eye for story". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 25 June 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  5. ^ "Nag Ashwin to Tharun Bhascker, 7 Telugu directors who studied abroad". The News Minute. 25 December 2020. Archived from the original on 25 December 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Nenu Meeku Telusa – Full Cast & Crew". IMDB. Archived from the original on 26 September 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2018. [unreliable source?]
  7. ^ "An eye for story". The Hindu. 9 February 2015. Archived from the original on 25 June 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  8. ^ "This film came at the right time". The Hindu. 17 February 2015. Archived from the original on 26 June 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  9. ^ "Nag Ashwin's next a biopic on legendary actress Savitri". The Indian Express. 27 May 2016. Archived from the original on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 23 October 2016."Dulquer surrenders to his role: Nag Ashwin – Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 9 November 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  10. ^ "IFFI 2018 Announces Official Selection for Indian Panorama Film Section". 31 October 2018. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  11. ^ "Mahanati: 100 glorious days of an undisputed classic! - in.com". in.com. Archived from the original on 8 November 2018.
  12. ^ "66th National Film Awards winners' list: 'Andhadhun', 'KGF', 'Padmaavat' win the prestigious award – Times of India". The Times of India. 9 August 2019. Archived from the original on 9 August 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  13. ^ a b "66th National Film Awards: Full winners list". India Today. Ist. Archived from the original on 9 August 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  14. ^ a b "Winners of the 66th Filmfare Awards (South) 2019". Filmfare. Archived from the original on 22 December 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  15. ^ "Prabhas 21: Director Nag Ashwin Presents 'Heroes Behind the Screen' in New Update for Film". News18. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  16. ^ "Prabhas and Deepika Padukone to star in Nag Ashwin's film". The Indian Express. 19 July 2020. Archived from the original on 8 June 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  17. ^ Ewing, Jeff (28 June 2024). "'Kalki 2898 AD' Review: This Ambitious Sci-Fi Epic Builds a World Worth Seeing". Collider. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  18. ^ Bunbury, Stephanie (1 July 2024). "'Kalki 2898 AD' Review: Prabhas Epic Is Terrific, Cathartic Fun". Deadline. Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  19. ^ "PIX: Venkatesh, Mahesh Babu at Nag Ashwin-Priyanka's wedding reception". Rediff. Archived from the original on 14 January 2019. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  20. ^ "It's a boy for Nag Ashwin & Priyanka! – Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  21. ^ "Pitta Kathalu teaser: Netflix's first Telugu film looks intriguing". The Indian Express. 20 January 2021. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  22. ^ "NetFilx Pitta Kathalu : తెలుగులో మొదటిసారిగా నలుగురు హీరోయిన్స్‌తో నెట్‌ఫ్లిక్స్ అలాంటీ వెబ్ సిరీస్.. టీజర్ విడుదల." News18 Telugu. 20 January 2021. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  23. ^ "'Mahanati' director Nah Ashwin turns producer". The Hindu. 24 October 2019. Archived from the original on 25 April 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
  24. ^ K, Janani (24 July 2021). "Prabhas gives first clap for Amitabh Bachchan as Nag Ashwin's sci-fi film goes on floors". India Today. Archived from the original on 24 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  25. ^ Leader Telugu Full Movie | Rana Daggubati | Sekhar Kammula | Mickey J Meyer. TVNXT Telugu. 7 April 2021. Event occurs at 1:59:04. Archived from the original on 22 February 2024. Retrieved 22 February 2024 – via YouTube.
  26. ^ Malhotra, Rahul (30 May 2024). "'Bujji & Bhairava' Trailer Enters the Retro-Futuristic World of 'Kalki 2898 AD'". Collider. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  27. ^ "2015 Nandi Awards". The Hans India. Archived from the original on 25 June 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  28. ^ "SIIMA 2016 Telugu movie nominations revealed; 'Baahubali,' 'Srimanthudu' lead the list5". International Business Times. Archived from the original on 26 May 2016.
  29. ^ "SIIMA 2019 winners full list: Dhanush, Trisha, Prithviraj win big". Indian Express. 17 August 2019. Archived from the original on 17 August 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  30. ^ "Tollywood's first and biggest Awards event of the Year on Zee Telugu". Zee News. 25 January 2019. Archived from the original on 9 February 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  31. ^ "Tollywood's first and biggest Awards event of the Year on Zee Telugu". Zee News. 25 January 2019. Archived from the original on 9 February 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2019.

External links[edit]

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