Shoojit Sircar
Director
With roots that go back to doing theatre on the streets of Delhi, Shoojit Sircar today has managed to carve a distinct place for himself in the world of contemporary Indian cinema. With his movies, their characters and cinematic worlds reflecting rooted, real and unique shades of human nature.
His directorial debut, Yahaan tackled the turmoil faced by the Kashmiri people. It won him the best director award in the Osian Film Festival 2005. He followed that with Vicky Donor, a film that brought the taboo topic of sperm donation into a dining table conversation. Vicky Donor went on to win three national awards including ‘Best Entertainer of the year’. He followed that up with the hard-hitting political thriller Madras Café, throwing light on one of the most tumultuous periods in the sub-continent's history – the Sri Lankan civil war.
A year later he brought us the much loved slice of life, Piku – a father–daughter relationship comic drama, aptly played out by Amitabh Bachchan and Deepika Padukone. It went on to win over 18 awards from across the nation. And then came Pink – a film that was termed as not just a movie but rather a ‘movement’. With October, Shoojit Sircar shared a most poetic, soulful, personal take on love. And with the absurdist satire, Gulabo Sitabo, an unapologetic take on human greed. And, the historical drama, Sardar Udham, with Vicky Kaushal playing the Indian revolutionary Udham Singh. Sardar Udham is touted to be one of the most awaited films of 2023.
Besides bringing us such diverse cinematic visions, Shoojit Sircar has also taken up the mantle of backing quality projects as a producer, producing the much appreciated regional film Aparajita Tumi and Open Tee Bioscope.
As an ad film maker, Shoojit has been recognized internationally through works like the Cannes award-winning, ‘Lead India campaign’ which brought together most respected Indian icons, Gujarat Tourism, Airtel, Coca-Cola, Tata Sky and Wrigleys' Doublemint. His last commercials - Mirinda #Release The Pressure and ALL OUT #MujheSabNahinPata - are both strong comments on modern parenthood and have garnered millions of hits on social media.
With a resolute passion for quality film-making, Shoojit Sircar has established himself as a prolific and gifted talent in Indian cinema today, one whose work the Indian audience has come to eagerly await time and again.
Ronnie Lahiri
Producer
Born into an army family, Ronnie went to school in Shillong in north-eastern India. He went on to study management and started his career in the hotel industry. He began his film production career as an executive producer with Red Ice films, managing upcoming film-makers.
Lahiri and Sircar started Rising Sun Films in 2007. Together, they produced some of the most memorable advertising commercials for brands across the international brand universe.
He went on to add another dimension to his production skills when he helped Shoojit produce their first feature film, together, Yahaan, a critically appreciated film, that went on to win the best director award at OSIAN Film Festival for Shoojit Sircar.
And there has been no looking back since. Today, Ronnie holds one of the most successful and varied repertoires of films in the industry today, films that include Vicky Donor, Madras Cafe, Piku, Pink, October. And Gulabo Sitabo – the first big Indian film production to release directly on an OTT platform.
With the much appreciated historical biopic Sardar Udham, Ronnie has cemented his position as a producer of international repute spearheading a crew of over 300 talents from 4 different nations across the globe.