Ranjith Sankar

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{{Infobox person

| name = Ranjith Sankar

| image = RanjithSankar.jpg

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| birth_date = 14 February

| birth_place = Thrissur, Kerala, India

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| occupation = Filmmaker

| yearsactive = 2009{{Endash}}present

| notable_works = Passenger (2009)
Pretham (2016)

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Ranjith Sankar is an Indian filmmaker who works in Malayalam films. He started his movie career with the 2009 thriller Passenger.{{cite web|title=പാസഞ്ചറിന്റെ എഞ്ചിനിയര്‍|url=http://archives.mathrubhumi.com/movies/interview/44967/|language=Malayalam|work=Mathrubhumi|access-date=21 November 2015|archive-date=22 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122074803/http://archives.mathrubhumi.com/movies/interview/44967/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=ഈ സാക്ഷിക്ക് കൊമ്പുണ്ട്‌|url=http://archives.mathrubhumi.com/movies/interview/154886/|language=Malayalam|work=Mathrubhumi|access-date=21 November 2015|archive-date=22 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122074314/http://archives.mathrubhumi.com/movies/interview/154886/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news |last=Nagarajan |first=Saraswathy |date=2017-05-10 |title=In the garden of Eden |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/ranjith-sankar-on-his-new-movie-ramante-edenthottam/article18419108.ece |access-date=2023-10-03 |issn=0971-751X}} He launched his production house Dreams N Beyond in 2012 and his distribution house Punyalan Cinemas in 2017.{{Cite web |last=James |first=Anu |date=2017-06-01 |title=Punyalan Cinemas: Jayasurya, Ranjith Sankar now join hands to launch distribution house |url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/punyalan-cinemas-jayasurya-ranjith-sankar-now-join-hands-launch-distribution-house-728982 |access-date=2023-10-04 |website=www.ibtimes.co.in |language=en}}

Early life

Ranjith was born in Thrissur, Kerala, India. He completed his education at St. Thomas College in Thrissur and studied B.Tech. Civil Engineering at Mar Athanasius College of Engineering, Kothamangalam.{{Cite news |date=2022-08-05 |title=Ranjith Sankar: My love story might be controversial to those over 30 |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/ranjith-sankar-my-love-story-might-be-controversial-to-those-over-30/articleshow/93363622.cms |access-date=2023-10-03 |issn=0971-8257}} Ranjith's writing career began with television series Nizhalkal and American Dreams. He won the Kerala State Award for Best Screenplay (Television) for American Dreams.{{Cite news |last=Manmadhan |first=Prema |date=2011-01-21 |title=Second Take |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/Second-Take/article15527675.ece |access-date=2022-04-16 |issn=0971-751X}}

Career

In 2009, he made Passenger.{{Cite web |last=Palicha |first=Paresh C. |title=Review: Arjunan Saakshi is a good watch |url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/report/south-review-arjunan-saakshi/20110131.htm |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=Rediff |language=en}}

In 2011, his film Arjunan Saakshi, starring Prithviraj, was released. The film was inspired by his real-life experiences. It got positive reviews from the critics, but was a disappointment at the box office.{{cite web|url=http://www.sify.com/movies/prithviraj-goes-for-an-image-change-news-malayalam-lchl9Wjghcg.html|title=Prithviraj goes for an image change?|website=Sify|date=7 February 2011}}

Molly Aunty Rocks (2012) starring Revathy and Prithviraj was Dreams n Beyond's first production, a critical and commercial success.{{Cite web |title=Mollywood Director Ranjith Sankar Biography, News, Photos, Videos |url=https://nettv4u.com/celebrity/malayalam/director/ranjith-sankar |access-date=2022-04-16 |website=nettv4u |language=en}} It was followed by Punyalan Agarbattis (2013), a satire featuring Jayasurya, Nyla Usha, Innocent, Rachana Narayanankutty and Aju Varghese.

In November 2014, Ranjith's Varsham starring Mammootty, Asha Sarath and Mamta Mohandas was released. Mammootty won several awards for his role in the film.{{Cite web |last=James |first=Anu |date=2015-01-12 |title=17th Asianet Film Awards: Mammootty, Manju Warrier Win Best Actor Awards [PHOTOS+WINNERS' LIST] |url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/17th-asianet-film-awards-mammootty-manju-warrier-win-best-actor-awards-photoswinners-list-620099 |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=www.ibtimes.co.in |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Winners of 62nd Britannia Filmfare Awards South |url=https://www.filmfare.com/news/winners-of-62nd-britannia-filmfare-awards-south-9643.html |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=filmfare.com |language=en}} This was followed by Su Su Sudhi Vathmeekam, in November 2015.

The horror-comedy film Pretham was released in August 2016. It was partially remade in Telugu as Raju Gari Gadhi 2 (2017) starring Nagarjuna Akkineni.{{Cite web |date=10 October 2017 |title=RGG2 not exact remake of Malayalam movie! |url=http://telugucinema.com/news/rgg2-not-exact-remake-malayalam-movie |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807125310/http://telugucinema.com/news/rgg2-not-exact-remake-malayalam-movie |archive-date=7 August 2018 |website=Telugu Cinema}}

Ranjith also produced Ramante Edanthottam(2017), a best-selling movie on female empowerment. He followed it up with sequels to Punyalan and Pretham titled Punyalan Private Limited and Pretham2. He launched his distribution company Punyalan Cinemas with Punyalan Private Limited, another major commercial success {{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}.

In 2018, Ranjith directed the film "Njan Marykutty," which is recognized as the first commercial movie in India to feature a transgender protagonist. The lead character of Marykutty was portrayed by actor Jayasurya, and the film went on to win two Kerala State Awards and received significant recognition at film festivals {{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}.

The experimental thriller Kamala was released in 2019.{{Cite news |last=Nagarajan |first=Saraswathy |date=2019-10-25 |title=Mollywood Director Ranjith Sankar says 'Kamala' has revived his enthusiasm for filmmaking |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/mollywood-director-ranjith-sankar-says-kamala-has-revived-his-enthusiasm-for-filmmaking/article29797159.ece |access-date=2023-10-03 |issn=0971-751X}}

In 2023, Ranjith highlighted the importance of prioritizing box office revenue over other income streams, particularly OTT platforms.{{Cite news |date=2023-04-13 |title=Ranjith Sankar shares his thoughts on how to improve theatre footfall |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/ranjith-sankar-shares-his-thoughts-on-how-to-improve-theatre-footfall/articleshow/99461321.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2023-10-03 |issn=0971-8257}}

Filmography

class="wikitable sortable" ! Year !! Title !! Cast !! class="unsortable" \| Notes
2009	Passenger	Dileep, Sreenivasan, Mamta Mohandas, Jagathy Sreekumar \|
2011	Arjunan Sakshi	Prithviraj, Ann Augustine, Mukesh, Biju Menon \|
2012	Molly Aunty Rocks	Prithviraj, Revathy, Lalu Alex \|{{Cite web \|title=Ranjith Sankar: Molly Aunty is rocking \|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-south-interview-with-ranjith-sankar/20120918.htm \|access-date=2023-10-03 \|website=Rediff \|language=en}}
2013	Punyalan Agarbattis	Jayasurya, Nyla Usha, Aju Varghese \|{{Cite web \|last=TNM \|date=2017-05-25 \|title=Director Ranjith Sankar announces sequel to 'Punyalan Agarbattis' \|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/flix/director-ranjith-sankar-announces-sequel-punyalan-agarbattis-62591 \|access-date=2023-10-03 \|website=The News Minute \|language=en}}
2014	Varsham	Mammootty, Asha Sarath \|{{Cite web \|last=V.P \|first=Nicy \|date=2014-06-18 \|title=TG Ravi to Play Mammootty's Villain in 'Varsham' \|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/tg-ravi-play-mammoottys-villain-varsham-602520 \|access-date=2023-10-03 \|website=www.ibtimes.co.in \|language=en}}
2015	Su Su Sudhi Vathmeekam	Jayasurya, Sshivada, Aju Varghese \|{{Cite web \|last=Gauri \|first=Deepa \|title=Jayasurya's Su Su Sudhi Vathmeekam makes a positive impact \|url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/article/jayasuryas-su-su-sudhi-vathmeekam-makes-a-positive-impact \|access-date=2023-10-03 \|website=Khaleej Times \|language=en}}
2016	Pretham	Jayasurya, Aju Varghese, Sharaf U Dheen, Shruthi Ramachandran \|{{Cite web \|date=15 August 2016 \|title=Pretham has a perfect casting: Ranjith Sankar \|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/mollywood/150816/pretham-has-a-perfect-casting-ranjith-sankar.html \|access-date=3 October 2023 \|website=Deccan Chronicle}}
rowspan="2" \| 2017	Ramante Edanthottam	Kunchako Boban, Anu Sithara, Joju George, Jayasurya (cameo), Aju Varghese \|{{Cite web \|title=Theatres are the best option: Ranjith Sankar \|url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2020/jun/12/theatres-are-the-best-option-ranjith-sankar-18878.html \|access-date=2023-10-03 \|website=Cinema Express \|date=12 June 2020 \|language=en}}
Punyalan Private Limited	Jayasurya, Dharmajan Bolgatty, Aju Varghese \|{{Cite news \|last=M \|first=Athira \|date=2017-11-15 \|title=Ranjith Sankar on his new release 'Punyalan Private Ltd' \|language=en-IN \|work=The Hindu \|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/ranjith-sankar-on-punyalan-private-ltd-the-sequel-of-punyalan-agarbattis/article20451079.ece \|access-date=2023-10-03 \|issn=0971-751X}}
rowspan="2" \| 2018	Njan Marykutty	Jayasurya, Jewel Mary, Aju Varghese \|{{Cite news \|last=Nagarajan \|first=Saraswathy \|date=2018-06-01 \|title='Njan Marykutty' steps into the mindscapes of transpersons \|language=en-IN \|work=The Hindu \|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/ranjith-sankar-on-his-new-film-njan-marykutty/article24045561.ece \|access-date=2023-10-03 \|issn=0971-751X}}
Pretham 2	Jayasurya, Saniya Iyappan, Amith Chakalakkal, Durga Krishna, Aju Varghese \|{{Cite web \|title=I'm happy I got to work with Jayasurya: Ranjith Sankar on 'Pretham 2' \|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2018/dec/03/im-happy-i-got-to-work-with-jayasurya-1906370.html \|access-date=2023-10-03 \|website=The New Indian Express\|date=3 December 2018 }}
2019	Kamala	Aju Varghese, Anoop Menon, Ruhani Sharma, Biju Sopanam \|
2021	Sunny	Jayasurya, Aju Varghese, Shritha Sivadas, Sshivada	Amazon Original{{Cite web \|title=No secrets between us: Jayasurya, Ranjith retrace journey together \|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2021/09/22/jayasurya-ranjith-sankar-retrace-journey-together-with-sunny-movie.html \|access-date=2023-10-03 \|website=OnManorama}}
2022	4 Years	Priya Prakash Varrier, Sarjano Khalid	{{Cite web \|title='4 Years' movie review: Ranjith Sankar impresses with a novel love story \|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/review/2022/nov/26/4-years-movie-review-ranjith-sankar-impresses-with-a-novel-love-story-2522138.html \|access-date=2023-10-03 \|website=The New Indian Express\|date=26 November 2022 }}
2024	Jai Ganesh	Unni Mukundan, Mahima Nambiar	{{Cite web \|date=2024-04-02 \|title=Unni Mukundan-starrer Jai Ganesh Gets U Certificate From Censor Board \|url=https://www.news18.com/movies/unni-mukundan-starrer-jai-ganesh-gets-u-certificate-from-censor-board-8837258.html \|access-date=2024-04-04 \|website=News18 \|language=en}}