Samit Kakkad
{{short description|Indian filmmaker and director}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Samit Kakkad
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| caption = Samit Kakkad
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| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1974|10|11}}
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| occupation = Film Producer - Director
| years active = 1998 - Present
| nationality = Indian
| education = Don Bosco High School, Mumbai, Khalsa College, Mumbai
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| notableworks = Indori Ishq, Half Ticket, Aayna Ka Bayna, 36 Gunn, Dharavi Bank
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| relatives = Amar Kakkad (Father)
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Samit Kakkad is an Indian filmmaker and director. He is best known for directing Aayna Ka Bayna (2012) which was selected for 18 International film festivals{{cite web |title='A good story should be told' |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/561612/a-good-story-should-told.html |website=Deccan Herald |access-date=2 October 2022}}{{cite news |title=Aayna Ka Bayna dubbed in Hindi |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/marathi/movies/news/Aayna-Ka-Bayna-dubbed-in-Hindi/articleshow/44319601.cms |access-date=2 October 2022 |agency=TNN |publisher=Times of India}} and Half Ticket (2017) which won the Ecumenical Jury Award at the 57th Zlin International Film Festival 2017.{{cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/marathi/half-ticket-wins-ecumenical-jury-award/articleshow/59051397.cms |title=Half Ticket wins Ecumenical Jury Award |work=The Times of India}}{{cite web |url=https://www.zlinfest.cz/en/26292n-results-list-57th-zlin-film-festival |title=Results list 57th Zlín Film Festival |publisher=Zlin International Film Festival}}{{cite web |title=Samit Kakkad's 'Half Ticket' bags coveted 'Ecumenical Jury Award' |url=http://www.uniindia.com/samit-kakkad-s-half-ticket-bags-coveted-ecumenical-jury-award/entertainment/news/893663.html |website=United New of India |access-date=2 October 2022}}
Career
Samit was born in Mumbai to Ad/Corporate filmmaker Amar Kakkad. Keen on becoming a filmmaker too, he learnt his craft by reading cinema-specific books and assisting his father on documentaries and ad films. He started his career as an editor on TV shows and segued to assisting directors like Mahesh Manjrekar and Rahul Dholakia.{{cite web |title=Director Samit Kakkad: Subsidy is hurting Marathi cinema |url=https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2017/jul/29/7072/director-samit-kakkad-subsidy-is-hurting-marathi-cinema |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326084513/https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2017/jul/29/7072/director-samit-kakkad-subsidy-is-hurting-marathi-cinema |url-status=live |archive-date=26 March 2019 |website=Cinestaan |access-date=2 October 2022}} Kakkad has stated that there is no better film school than a set and the post-production set up where one can learn how a story comes to life.{{cite web |title=Samit Kakkad: I have grown up to believe that there's no better film school than a set |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/marathi/movies/news/samit-kakkad-i-have-grown-up-to-believe-that-theres-no-better-film-school-than-a-set/articleshow/83427779.cms |website=Times of India |access-date=2 October 2022}}
Using his experience as a line-producer, Kakkad stepped headlong into the entertainment arena as a producer and creative director with Huppa Huiyaa (2010).{{cite web |title=Dance to make dream come true |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/dance-to-make-dream-come-true/912980/ |website=Indian Express |access-date=2 October 2022}} He turned director with his next production, the dance-based Aayna Ka Bayna (2012) which was selected to represent India at 18 International film festivals{{cite web |title='A good story should be told' |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/561612/a-good-story-should-told.html |website=Deccan Herald |access-date=2 October 2022}} and chosen as the closing film of Toronto's Reel World Film Festival.{{cite web |title=Aayna Ka Bayna chosen as the closing film at a festival in Toronto |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/marathi/movies/news/aayna-ka-bayna-chosen-as-the-closing-film-at-a-festival-in-toronto/articleshow/19089263.cms?from=mdr |website=Times of India |publisher=Entertainment Times |access-date=2 October 2022}} The movie is the first Marathi film to be dubbed in Hindi for Sony Max.{{cite web |title=Sony Max takes up Marathi film for telecast |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/screen/sony-max-takes-up-marathi-film-for-telecast/ |website=Indian Express |publisher=Indian Express |access-date=2 October 2022}}
Samit Kakkad's second film as a director was Half Ticket, an adaptation of the national award-winning Tamil film Kaaka Muttai. Half Ticket was telecast at 20 International Film Festivals and won the prestigious Ecumenical Jury Award at the 57th Zlin International Film Festival 2017{{cite web |url=https://www.zlinfest.cz/en/26292n-results-list-57th-zlin-film-festival |title=Results list 57th Zlín Film Festival |publisher=Zlin International Film Festival}} and was warmly received by critics.{{cite web |title=FILM REVIEW: HALF TICKET |url=https://punemirror.com/entertainment/marathi-reviews/film-review-half-ticket/cid5088018.htm |website=Pune Times Mirror |publisher=Pune Mirror |access-date=2 October 2022}}{{cite web |title='Half Ticket' – An Emotion filled realistic film |url=https://marathimovieworld.com/review/half-ticket-movie-review.php |website=Martha Movie World |access-date=2 October 2022}} Hollywood Reporter called it a "predictable but satisfying Indian comedic drama."{{cite web |title='Half Ticket': Film Review Palm Springs 2017 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/ticket-film-review-palm-springs-2017-967102/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=2 October 2022}}
Kakkad followed it with Ascharya Chak It (2017), his first directorial venture in Hindi, before making his debut in the OTT arena with the well-received web series Indori Ishq (2021).{{cite web |title=There is no storyteller in India who isn't charmed by digital platforms: Samit Kakkad |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2021/jun/10/there-is-no-storyteller-in-india-who-isnt-charmed-by-digital-platforms-samit-kakkad-24939.html |website=Cinema Express |access-date=2 October 2022}}{{cite web |title=Filmmaker Samit Kakkad's debut series Indori Ishq resonates well with the audience |url=https://www.indulgexpress.com/entertainment/celebs/2021/jul/16/filmmaker-samit-kakkads-debut-series-indori-ishq-resonates-well-with-the-audience-34718.html |website=Indulge Express |publisher=The New Indian Express |access-date=2 October 2022}} The commonality between all his films is the underbelly of Mumbai which the director has explored at length.{{cite web |title=Samit Kakkad: Mumbai's underbelly is a goldmine of stories |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/news/hindi/samit-kakkad-mumbais-underbelly-is-a-goldmine-of-stories/articleshow/92676869.cms |website=Entertainment Times |publisher=Times of India |access-date=2 October 2022}}
In 2022, he helmed the Marathi film 36 Gunn, which stars Santosh Juvekar, Purva Pawar, and Pushkar Shrotri. Kakkad also directed the Hindi web series Dharavi Bank, featuring Suniel Shetty and Vivek Oberoi.{{cite web |title=Samit Kakkad: Mumbai's underbelly is a goldmine of stories |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/news/hindi/samit-kakkad-mumbais-underbelly-is-a-goldmine-of-stories/articleshow/92676869.cms |website=Entertainment Times |publisher=Times of India |access-date=2 October 2022}} In 2024, he worked with Sharad Kelkar on the film Raanti, a remake of the Telugu movie Ugram. Raanti is set to release on November 22, 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-15 |title=काही असतात, काही बनतात! व्हिलन बनणार शरद केळकर, 'या' तारखेला प्रदर्शित होणार 'रानटी' |url=https://www.lokmat.com/filmy/marathi-cinema/sharad-kelakar-new-marathi-movie-raanti-first-poster-out-releasing-in-cinemas-on-22-november-2024-a-a988/ |access-date=2024-09-15 |website=Lokmat |language=mr}}
Milestones
Kakkad's directorial debut Aayna Ka Bayna was screened extensively in the international festival circuit.{{cite web |title='A good story should be told' |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/561612/a-good-story-should-told.html |website=Deccan Herald |access-date=2 October 2022}}
His second directorial venture Half Ticket won the Ecumenical Jury Award at the 57th Zlin International Film Festival 2017.{{cite web |url=https://www.zlinfest.cz/en/26292n-results-list-57th-zlin-film-festival |title=Results list 57th Zlín Film Festival |publisher=Zlin International Film Festival}}
Filmography
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Film !Director !Producer !Notes !{{Reference column heading|multi=yes}} |
| 2010
|Huppa Huiyya |{{No}} |{{Yes}} | | |
| 2012
|{{Yes}} |{{Yes}} |Aayna Ka Bayna (Delinquent Dancers) International Film Festivals | |
| 2016
|{{Yes}} |{{No}} |Half Ticket has been officially selected in 10 International Film Festivals all over the world. | |
| 2019
|{{Yes}} |{{No}} | | |
| 2021
|{{Yes}} |{{Yes}} |Web series | |
| 2022
|{{Yes}} |{{Yes}} | |
| 2022
|{{Yes}} |{{No}} |Web series |
| 2024
|Raanti |{{Yes}} |{{No}} | |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|1266137}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kakkad, Samit}}
Category:Film producers from Mumbai