Young director Sujeeth (HBD Sujeeth) has carved a unique niche for himself in Tollywood. Although he has directed only two films so far, he has garnered a craze that many directors achieve only after many more films. Starting with ‘Run Raja Run‘ as a director, Sujeeth caught everyone’s attention at the pan-India level with ‘Saaho‘. Currently, he is directing ‘OG‘ with Pawan Kalyan, capturing the mega fans’ focus. Today, this talented director steps into his 34th year. Let’s take a look at some secrets of his career.
Making Short Films at 17
Sujeeth Reddy was born in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, on October 26, 1990. Initially dreaming of becoming a Chartered Accountant, his growing interest in films led him to enroll in the L.V. Prasad Film & TV Academy. He started making short films on YouTube at the age of 17 and has directed over 30 short films to date.
Creativity in Short Films
Typically, YouTube short films are made on a low budget and are not expected to meet high standards. However, Sujeeth’s films like ‘Run Raja Run’, ‘Prema Ishq Kaadhal’, ‘Thokkalo Love Story’, ‘Vesham’, ‘Yuddham’, ‘Prema Care of Drama’, and ‘Indian Idol’ surprised the film industry with their richness and showcased his mesmerizing creativity.
Initial Family Resistance
When Sujeeth expressed his desire to become a director, his family was initially reluctant. However, seeing his dedication to cinema, they eventually supported his decision. His mother even bought him his first camera with her own money, marking the beginning of his journey in the industry.
Guidance from Puri Jagannadh
Upon entering the industry with the aim to direct, Sujeeth initially decided to work as an assistant director under Puri Jagannadh. Meeting him, Puri recognized Sujeeth’s abundant directorial skills and encouraged him to pursue directing.
Director at 23
While trying for a directorial break, UV Creations recognized Sujeeth’s talent and offered him a chance to direct ‘Run Raja Run’. Thus, at just 23, Sujeeth became a director and achieved solid success with his debut film.
Turning a Short Film into a Feature
Interestingly, ‘Run Raja Run’, which brought him significant recognition, was originally a short film that Sujeeth transformed into his first full-length feature by making a few changes to the story.
Before ‘Baahubali’
UV Creations, which produced Prabhas’s ‘Mirchi’, planned a second film with him and accepted a story from Sujeeth, which Prabhas liked. However, ‘Baahubali’ has not been released yet. After ‘Baahubali’, Prabhas’s fame skyrocketed, leading Sujeeth to make adjustments to the story, and thus ‘Saaho’ was made on a pan-India scale. Despite not achieving expected success, Sujeeth’s work at such a young age surprised everyone.
From Fan to Directing Pawan Kalyan
Sujeeth has been a fervent fan of Power Star Pawan Kalyan, mentioning in interviews that he went to see ‘Johnny’ with a band around his head and kept it for seven days. He also attended ‘Gabbar Singh’ release as a rally. Rising from that stage to directing Pawan Kalyan in ‘OG’ is no small feat.
Love for Japanese Cinema
Director Sujeeth has a special affinity for Japanese cinema, which he openly discussed in interviews. He mentioned that Japanese films also influenced ‘OG’, the film he is currently directing with Pawan Kalyan.
Traveling with Friends
Whenever Sujeeth gets time, he loves to travel with his friends around the world, sharing pictures from their trips on his Instagram.
Passion for Cricket
Sujeeth is a big cricket enthusiast, frequently mentioning Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar as his favorite players.
Devotion
Sujeeth is quite devout, often visiting temples whenever he finds the time.
Married to His Sweetheart
Director Sujeeth had a love marriage in 2020, tying the knot with Pravallika in the presence of family members.
Nominated as Best Debut Director
For his first film ‘Run Raja Run’, Sujeeth was nominated as the Best Debut Director at the Nandi Awards. His second film, ‘Saaho’, earned him a Best Director award at the SIIMA.
Birthday Special Video
Today, on director Sujeeth’s birthday, the ‘OG’ team shared a special video sending him birthday wishes, compiling clips related to Sujeeth from the shooting spot. This video, a birthday gift from DVV Entertainments, is currently going viral.
