Jump to content

Rohit–Sasi

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Avanti Cinema)

Rohit and Sasi
Rohit and Sasi
BornRohit Penumatsa
a.k.a. Avanti Ruya
(1988-09-10) 10 September 1988 (age 36)
Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh
Camp Sasi
(1976-03-30) 30 March 1976 (age 48)
Naoroji Camp, Telangana
Alma materLoyola College, Chennai
(Rohit Penumatsa)
TGLV, Polytechnic, Adoni
(Camp Sasi)
Occupations
  • Film directors
  • screenwriters
  • film editor (Avanti Ruya)
Years active2011–present

Rohit and Sasi[1] (stylized as Rohit & Sasi) are Indian independent filmmakers known for the web series Story Discussion and Nirudyoga Natulu through their production house, Avanti Cinema, praised for unique storytelling, innovative filmmaking, and a dedication to non-mainstream narratives.[2] They are also known for their film Sheeshmahal which was first shot in 2013, was released on 14 February 2024.[citation needed]

Career

[edit]

Since 2011, all films scripted, or directed by Rohit and Sasi fell under the banner of Avanti Chitranaalayam until 2021 when they formally established themselves as Avanti Cinema.[3][4]

Sheeshmahal

[edit]

Rohit and Sasi's first notable collaboration was on the film Sheeshmahal, which was shot in 2013 and had a delayed release on 14 February 2024. Rohit served as the films screenplay-editor, with Vivek Sagar as the music director, Gnana Shekar V. S. as the director of photography, and Rahul Ramakrishna as the lead actor. The film was shot at the 13th International Children's Film Festival India in Hyderabad. The film also was screened at many events.[5][6] The film had a limited released at Prasads Multiplex and an OTT release on ETVWIN.[7]

In 2016, paying homage to Jafar Panahi's Taxi Tehran, Rohit and Sasi presented A Love Letter to Cinema. Produced by Anil AKC, the film premiered on YouTube on 18 September 2016, featuring Vivek Sagar's return as the music director.[8][9]

Teaming up with Tamada Media and Karthik Kult Kreations, Rohit and Sasi ventured into the web series domain with Story Discussion in 2017. The series' success led Mic TV to commission them for Nirudyoga Natulu, released on YouTube from 28 April 2018, to 24 June 2018.[4] After the success of Nirudyoga Natulu, Anvesh Michael[10] and Jagadeesh Prathap Bandari[11] went on to fulfill the prophecy of the characters of aspiring actors they played, as Anvesh became a lead in Aha's Kotha Poradu,[12] and Jagadeesh eventually landed a supporting role in Sukumar's Pushpa: The Rise.[13]

Later in 2018, the duo unveiled Ajeeb Dastan, a 35-minute short film serving as a spin-off centered on the character Harsha the Writer from the Story Discussion series. At the Ajeeb Dastan screening, Rohit & Sasi presented a pitch trailer for the "Season 2 of Story Discussion" as part of a crowdfunding campaign.[14]

Double Engine

[edit]

Double Engine, released on 5 January 2024, represents a significant shift for Rohit Penumatsa and Sasi Camp as they venture into the realm of theatrical filmmaking. Produced under Waltair Productions by Siddharth Rallapalli and Vishwadev Rachakonda, known for their successful film Pareshan, this mass commercial project departs from the duo's previous web-based productions. The film, featuring Vivek Sagar's musical compositions, unfolds against the rustic backdrop of Telangana.[15]

Filmography

[edit]

Short films

[edit]
Year Title Directors Actor Editor Role Notes
2011 Marijuana In Smaller Towns (M.I.S.T) Rohit Yes
2018 Ajeeb Dastan Yes Sasi Yes Mohan Kumar
2021 Gadavani Kaalam Rohit Yes
The Scene Sasi Yes Director
Beer Fiction Sasi Yes
Akrama Sambandham Yes Yes
2022 Etthulu Sasi Yes Debter Co-written and co-directed by Divya
2023 The Scene: Take Two Sasi Yes
2023 Rights Ramana Reddy Sasi Yes Raju

Feature films

[edit]
Year Title Directors Writers Actor Editor Role Notes
2017 A Love Letter to Cinema Yes Yes Sasi Yes Driver
2017 Ranganaayaki Yes Yes Sasi Yes Mohan Kumar
2021 Pickpocket No No Rohit Yes Cameo
2024 Double Engine Rohit Yes Sasi Yes Farmhouse owner Cameo[16]
Sasi as lyricist
Sheeshmahal Sasi Yes Yes Cameramen Multilingual film[2][17]
TBD Chivaraku Migiledhi Yes Yes Yes Post production
Madhu Babu Yes No Yes Filming
3GT — Gopi Galla Goa Trip Yes Yes Sasi Yes Cameo appearance; post production
A Love Letter to Theatre Yes Yes Yes

Streaming television

[edit]
Year Title Creators Directors Writers Actor Editor Role Notes
2017-2022 Story Discussion Yes Rohit Yes Yes Yes Rohit as cameo appearance
Sasi as Mohan Kumar, Prakash Chowdary
Sasi as lyricist
2018 Nirudyoga Natulu Yes Yes[a] Yes Sasi Yes Rahul Karun
2020 Kotha Poradu No No No Sasi Yes Production Head Sasi as lyricist

Frequent collaborations

[edit]
Collaborator Role M.I.S.T Sheeshmahal A Love Letter to Cinema Story Discussion Nirudyoga Natulu Ranganaayaki Ajeeb Dastan Pickpocket Etthulu Akrama Sambandham The Scene Madhu Babu Double Engine Chivaraku Migiledhi Gopi Galla Goa Trip (#3GT)
Gnana Shekar V. S. Cinematographer YesY
Vivek Sagar Music Director YesY YesY YesY YesY YesY YesY YesY YesY
Gayathri Gupta Actor YesY YesY YesY YesY
John Kottoly Actor YesY YesY
Laxman Meesala Actor YesY YesY YesY
Rahul Ramakrishna Actor Additional vocals YesY YesY YesY
Bharat Vyas N Cinematographer YesY YesY
Anvesh Michael Actor YesY YesY YesY
Jagadeesh Prathap Bandari Actor Cameo YesY[18] YesY Cameo YesY

(Singer)

YesY
Raj Tirandasu Actor YesY YesY YesY YesY
Teja ASGK Sound Design YesY YesY YesY YesY YesY
Jubin Raj Sound Design YesY YesY YesY YesY YesY
Snehal Jangala Producer YesY
Sanal George Sound Design YesY YesY
Divya Bandaru Actor, Director YesY YesY YesY YesY

(director)

YesY

(director)

Shashank Raghavula Cinematographer YesY YesY YesY YesY
Ramana Reddy Producer YesY YesY YesY
Smaran Music Director YesY YesY YesY
Ravi Nidamarthy Music Director Mixtape YesY YesY YesY

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ While Rohit and Sasi jointly directed four episodes, Rohit independently directed three episodes and Sasi independently directed two episodes.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "'Most of our scripts are improvised'". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b Dundoo, Sangeetha Devi (1 December 2021). "Telugu indie filmmakers Camp Sasi and Rohit Penumatsa talk about their film 'Sheesh Mahal' and their journey". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  3. ^ Today, Telangana (8 December 2021). "Hyderabad filmmakers aim to create OTT platform". Telangana Today. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Two indie filmmakers believe their alternate platform could change filmmaking model in Tollywood". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  5. ^ "Hyderabad-based indie filmmaker takes the crowdfunding route for 'Sheesh Mahal'". DNA India. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Sheesh Mahal is an upcoming Telugu independent film directed by Sasi". Behindwoods. 20 December 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  7. ^ Kumar, Nelki Naresh. "Sheesh Mahal Movie: ఈ వారం థియేట‌ర్ల‌లో...నెక్ట్స్ వీక్ ఓటీటీలో రిలీజ్ కాబోతోన్న‌ రాహుల్ రామ‌కృష్ణ ఆంథాల‌జీ మూవీ". Hindustantimes Telugu (in Telugu). Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  8. ^ A Shade of the Evening (From "A Love Letter To Cinema") - Single by Vivek Sagar & Avanti Cinema, 6 October 2016, retrieved 16 November 2023
  9. ^ A Love Letter To Cinema (with subs)| A film by Rohit & Sasi | Vyas || Vivek Sagar, retrieved 16 November 2023
  10. ^ Teja, Charan (19 August 2021). "Meet Anvesh Michael, whose series Kotha Poradu showcases rural Telangana". The News Minute. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  11. ^ "'I am an accidental actor,' says Jagadeesh Prathap". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  12. ^ "On a regional dark new film making mode". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  13. ^ Srikar, Ram Venkat (29 May 2023). "Sukumar Sir's Filmmaking Style Always Shocks Me: Jagadeesh Prathap Bandari". www.filmcompanion.in. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  14. ^ "Story Discussion Season 2". Indie Birds. 12 June 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  15. ^ Dundoo, Sangeetha Devi (5 January 2024). "'Double Engine' movie review: Rohit Penumatsa and Camp Sasi deliver an unhinged coming-of-age tale from rural Telangana". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  16. ^ "Double Engine | Song — Palletoori Pillagada (Lyrical) | Telugu Video Songs — Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  17. ^ Sheesh Mahal (2020) | MUBI, retrieved 15 November 2023
  18. ^ "'The sets of Pushpa was my film school'". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
[edit]