Rohit and Sasi | |
---|---|
Born | Rohit Penumatsa 10 September 1988 Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh Camp Sasi 30 March 1976 Naoroji Camp, Telangana |
Alma mater | Loyola College, Chennai (Rohit Penumatsa) TGLV, Polytechnic, Adoni. (Camp Sasi) |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 2013–present |
Rohit and Sasi[1] (stylized as Rohit & Sasi) are Indian Independent filmmakers known for the Web series Story Discussion and Nirudyoga Natulu through their production house, Avanti Cinema praised for unique storytelling, innovative filmmaking, and a dedication to non-mainstream narratives.[2]
Collaborative works
Rohit and Sasi's first notable collaboration was on the film Sheesh Mahal. Rohit served as the film editor, with Vivek Sagar as the music director, Gnana Shekar V. S. as the director of photography, and Rahul Ramakrishna as the lead actor. The film was screened at the 13th International Children's Film Festival India in Hyderabad. The film also was screened at many events, though a public release is pending.[3][4]
Since 2011, all films scripted, or directed by Rohit and Sasi fell under the banner of "Avanti Chitranaalayam" until 2021 when they formally established themselves as Avanti Cinema.[5][6]
In 2016, paying homage to Jafar Panahi's "Taxi Tehran," Rohit and Sasi presented "A Love Letter to Cinema." Produced by Anil AKC, the film premiered on YouTube on 18 September 2016, featuring Vivek Sagar's return as the music director.[7][8]
Teaming up with Tamada Media and Karthik Kult Kreations, Rohit and Sasi ventured into the web series domain with "Story Discussion" in 2017. The series' success led Mic TV to commission them for "Nirudyoga Natulu," released on YouTube from 28 April 2018, to 24 June 2018.[6] Post success of Nirudyoga Natulu, Anvesh Michael[9] and Jagadeesh Prathap Bandari[10] went on to fulfill the prophecy of the characters they played, as Anvesh became a lead in Aha's Kotha Poradu,[11] and Jagadeesh eventually landed a supporting role in Sukumar's Pushpa: The Rise.[12]
Later in 2018, the duo unveiled "Ajeeb Dastan," a 35-minute short film serving as a spin-off centered on the character "Harsha the Writer" from the "Story Discussion" series. At the Ajeeb Dastan screening, Rohit & Sasi presented a pitch trailer for the "Season 2 of Story Discussion" as part of a crowdfunding campaign.[13]
Double Engine
Double Engine, released on 5 January 2024, represents a significant shift for Rohit Penumatsa and Sasi Camp as they venture into the realm of theatrical filmmaking. Produced under Waltair Productions by Siddharth Rallapalli and Vishwadev Rachakonda, known for their successful film Pareshan, this mass commercial project departs from the duo's previous web-based productions. The film, featuring Vivek Sagar's musical compositions, unfolds against the rustic backdrop of Telangana.
Filmography
Short films
Year | Title | Directors | as Actor |
---|---|---|---|
2011 | Marijuana In Smaller Towns (M.I.S.T) | Rohit | |
2018 | Ajeeb Dastan | Rohit & Sasi | Sasi as Mohan Kumar |
2021 | Gadavani Kaalam | Rohit | |
The Scene | Sasi | Sasi as Director | |
Beer Fiction | Sasi | ||
Akrama Sambandham | Rohit & Sasi | ||
2022 | Etthulu | Divya & Sasi | Sasi as Debter |
2023 | The Scene: Take Two | Sasi | |
2023 | Rights | Ramana Reddy | Sasi as Raju |
Feature films
Year | Title | Directors | Writers | as Actor | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | Sheesh Mahal | Sasi | Sasi | Sasi as Rahul Karun | [2][14] |
2017 | A Love Letter to Cinema | Yes | Yes | Sasi as Driver | |
2017 | Ranganaayaki | Yes | Yes | Sasi as Mohan Kumar | |
2021 | Pickpocket | No | No | Rohit (cameo) | |
2024 | Double Engine | Rohit | Yes | Sasi (cameo) | [15] |
TBD | Chivaraku Migiledhi | Yes | Yes | post production | |
Madhu Babu | Yes | No | Filming | ||
3GT - Gopi Galla Goa Trip | Yes | Yes | Sasi (cameo) | post productions | |
A Love Letter to Theatre | Yes | Yes | |||
Web Series
Year | Title | Directors | Writers | as Actor |
---|---|---|---|---|
2017-2022 | Story Discussion | Yes | Yes | Sasi as Mohan Kumar & Prakash Chowdary
Rohit (cameo) |
2018 | Nirudyoga Natulu | Yes | Yes | Sasi as Rahul Karun |
2020 | Kotha Poradu | No | No | Edited by Avanti Ruya
Sasi as Production Head |
Frequent collaborations
Collaborator | Role | M.I.S.T | Sheehsmahal | A Love Letter to Cinema | Story Discussion | Nirudyoga Natulu | Ranganaayaki | Ajeeb Dastan | Pickpocket | Etthulu | Akrama Sambandham | The Scene | Madhu Babu | Double Engine | Chivaraku Migiledhi | Gopi Galla Goa Trip (#3GT) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gnana Shekar V. S. | Cinematographer | |||||||||||||||
Vivek Sagar | Music Director | |||||||||||||||
Avanti Ruya | Editor | |||||||||||||||
Gayathri Gupta | Actor | |||||||||||||||
John Kottoly | Actor | |||||||||||||||
Laxman Meesala | Actor | |||||||||||||||
Camp Sasi | Actor |
as Mohan Kumar and Prakash Chowdary |
as Mohan Kumar |
as Mohan Kumar |
||||||||||||
Rahul Ramakrishna | Actor |
(addl vocals) |
||||||||||||||
Bharat Vyas N | Cinematographer | |||||||||||||||
Anvesh Michael | Actor | |||||||||||||||
Jagadeesh Prathap Bandari | Actor |
(cameo) |
[16] |
(cameo) |
(Singer) |
|||||||||||
Raj Tirandasu | Actor | |||||||||||||||
Teja ASGK | Sound Design | |||||||||||||||
Jubin Raj | Sound Design | |||||||||||||||
Snehal Jangala | Producer | |||||||||||||||
Sanal George | Sound Design | |||||||||||||||
Divya Bandaru | Actor, Director |
(director) |
(director) |
|||||||||||||
Shashank Raghavula | Cinematographer | |||||||||||||||
Ramana Reddy | Producer | |||||||||||||||
Smaran | Music Director | |||||||||||||||
Ravi Nidamarthy | Music Director |
(mixtape) |
References
- ↑ "'Most of our scripts are improvised'". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- 1 2 Dundoo, Sangeetha Devi (1 December 2021). "Telugu indie filmmakers Camp Sasi and Rohit Penumatsa talk about their film 'Sheesh Mahal' and their journey". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
- ↑ "Hyderabad-based indie filmmaker takes the crowdfunding route for 'Sheesh Mahal'". DNA India. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
- ↑ "Sheesh Mahal is an upcoming Telugu independent film directed by Sasi". Behindwoods. 20 December 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
- ↑ Today, Telangana (8 December 2021). "Hyderabad filmmakers aim to create OTT platform". Telangana Today. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
- 1 2 "Two indie filmmakers believe their alternate platform could change filmmaking model in Tollywood". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
- ↑ A Shade of the Evening (From "A Love Letter To Cinema") - Single by Vivek Sagar & Avanti Cinema, 6 October 2016, retrieved 16 November 2023
- ↑ A Love Letter To Cinema (with subs)| A film by Rohit & Sasi | Vyas || Vivek Sagar, retrieved 16 November 2023
- ↑ Teja, Charan (19 August 2021). "Meet Anvesh Michael, whose series Kotha Poradu showcases rural Telangana". The News Minute. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
- ↑ "'I am an accidental actor,' says Jagadeesh Prathap". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
- ↑ "On a regional dark new film making mode". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
- ↑ Srikar, Ram Venkat (29 May 2023). "Sukumar Sir's Filmmaking Style Always Shocks Me: Jagadeesh Prathap Bandari". www.filmcompanion.in. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
- ↑ "Story Discussion Season 2". Indie Birds. 12 June 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
- ↑ Sheesh Mahal (2020) | MUBI, retrieved 15 November 2023
- ↑ "Double Engine | Song - Palletoori Pillagada (Lyrical) | Telugu Video Songs - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
- ↑ "'The sets of Pushpa was my film school'". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
External links
- Rohit Penumatsa at IMDb
- Camp Sasi at IMDb