Ajita Suchitra Veera facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ajita Suchitra Veera
Film Director

Ajita Suchitra Veera is an Indian film director, writer, artist, and producer. She is known for her unique and visually stunning movies. Her films often mix reality with imagination, dreams, and big ideas about science and philosophy.

Her movie, "Ballad of Rustom," was considered for the Best Picture award at the 86th Academy Awards (Oscars) in 2014. Before that, her short film "Notes on Her" was also an official entry to the Oscars in 2003.

"Ballad of Rustom" was her first full-length film. She wrote, directed, and produced it. She also helped with the film's look, sound, and music. The 61st International Film Festival Mannheim in Germany called it a "powerful cinematographic poem."

Early Life and Inspiration

Ajita Suchitra Veera was born in Hyderabad, India. Her father, Anjan Babu, was an illustrator and photographer. Her mother, Usha Rani, was a journalist who later became a banker.

From a young age, Ajita learned to sketch from her father. She spent her childhood drawing, reading, and watching movies. She also helped her father print photos in their home studio. Her father showed her many types of cameras. She even experimented with making pinhole cameras. These early experiences greatly influenced her unique visual style in filmmaking.

Ajita was a quiet child. Her parents encouraged her to be creative and individual. They loved watching films from all over the world. Her father often took her to see Hollywood movies. Films like "Doctor Zhivago" and adventure stories like "Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid" fascinated her. She also loved reading detective stories and science fiction.

In high school, she discovered the famous Indian filmmaker Satyajit Ray. His films and stories deeply impacted her. She then started watching movies by other great directors. These included French New Wave directors like François Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard. She also admired Hollywood directors like Alfred Hitchcock.

Ajita studied science in college. But her true passion was cinema. She decided to follow her dream of making movies. After a short time studying theater, she joined the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune. This is a very respected film school in India. She graduated with a degree in Film Direction.

Filmmaking Journey

Ajita's film career began with her short film "Notes on Her" in 2003. This film was an Oscar entry and was praised for its unusual style. Her graduate film, "The Solitary Sandpiper," also showed her unique vision. It blended dreams and reality with amazing visuals. She used special techniques, like "Bleach bypass," to create distinct colors and high-contrast images. This style became a signature in her later films, including "Ballad of Rustom."

She also made a documentary called "CHAOS." This film explored how science and art are connected. It looked at mathematics and music together. This project further showed her skill in filmmaking.

From 2005 to 2009, Ajita worked on corporate videos and small promotional films. In 2009, she started her own film company called Imaginem Cinema. She wanted to create a space for new and imaginative Indian films.

Ballad of Rustom

"Ballad of Rustom" is Ajita Suchitra Veera's first full-length film. It was made on 35mm movie film and in CinemaScope. She wrote, directed, and produced this film through her company, Imaginem Cinema. She also designed the production and worked closely on the sound, editing, and music.

The film won "Best Director" at the 12th Osian Cinefan festival in India in 2012. Ajita also received the Indibor Bose Award for Excellence in Cinema in 2013. This award was given by Cine Central, one of India's oldest film societies. It was founded by the legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray. This was the first time in 45 years that this society gave an award to a film director.

"Ballad of Rustom" was first shown at the Cannes Marche du Film in 2012. It then opened at the 61st International Film Festival Mannheim in Germany in November 2012. It was also screened at the International Film Festival Prague in 2013. Ajita Suchitra Veera was the first Indian director invited to this European festival in its 20-year history. The film was also shown at other festivals, including the 17th International Film Festival Kerala.

Awards and Recognitions

Filmography

Feature films

Short films