Laxman Utekar
{{short description|Indian cinematographer and movie director}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Laxman Utekar
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|Image = Indian Panorama Directors Ram, Indranil Roychowdury and Laxman Utekar briefing the Media, at the 44th India International Film Festival of India (IFFI-2013), in Panaji, Goa on November 27, 2013..jpg
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| caption = Utekar at IFFI 2013
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| nationality = Indian
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| occupation = {{hlist|Film director|producer|writer|cinematographer}}
| years_active = 2007{{ndash}}present
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Laxman Utekar is an Indian filmmaker and cinematographer known for his work in Hindi and Marathi films. Utekar began his career as a cinematographer in Hindi cinema with English Vinglish (2012) and Dear Zindagi (2016). He made his directorial debut in 2014 with the Marathi film Tapaal.{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/luka-chuppi-director-laxman-utekar-cinematographer-dop-films-5604412/|title=Luka Chuppi director Laxman Utekar: Wanted to tell a story which reflects Indian colours|date=2019-02-28|website=The Indian Express|language=en-IN|access-date=2019-03-06}} He went on to direct the Hindi romantic comedies Luka Chuppi (2019) and Zara Hatke Zara Bachke (2023), the comedy-drama Mimi (2021), and the historical action film Chhaava (2025).
Career
Utekar started his career as a director of photography in Hindi cinema in 2007 with Khanna & Iyer. He then went on to work on English Vinglish, Dear Zindagi, Hindi Medium and 102 Not Out. He made his directorial debut in 2014 with Marathi film Tapaal. He then directed Lalbaugchi Rani (2016), a slice of life drama about a mentally challenged girl who gets lost in Mumbai.
Utekar first Hindi film as director was the romantic comedy Luka Chuppi (2019) which starred Kartik Aaryan and Kriti Sanon as a couple in a live in relationship and the chaos ensues when their traditional families assume them to be married to each other.{{cite web|author=Roshmila Bhattacharya|date=2 July 2018|title=Kriti Sanon, Kartik Aaryan in a romcom based in Mathura|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/kriti-sanon-kartik-aaryan-in-a-romcom-based-in-mathura/articleshow/64819970.cms|access-date=17 April 2019|work=Mumbai Mirror}} The film received generally positive reviews and emerged as commercial success at the box office, with a total gross collection of {{INRConvert|128.86|c}}.{{Cite tweet|user=taran_adarsh|number=1101346615082725376|title=A situational comedy with a message... Relatable premise, clean humour, foot tapping music, loads of entertainment... Superb climax... Kartik Aaryan top notch, Kriti Sanon damn good. Recommended!|author=Taran Adarsh|date=28 February 2019|accessdate=17 April 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/box-office-collections/worldwide/2019/|title=Worldwide Highest Grossing Bollywood Movies on 2019|website=Bollywood Hungama|access-date=4 May 2019}}
In 2021, Utekar directed and co-wrote with Rohan Shankar the drama Mimi. A remake of the Marathi film Mala Aai Vhhaychy! (2011). the film reunited him with Sanon, in the titular role of a young woman who opts to be a surrogate mother for a foreign couple. Following the non-existent theatrical releases due to COVID-19 pandemic, the film was released through the streaming services Netflix and JioCinema.{{Cite web |date=2021-07-26 |title=Mimi: Kriti Sanon's film releases four days early after online leak |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/mimi-leaked-online-kriti-sanon-and-pankaj-tripathi-s-netflix-film-hit-by-piracy-four-days-before-release-date-101627308556145.html |access-date=2021-07-27 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}} The film received positive reviews from critics, with Renuka Vyahare of The Times of India nothing that "it picks a relevant topic and turns it into an engaging, empowering and compassionate tale on humanity and motherhood".{{Citation |title=Mimi Review: A moving take on motherhood and a sense of belonging |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/hindi/mimi/ottmoviereview/84645026.cms |access-date=2021-07-27}} Taran Adarsh wrote, “Mimi is a heartwarming saga, aimed at families and it will keep the audience thoroughly entertained.”{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Mimi Movie Review: Kriti Sanon starrer MIMI is a heartwarming saga, aimed at families and it will keep the audience thoroughly entertained. Strongly recommended. |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/mimi/critic-review/mimi-movie-review/ |work=Bollywood Hungama |access-date= |language=en}}
Filmography
{{Pending films key}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDB name|2590164}}
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Category:Cinematographers from Maharashtra
Category:Hindi-language film directors
Category:21st-century Indian people
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
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