Ram Madhvani is an Indian film director, producer, and creator known for one of the few people who has received the national award for his film Neerja, an International Emmy nomination for his series Aarya and two Cannes advertising award for his commercials.
He is the Co-founder, Director, and Producer at Equinox Films, Ram Madhvani Films, and Equinox Virtual, a company establishing itself in the global gaming ecosphere, in partnership with Amita Madhvani. [1]
Ram is acclaimed for his National Award-winning Hindi feature film ‘Neerja’, starring Sonam Kapoor and Shabana Azmi. Under Ram Madhvani Films, Ram and Amita has created the International Emmy-nominated series, ‘Aarya’, starring Sushmita Sen. The first season premiered on Disney+ Hotstar on June 19, 2020, followed by Season 2 on December 10, 2021.
His Hindi feature film ‘Dhamaka’ https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/03/movies/action-movies-streaming.html starring Kartik Aaryan and Mrunal Thakur released on 19th November 2021 on Netflix as a global release and was listed amongst five action films to be streamed by The New York Times in Dec 2021. The highly anticipated Season 3 of ‘Aarya’ was released in two parts on 3rd November 2023 and 9th February 2024 respectively, captivating audiences worldwide. Currently, all seasons are streaming worldwide and available via Hulu, further solidifying Ram Madhvani's reputation as a prominent figure in Indian cinema and streaming content. [2] [3]
Ram is further poised to captivate audiences once again with his upcoming release, "The Waking of a Nation." This groundbreaking show explores a pivotal event in Indian history.
Ram Madhvani is a respected filmmaker internationally for producing and directing feature films, web series, commercials, short films and music videos.
In his career, Ram Madhvani has handcrafted some of India's most memorable ads for Adidas, Happydent White, and Airtel’s commercials, which have garnered universal praise. His Equinox Films has three producers and four directors working with global clients.
In 2000, he won the Bronze Lion for Forte organ donation film and in 2007, the Silver Lion at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity for the Happydent White commercial. The latter also won Ram the Best Director, Best Film, and Best Production
Design at the Asia Pacific Awards. Happydent has also been voted one of the Top 20 Commercials of the Millennium by the Gunn Report, with Ram ranked number 11 in the Most Awarded Directors by the same report. It was the only Indian advertisement on the list. The Commercials for Happydent and LMN, directed by Ram, were amongst the Top 20 of the last twenty years in the Shots magazine. [4]
In 2012, Ram was the president of the jury for film craft at Adfest Bangkok.
In 2011, an advertisement he directed for Hippo Baked Munchies won Silver for Best Direction in the Film Craft Awards at Adfest Bangkok. In 2022, Ram has also been a part of the jury for the Best Drama Series Category for International Academy Of Television Arts & Science Awards.
Ram has also won numerous awards at the Indian Advertising Festivals.
In 2002, Madhvani released his directorial debut feature film, ‘Let’s Talk’,[5] with actors Boman Irani and Maia Katrak, which premiered at the Locarno Film Festival and won him the Best Debut Director at the Srinivas Gollapudi National Awards. [6]
In 2007, Aamir Khan approached Ram to direct the song ‘Bheja Kum’ for the film ‘Taare Zameen Par’.
In 2012, Ram was again approached to direct the official theme song video for Aamir Khan's TV series ‘Satyamev Jayate’.
In February 2015, Ram directed the aviation drama biographical film ‘Neerja’, starring Sonam Kapoor, Shabana Azmi and Shekhar Ravjiani, which was critically acclaimed and commercially successful. It was produced under the banner of Fox Star Studios and Bling Unplugged, with Amita Madhvani being the Associate Producer.[7] The film also won the prestigious National Award for Best Hindi Feature Film.
In June 2020, Ram launched his own production house [8] - Ram Madhvani Films - while simultaneously entering the world of web series with ‘Aarya’, featuring Sushmita Sen. The first season marked India's presence on the global map by bagging an International Emmy nomination in 2021. [9]
After the success of ‘Aarya’ and ‘Neerja’, Ram Madhvani Films announced an adaptation of the South Korean film ‘The Terror Live’, titled ‘Dhamaka’, co-produced with RSVP movies, featuring Kartik Aaryan and Mrunal Thakur.[10] The film was released on November 19, 2021, on Netflix. The film, a dramatic thriller, was released on 19th November 2021 on Netflix.[11] The film opened to positive reviews and further enhanced Ram's status as a reputed filmmaker.
Ram was the creator and a co-director for Aarya Season 2, which streamed on Disney+ Hotstar on 10th December 2021. The series was critically acclaimed and loved by OTT viewers all around the world and it was hailed as one of the most riveting family crime dramas in the digital space.
Ram was the creator, co-producer and also a co-director for Aarya Season 2, which streamed on Disney+ Hotstar on December 10, 2021. The series received widespread critical acclaim and garnered immense love from OTT viewers globally. It was hailed as one of the most captivating family crime dramas in the digital space. Additionally, Ram continued its success with the release of Aarya Season 3,[12] [13] captivating audiences with its gripping narrative and stellar performances.
Ram also known for his compelling narratives, along with his co-producer Amita Madhvani are set to create "The Waking of a Nation", a groundbreaking web series. The show explores the pivotal event in Indian history, shedding light on its profound impact on the Indian independence movement. With meticulous attention to historical detail and a commitment to authenticity, Madhvani aims to offer viewers a poignant portrayal of courage, resilience, and the quest for justice amidst one of the darkest chapters in India's fight for freedom. [14]
Ram Madhvani directed a short documentary film titled ‘Everlasting Light’, showcasing Indian film superstar Amitabh Bachchan, premiered at the Lincoln Center in New York. Richard Peña, director of the Lincoln Center, wrote: "It is rare that a film on an artist is itself a work of art."
In March 2017, he released his short film This Bloody Line,[15] on the Sir Cyril Radcliffe and on the Partition, commissioned by ‘#BigShorts for India Tomorrow’ by India Today.[16] [17]
| Denotes films that are not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Director | Producer | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Mission Kashmir | ||||
| 2002 | Let's Talk | ||||
| 2016 | Neerja | ||||
| 2021 | Dhamaka | Netflix film | |||
| Dive | Announced |