Penmetsa Ram Gopal Varma (born 7 April 1962), often referred by his
initials RGV, is an Indian film director, screenwriter and producer,
known for his work in Telugu and Hindi films alongside television.
Varma directed films across multiple genres, including parallel cinema
and docudrama noted for their gritty realism, technical finesse, and
craft. Regarded as one of the pioneers of new age Indian cinema, Varma
received the National Film Award for scripting the political crime
drama, Shool (1999). In 2004, he was featured in the BBC World series
Bollywood Bosses. In 2006, Grady Hendrix of Film Comment, published by
the Film Society of Lincoln Center cited Varma as "Bombay’s Most
Successful Maverick" for his works on experimental films.Varma is
known for presenting the Indian Political Trilogy, and the Indian
Gangster Trilogy; film critic Rajeev Masand had labelled the series as
one of the "most influential movies of Hindi cinema". The first
installment of the trilogy, Satya, was also listed in CNN-IBN's 100
greatest Indian films of all time. Varma's recent avant-garde works
include hits such as the dramatised re-enactment of "Rayalaseema
factionism" in Rakta Charitra (2010), the "2008 Mumbai attacks" in The
Attacks of 26/11 (2013), the "Operation Cocoon" in Killing Veerappan
(2016), and the "Vijayawada riots" in Vangaveeti (2016).Starting his
career as a civil engineer, he made an entry into Telugu cinema with
the path-breaking crime thriller, Siva (1989) screened at the 13th
International Film Festival of India, and has won Varma, the state
Nandi Awards for Best direction, Best first film of a director, and
the Filmfare Award for Best Film â€" Telugu. Subsequently, the film
was included in CNN-IBN's list of 100 greatest Indian films of all
time. Varma's next movie Kshana Kshanam (1991) was screened at the Ann
Arbor Film Festival. The sleeper hit won him another Nandi Award for
Best Direction, and the Nandi Award for Best Screenplay Writer.[29]
The 1993 political drama, Gaayam received six state Nandi Awards. In
1999, he directed Prema Katha for which he received his third Nandi
Award for Best Director.[29]
initials RGV, is an Indian film director, screenwriter and producer,
known for his work in Telugu and Hindi films alongside television.
Varma directed films across multiple genres, including parallel cinema
and docudrama noted for their gritty realism, technical finesse, and
craft. Regarded as one of the pioneers of new age Indian cinema, Varma
received the National Film Award for scripting the political crime
drama, Shool (1999). In 2004, he was featured in the BBC World series
Bollywood Bosses. In 2006, Grady Hendrix of Film Comment, published by
the Film Society of Lincoln Center cited Varma as "Bombay’s Most
Successful Maverick" for his works on experimental films.Varma is
known for presenting the Indian Political Trilogy, and the Indian
Gangster Trilogy; film critic Rajeev Masand had labelled the series as
one of the "most influential movies of Hindi cinema". The first
installment of the trilogy, Satya, was also listed in CNN-IBN's 100
greatest Indian films of all time. Varma's recent avant-garde works
include hits such as the dramatised re-enactment of "Rayalaseema
factionism" in Rakta Charitra (2010), the "2008 Mumbai attacks" in The
Attacks of 26/11 (2013), the "Operation Cocoon" in Killing Veerappan
(2016), and the "Vijayawada riots" in Vangaveeti (2016).Starting his
career as a civil engineer, he made an entry into Telugu cinema with
the path-breaking crime thriller, Siva (1989) screened at the 13th
International Film Festival of India, and has won Varma, the state
Nandi Awards for Best direction, Best first film of a director, and
the Filmfare Award for Best Film â€" Telugu. Subsequently, the film
was included in CNN-IBN's list of 100 greatest Indian films of all
time. Varma's next movie Kshana Kshanam (1991) was screened at the Ann
Arbor Film Festival. The sleeper hit won him another Nandi Award for
Best Direction, and the Nandi Award for Best Screenplay Writer.[29]
The 1993 political drama, Gaayam received six state Nandi Awards. In
1999, he directed Prema Katha for which he received his third Nandi
Award for Best Director.[29]
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