Major Ravi
{{Short description|Indian actor and director (born 1958)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix = Major
| name = A. K. Raveendran
| honorific_suffix = SM
| image = Major Ravi.JPG
| image size =
| caption =
| native_name =
| other_names = Major Ravi
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1958|6|13}}
| birth_place = Pattambi, Palakkad, Kerala, India
| nationality =
| alma_mater = Army Cadet College .
| occupation = {{hlist|Indian Army|Commando|Film director|screenwriter|actor}}
| years_active =
| spouse = {{marriage|Anitha|1988}}
| children = Arjun Ravi
| parents = {{ubl|P. Kuttisankaran Nair|A. T. Satyabhama}}
| relatives = Kannan Pattambi (Brother)
| website =
| module = {{Infobox military person|embed=yes
| allegiance = {{Flag|India}}
| branch = {{Army|India}}
| serviceyears =
| unit =
}}
}}
Major A. K. Raveendran SM (born 13 June 1958) is a retired officer of the Indian Army, former National Security Guard commando, film actor and film director predominantly works in Malayalam cinema and some films in Tamil and Hindi. He was awarded the President's gallantry medal in 1991 and 1992 for his contributions in fighting terrorism in Punjab and Kashmir.{{Cite web|url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/citytimes/a-major-in-the-film-industry|title = A major in the film industry}} After retiring from the army, he began his career in Indian cinema as a consultant for military-based films. He made his independent directorial debut in 2006 with Keerthi Chakra for which he won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Screenplay.{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/The-untold-story-of-a-commando-operation-Film-review/article14795400.ece|title=The untold story of a commando operation Film review|date=2007-07-17|work=The Hindu|access-date=2017-11-13|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}
Family
Major Ravi was born to P. Kuttisankaran Nair, who was a soldier in the Indian Army and A. T. Satyabhama.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/azeYOxYn-nQ Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20180915203208/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azeYOxYn-nQ Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azeYOxYn-nQ| title = Major Ravi - RJ Salini - Starjam - CLUB FM 94.3 | website=YouTube| date = 12 September 2018 }}{{cbignore}} He is married to Anitha. The couple has a son Arjun Ravi.
Military career
He joined the army after his schooling and later pursued his studies within the army and graduated from the Army Cadet College to become an officer in Dec 1984. He served in the Indian Army as a commando in the National Security Guards, as Aide-de-camp (ADC) to the then chief of Indian Army General Sunith Francis Rodrigues PVSM, VSM and as an officer in the Indian Military Intelligence in the Andaman and Nicobar islands and Jammu and Kashmir.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/PJQ4GVxQLVU Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20210609075323/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJQ4GVxQLVU Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJQ4GVxQLVU| title = Major Ravi 09 {{!}} Charithram Enniloode {{!}} Safari TV | website=YouTube| date = 29 January 2021 }}{{cbignore}} He was head of the mission code-named Operation One Eyed Jack to capture suspects of the Rajiv Gandhi assassination (the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi by Thenmozhi Rajaratnam on 21 May 1991 at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu).{{Cite web|url=https://zeenews.india.com/india/rajiv-gandhis-death-anniversary-today-was-assassinated-in-ltte-suicide-bomb-attack-29-years-ago-2285129.html|title = Rajiv Gandhi's death anniversary today, was assassinated in LTTE suicide bomb attack 29 years ago|date = 21 May 2020}} His military tenure of three years in the National Security Guard as a commando inspired him to direct Keerthi Chakra (2006) and Mission 90 Days (2007).{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/17/stories/2007071750790200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001164033/http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/17/stories/2007071750790200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2009-10-01|title=The untold story of a commando operation |access-date=2010-01-04 |location=Chennai, India |work=The Hindu|date=2007-07-17}} At the time of his retirement from the Indian Army, his rank was Major.
Film career
After serving for about two decades in the Indian Army, he became a military consultant for Indian films. He has worked with Indian film makers Priyadarshan, Rajkumar Santoshi, Kamal Haasan, and Mani Ratnam.{{cite news |title=Straight from a soldier's heart |date=2006-08-04 |work=The Hindu }} His first feature film was Keerti Chakra, a film on Kashmir militancy.{{cite web |url=http://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies/interview/158506/ |title=മേജര് ഓണ് ഫയര്!, Interview - Mathrubhumi Movies |access-date=2013-12-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219044911/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies/interview/158506/ |archive-date=19 December 2013 |df=dmy-all }}
His second movie Mission 90 Days was his own experience of the mission to capture the suspects of Rajiv Gandhi murder case. His third project Kurukshetra based on the Kargil war starring Mohanlal was a sequel to Keerthi Chakra.{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/10/11/stories/2008101152450200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105162428/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/10/11/stories/2008101152450200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-11-05|title=Now showing |access-date=2010-01-04 |location=Chennai, India |work=The Hindu|date=2008-10-11}} The 2010 film Kandahar was a third installment to the Major Mahadevan film series.
In 2012, he directed Karma Yodha with Mohanlal. In 2015, Picket 43, starring Prithviraj and Javed Jaffery was made. It turned out to be a hit. He is now heading towards a fourth installment in the Major Mahadevan series. About the film he quoted: "The focus will be on the individuals rather than the war, and will portray the relationships that are forged during the war."{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/Mohanlal-in-Major-Ravis-next/articleshow/49506103.cms|title=Mohanlal in Major Ravi’s next!|date=24 October 2015|via=The Economic Times - The Times of India}}
Filmography
Television
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! Year ! Show ! Role ! Channel | |||
| 2018–2019 | Unarunna Keralam | Host | Amrita TV |
| 2020-2021 | Flowers students startup | Judge | Flowers TV |
| 2021 | [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leTlbPRaomg Charithram Enniloode] | Narrator | Safari TV |
| 2021-2022 | Beautiful Minds | Host | Behindwoods ICE |
Awards
- Sena Medal
- Kerala State Film Awards
- 2006: Best Screen Play - Keerthi Chakra
- Asianet Film Awards
- 2006: Best Director Award - Keerthi Chakra
- 2008: Special Honour Jury Award - Kurukshetra
- 2010: Best Feature Film on National Integration Award - Kandahar
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Commons category|Major Ravi}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ravi, Major}}
Category:Kerala State Film Award winners
Category:Military personnel from Kerala
Category:Malayalam film directors
Category:Male actors from Palakkad
Category:Male actors in Malayalam cinema
Category:People from Palakkad district
Category:20th-century Indian male actors
Category:Indian male film actors
Category:Film directors from Palakkad district
Category:21st-century Indian people
Category:21st-century Indian male actors
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