Pannaga Bharana

Pannaga Bharana is an Indian film director and actor who works in Kannada cinema. He is the son of famous director T. S. Nagabharana.[1] He rose to fame with 2017 film Happy New Year.[2]

Pannaga Bharana
Born12 December
Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Occupation(s)director, actor
Years active2009–present
SpouseNikitha Bharana (m. 2014)
Parent(s)T. S. Nagabharana (father)
Nagini Nagabharana (mother)

Pannaga Bharana (born December 12, 1985) is an Indian actor, director, producer and philanthropist known for his directorial and acting roles in South Indian cinema. A recipient of numerous awards, Pannaga is now on the jury panel of Filmfare South and a founding member of the Karnataka Director's Association above and beyond his robust portfolio of directing and acting in movies, shows, commercials and theatre performances across a range of regional languages in India. Pannaga began his career in the entertainment industry in 1990 (at the tender age of 5) with roles in Tenali Raman (on DD National Channel) and Stone Boy (an Indo-Mauritius project). Following these projects, Pannaga pursued two more roles as a young actor in Chinnari Mutha (1993) and Navidde Yecharike (1996), performing in four phenomenal roles by the time he turned 11. After taking a break to focus on his education, Pannaga resumed his career in the film industry by taking donning the hat of an Assistant Director in Kallarali Hoogavi (2007), Nam Yejamanru (2008), Keladi Shivappa Nayaka (2010), Kamsaale Kaisaale (2012), Vasundara (2014, Mrugashira (2015), Allama (2017), Happy New Year (2017 – Directorial Debut), Kanoorayana (2018 – Screenplay & Co-Direction), French Biriyani (2020) and Tatsama Tadbhava (2023 – To Be Released). Outside of the film circuit, Pannaga involved himself in numerous projects across industries like the television, commercial, short film, music video, and theatre. Pannaga is the eldest son to South Indian Cinema's most prominent filmmakers, T.S. Nagabharana and Nagini Bharana. His family's passion for both the arts and philanthropic work has allowed Pannaga to be a part of some of India's most eminent charitable organizations. It is through these events that he met his wife Nikitha Priya Bharana, one of India's most sought after celebrity stylists, in 2014.

General overview

Pannaga Bharana is a prominent figure in the Indian film industry, with a career spanning over two decades. He has won several awards, including the “Best Director of the Year 2020” for French Biriyani at SIIMA, and the “Best Supporting Actor” for Mrugashira at SIIMA. Besides being a jury member for Filmfare South 2022, Pannaga is also actively involved in philanthropy and charitable work when he is not busy teaching at Bharana Academy of Performing Arts (BAPA).

Early life and family

Pannaga Bharana was born on December 12, 1985, in India. His father, T.S. Nagabharana, is a well-known film and theatre personality who has won 12 national awards and 23 state awards along with being the Chairman (now retired) at CIFEJ. Because of his stellar reputation and contribution to South Indian entertainment, Nagabharana was asked to join the Oscar Selection Jury, India in 2023 as the chairperson. Pannaga's mother, Nagini Bharana, is a national and state award-winning film and costume designer turned television producer who is currently a board member of the Censor Committee in Karnataka. Over the years, Pannaga's parents have taught him to not only love the performance arts, but also to expand his horizons and find his own niche rather than following his family's path. This has allowed Pannaga to explore cinematic and performance media that have helped shape him into the notable personality he is today. Through his work, Pannaga was introduced, and is now married, to Nikitha Priya Bharana, a professional baker turned designer who has garnered the interest of A-list celebrities in the Kannada film industry. They have one son, Ved Bharana, born 29 March 2018.

Education

Education and work ethics being the core values to his family, Pannaga ensured to pay close attention when it came to his education.

Pannaga attended Shri Bhaghavan Mahaveer Jain College (SBMJC) in Bangalore, India, where he completed his higher secondary schooling in Computer Science. He then pursued a Bachelor of Arts from Surana College, where he completed his majors in Journalism, Psychology and English.

Upon the completion of his majors, Pannaga headed to New York Film Academy to study for his master's degree in filmmaking. Pannaga's attempt to acquire knowledge and training didn't end here. He took up a series of short seminars and courses on filmmaking all over India, receiving certifications from institutions and programs such as The Hollywood Film Institute, KANFIDA, Entertainment in INDIA, Conclave, and Next Level of Animation, MAYA.

Formative career

1980–2000

Bharana started working professionally in the film industry at the age of five when he debuted on one of the most-loved television series Tenali Rama, aired on the DD National Channel (1990). In the same year, he played a crucial role in Stone Boy, an Indio-Mauritius Project (1990). His subsequent roles in Chinnari Mutha (1993), Naviddeve Yecharike (1996), Mussanje (1998), and a stint as an Assistant Editor in the musical collection of famous poets works – Geetha Madhuri (1998) followed shortly after.

2000–2012

While pursuing his high school (SJBMC), undergraduate (Surana College) and postgraduate (New York Film Academy) degrees between 2002 and 2010, Pannaga continued to pursue his passion in the entertainment field. His roles ranged from acting to working as Director of Photography (DOP) in a myriad of projects. While in school, Pannaga expanded his role from actor to assistant director, working on projects like Maha Maaye (TV Show, 2002), Kallarali Hoogavi (Film, 2007), Nam Yejamanru (Film, 2008), and Keladi Shivappa Nayaka (Film, 2010) under the guidance of his father T.S. Nagabharana. Alongside this roster of projects, Pannaga expanded his own vision by directing projects like a series of commercials for KMF (Commercial, 2006, 2007, and 2009) and directing, editing and assisting short films like You Never Know (Director, 2006), Eyes R Not Here (Director, 2007), Surprise (Director/DOP/Editor, 2008), One Day (1st AD, 2009), Paradise (Director/DOP/Editor, 2009), Night Out (DOP, 2009), Unlucky (Director/DOP/Editor, 2008), The Acquaintance (Director/DOP/Editor, 2009), Run (Director/DOP/Editor, 2008), Break Up (DOP, 2008)

His award-winning short film You Never Know (2006), Nokia Mock Commercial (2005), and music video Just Like That (2009) has solidified his stellar reputation as a director. While working on these projects, Pannaga has also simultaneously acted in commercially successful and award-winning films like Chinnari Mutha, Naviddeve Yecharike, Vimochane, Mrugashira, and Kamsaale Kaisaale (2012) as well as a Fena Commercial, which was shot in Hindi.

2012–2023

The start of the 2010 brought about a world of new and exciting opportunities for Pannaga Bharana. Having established his credibility in the film industry by winning the Best Supporting Actor award for his role in Mrugashira and the Best Director of the Year (2020) award for his film French Biriyani at SIIMA which made him began exploring a brand new realm of possibilities in terms of directing. The projects he began to focus on were loaded with imagery and paid close attention to themes. This can be seen in his directorial endeavours like Kamsaale Kaisaale (2012), and Vasundara (2014). While working on these projects, Pannaga continued assisting his father on big budget productions as an assistant director, editor and executive producer in projects like Allama (2017), and Kaanorayana (2018). As a way to reach out to the community and attract a younger audience to the art of filmmaking, Pannaga turned his focus onto his studio, PB Studios, creating a platform where young filmmakers and artists channel their creativity and work towards their goals of becoming a part of the film and entertainment industry. Having successfully established his studio, Pannaga has made a comeback as an executive producer with his brand-new film “Tatsama Tadbhava – The Confession,” a film marking the return of acclaimed actress Meghana Raj Sarja.

Film festivals

During the mid-2000's, Pannaga's presence in the entertainment industry was quite notable. Because of the depth and quality of his projects, he was invited to a series of Film Festivals as both a participant and a delegate. Some of the Festivals he attended were: IFFI, Goa, IND New York Film Festival, NY New Filmmaker's Festival, NY Triebeca Film Festival, NY Berlin International Film festival BIFFS

Theatre

Unlike most commercial artists, Pannaga Bharana has pursued his love for theatre while simultaneously working on big budget productions. Between 2002 and 2009, Pannaga worked closely with the notable director B.V. Karanth on a series of projects like Gokula Nirgamana, Hayavadana, Jokumara Swamy, Kathale Belaku, Tabarana Kathe, and Sattavara Neralu .

Additional roles

Beyond him contributing to the entertainment industry, Pannaga has placed immense value on the importance of education and the nurturing of young minds by establishing the Bharana Academy of Performing Arts (BAPA), where he has trained over 400 students in 20 batches, and establishing the Karnataka Directors Association as a founding member. Outside of film and television, Pannaga runs an event management company called Just Jazz that has hosted 100+ events since its inception, ranging from high-profile ones to intimate personalized family events.

Bharana has also started his own music label, Betel Music (2023), with his brother Vasuki Vaibhav, and friends Chetan Nanjundaiah and Spurthi Anil, where they together envision the bridging of commercial, soulful, theatrical and folk music.

Filmography

Feature films

Year Film Role Production Director
1993 Chinnari Mutha Actor Shruthalaya Films Dir T.S. Nagabharana
1996 Naviddeve Yecharike Actor Shruthalaya Films Dir T.S. Nagabharana
2006 Kallarali Hoogavi Assistant Director Akash Audio Production Dir T.S. Nagabharana
2008 Nam Yejamanru Assistant Director Rajeshwari Combines Dir T.S. Nagabharana
2010 Keladi Shivappa Nayaka Assistant Director Renukamba Combines Dir T.S. Nagabarana
2012 Kamsaale Kaisaale AD/EP Shruthalaya Pictures Dir T.S. Nagabharana
2014 Vasundara Actor/1st AD Shruthalaya Pictures Dir T.S. Nagabharana
2015 Mrugashira Actor Yathiraya Films Dir Srivatsa
Key
Films that have not yet been released Denotes films that have not yet been released
Year Film Notes
2017 Happy New Year Debut as director
2018 Kaanoorayana Screenplay and Co-direction
2020 French Biriyani Won – SIIMA Best Director
TBA Maduve Impossible Not yet released Announced

As a producer

Year Film Notes
TBA Tatsama Tadbhava Announced With Meghana Raj playing the lead[3]

Television series

Year Film Notes
2015 Mrugashira Won – SIIMA Best Actor in Supporting Role

References

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