N. Chandra

Chandrashekhar Narvekar (born 4 April 1952) is an Indian director, producer and writer, known for gritty realism, in his early dark and loud films. His most successful commercial films are Ankush, Pratighaat (1987), Tezaab (1988) and Narsimha (1991).

Chandra also made moderately successful but critically scorned Humlaa, Style and its sequel Xcuse Me.

Early life He was born in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Chandra grew up in a middle-class neighbourhood in Worli Naka.

Career Breakthrough After his schooling, he started his career as a film editor at Film Centre in Tardeo, Mumbai, where his father worked. He received his first break in the film industry, when in 1971, as a clapper boy in Gulzar's Parichay (1972). Gradually moving up as film editor and assistant director.

Eventually, with Ankush, his directorial debut, in 1986, Chandra began his projection of the angry young man. Influenced by Gulzar's Mere Apne, he wrote, directed, produced and edited the film about four frustrated unemployed men who roam the streets of Bombay, which also starred Nana Patekar. Made at a budget of Rs 12 lakh, the film and grossed Rs 95 lakh to become surprise hit of 1986, the year when many blockbusters failed.

The following year he remade Telugu film, Pratighatana (1986) in Hindi as Pratighaat (1987), starring Sujata Mehta and Nana Patekar, a film on the gruesome reality of politics in India. It also brought the strong mental make-up of the Indian woman to the thoughts of the Indian youth. It was the beginning of the Bollywood diva's long and relatively successful pairing with Anil Kapoor, and her mastery of dancing through the song Ek Do Teen. With Tezaab, N Chandra scored a box office hat-trick at his previous hits, Ankush (1986) and Pratighaat (1987).

In 1991, his successful streak continued with Narsimha, his fourth consecutive hit at the box-office. He wrote, produced and directed the film, which starred Sunny Deol, Dimple Kapadia and Urmila Matondkar.

Filmography

As a director:

As an editor only: