Rajesh N Shankadh
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| Rajesh N Shankadh | |
|---|---|
| File:Rajesh N Shankadh.jpgRajesh N Shankadh.jpg Rajesh N Shankadh | |
| Born | 9 May 1998 Bengaluru, Karnataka, India |
| 💼 Occupation | Film director, screenwriter, producer |
Rajesh N Shankadh is an Indian film director, screenwriter and producer who works primarily in Kannada cinema. He is known for directing the segment "Blockbuster" in the 2024 Kannada anthology film BTS: Behind the Scenes. The film was made by five filmmakers, with Shankadh serving as one of its directors, writers and producers.
Early life
Birth and background
Rajesh N Shankadh was born on 9 May 1998 in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. Publicly available information about his family background and childhood is limited.
Education
Shankadh attended PES University in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Career
Early career
Shankadh has described himself as a filmmaker and has worked as a screenwriter and video producer. His professional profile identifies him as a "Filmmaker | Screenwriter | Video Producer". His public Instagram profile also describes him as a filmmaker.[1]
Before his feature-film debut, Shankadh was described in media coverage as a screenwriter and director of web series. His approach to storytelling has been described as combining contemporary elements with established storytelling techniques.[2]
BTS: Behind the Scenes
Shankadh made his feature-film debut with the Kannada anthology film BTS: Behind the Scenes, which was released in November 2024.[3] The film comprises five stories by emerging filmmakers. Shankadh directed the segment "Blockbuster", which marked his feature-film directorial debut. He also wrote and produced the segment.
The anthology explores the experiences of people working in the film industry, including filmmakers, actors and other crew members. Contemporary reporting described the film as focusing on the less visible aspects of filmmaking and the sacrifices, challenges and ambitions associated with working in cinema.[4][2]
According to the film's credits, Shankadh served as a director, writer and producer alongside the other filmmakers. The film was released theatrically on 8 November 2024 and has a reported runtime of approximately 150 minutes.[3] The film is also listed on Amazon Prime Video.[5]
"Blockbuster"
Blockbuster is the segment of the Kannada anthology film BTS: Behind the Scenes directed by Rajesh N Shankadh. Shankadh also served as the segment's writer and producer.[6] The segment focuses on a writer dealing with the pressures associated with creating a successful film.[7]
The New Indian Express described "Blockbuster" as an exploration of the pressure and chaos involved in creating a hit film, while Cinema Express characterised the segment as depicting the collision between ambition and pressure during the creative process.[8][9]
The segment takes an experimental approach to narrative and visual style. It was shot entirely in black and white, a choice Shankadh described as intended to create what he called "subject concentration" by reducing visual distractions and directing attention towards the character, his surroundings and his internal state.[10]
Shankadh has also discussed the segment's editing approach, which uses repetition, pauses, prolonged moments and changes in pacing to reflect the protagonist's psychological progression and experience of creative frustration.[10]
The segment includes visual experimentation, including a mirror sequence towards the end of the film. Shankadh has cited the French film La Haine as a reference point for exploring unconventional visual techniques in the sequence.[10]
During a film festival event at Habitat World in New Delhi, Shankadh discussed the deliberately uncomfortable pacing of the segment. He explained that the film was intended to make viewers experience an emotional state similar to that of its protagonist, including feelings of frustration, emptiness and restlessness associated with writer's block.[10] He said that subsequent discussions with viewers indicated that some audience members experienced the film in this manner.[10]
Shankadh has described Blockbuster as an opportunity to experiment with storytelling, form and cinematic technique outside conventional commercial considerations. He has said that the freedom to make a similarly uncompromising experimental film could become more difficult when working within larger, producer-driven productions.[10]
Reception
BTS: Behind the Scenes received reviews from several publications following its release. The South First described the anthology as a promising debut by five new voices in Kannada cinema and singled out "Blockbuster" as one of its notable segments.[11]
The Times of India gave the film a critic's rating of 3 out of 5 and described "Blockbuster" and "Sumoha" as standout segments, while noting the anthology's focus on the personal and professional lives of people involved in filmmaking.[3]
Cinema Express described the anthology as an exploration of the less visible lives of people involved in cinema and noted that Shankadh's "Blockbuster" portrayed the pressure and ambition associated with creating a successful film.[9]
Industry response
Director Pawan Kumar attended a special screening of BTS: Behind the Scenes and shared his views on the anthology in a video published by Habitat World.[12] He noted the film's anthology format, with five directors contributing stories centred on people working in and around filmmaking. As a filmmaker himself, Kumar said he found the film relatable, particularly its depiction of behind-the-scenes experiences, everyday life on film sets and the inner thoughts of writers.[12]
Kumar described BTS: Behind the Scenes as a new-generation anthology that combines experimental storytelling with emotionally engaging narratives. He characterised the film as a positive viewing experience and recommended it to audiences as an independent work by emerging filmmakers.[12]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | BTS: Behind the Scenes | Director, writer, producer |
Shankadh's listed filmography includes BTS: Behind the Scenes as a director, writer and producer.
Creative approach
Shankadh's work in "Blockbuster" uses an unconventional narrative to explore the creative pressures experienced by a writer. Contemporary reviews have noted the segment's focus on ambition, creative struggle and the realities behind the production of commercial cinema.[9][4]
In interviews associated with BTS: Behind the Scenes, Shankadh has discussed the importance of making stories relatable to contemporary audiences. His approach has been described as combining contemporary ideas with elements of established storytelling.[2]
Because Shankadh's feature-film career began with BTS: Behind the Scenes, detailed information about his broader artistic influences and long-term filmmaking philosophy remains limited in published sources.
See also
- Kannada cinema
- BTS: Behind the Scenes
References
- ↑ "Rajesh N Shankadh (@shankadh)". Instagram. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "'BTS' is a love letter to the myriad individuals who live and breathe cinema". The New Indian Express. 6 November 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "BTS: Behind The Scenes". The Times of India. 7 November 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Kannada anthology on unsung side of moviemaking". Deccan Herald. 7 November 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ "BTS: Behind the Scenes". Prime Video. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ "Behind The Scenes". Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ "BTS: Behind The Scenes Movie Review: Behind The Scenes film review: An ode to cinema". The Times of India. 8 November 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ "'Behind The Scenes' series review: A bold exploration of cinema's untold realities by emerging voices". The New Indian Express. 9 November 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "BTS Movie Review: A bold exploration of cinema's untold realities by emerging voices". Cinema Express. 9 November 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 Habitat World. "[Instagram post]". Instagram. India Habitat Centre. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedSouthFirst - ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 "ಇದೇ ತೆರೆಹಿಂದಿನ ನಗ್ನ ಸತ್ಯ". YouTube. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
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