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G. Dhananjayan

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G.Dhananjayan
Born (1965-05-14) 14 May 1965 (age 59)
Senjiagaram Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupation(s)Film producer
Former Chief Executive Officer
Years active2006–present

G. Dhananjayan (born May 14, 1965) also known as GD or DJ, is a south Indian film producer, columnist, writer and the chief of south business studios of Disney-UTV Motion Pictures.[1] He is instrumental in producing a plethora of films in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi languages.[2]

Education and work

GD holds MBA graduate from Sydenham Institute of Management[3] SIMSREE, University of Mumbai. He worked in Asian Paints, Nerolac Paints, Saregama-HMV, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone for about 15 years before joining Moser Baer Entertainment in 2006. Dhananjayan was company's Chief Operating Officer[4] of Home Video Business and then Chief Executive Officer of the Film Business.

GD is one of the two founding members of Moser Baer Entertainment, which was set up in April 2006. Within a span of 6 months, GD acquired the copyright/marketing rights for over 10,000 film titles in 10 key languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi etc. to launch DVDs and VCDs under the banner of Moser Baer. Thus, the company revolutionized the Home Entertainment market in January 2007, with the launch of DVDs/VCDs at an economical consumer prices of Rs.28 (VCDs) and Rs.34 (DVDs) and redefined the way the consumer looks at this segment. This helped the consumers have started to collect the titles for creating their own library.

Movie production

After joining Moser Baer Entertainment GD ventured into film production with "Shaurya" in Hindi and "Vellitherai" in Tamil. There after, it produced and released "Sankat City" and "Hide & Seek" in Hindi, "Raman Thediya Seethai", "Poo", "Abhiyum Naanum","Kanden Kadhalai", "Aval Peyar Tamilarasi" and "Siddu +2 first attempt" with K. Bhagyaraj in Tamil and "Kaana Kanmani" in Malayalam in a span of two years.

GD is now associated with UTV (now called Disney-UTV) since 2011[5]. After joining UTV he has started acquiring and producing films in Tamil and Malayalam. The first film, UTV marketed after his joining was Deiva Thirumagal, which was a critical acclaimed movie. He is involved in producing, marketing and distributing films. Under his supervision UTV has co-produced in Tamil "Vettai" with Director N. Lingusamy's Thirrupathi Brothers, Vazhakku Enn 18/9 with Director N. Lingusamy's Thirrupathi Brothers, Kalakalappu with Sundar C and Khusboo's Avni Cinemax, "Mugamoodi" , "Theeya Velai Seiyyanum Kumaru" Sundar C and Khusboo's Avni Cinemax, Ivan Veramathiri with Director N. Lingusamy's Thirrupathi Brothers, and "Naan Sigappu Manithan" with Vishal Film Factory. GD has produced under UTV "Thaandavam", and "Settai" in Tamil. In Malayalam UTV had produced "Grand Master" and "Husbands in Goa". Currently, GD is in the process of releasing, co-production with Director N. Lingusamy's Thirrupathi Brothers's N.Lingusamy-Suriya's "Anjaan". His next projects are Vikram Prabhu's "Sigaram Thodu", co-production with Binary Pictures of Director. S.P. Jhananathan - Arya's "Purampokku" and co-production with Vishnu Vardhan Films of Director Vishnuvardhan - Arya's "Yatchan" in Tamil.

Contributions to film industry

GD 's initiative of buying the video rights of several popular Tamil movies, other south Indian movies and mass marketing it as DVDs and VCDs at economical price. Because of this initiative, several old Tamil movies are available in DVDs and VCDs at economical price with best quality. This was done in eradicating piracy of DVD's at cheaper price.[6]

GD is known for his full involvement while producing the film with his director and observes carefully the way the movie is moulding in-shape without setbacks. Director Cheran once mentioned in an interview that producers should be like GD by visiting the shooting spots and being a part of the production process, so that they will know what hurdles the film crew is facing while making a movie.

GD is passionate about writing and has contributed several articles to Times of India, Indian Management, DNA, India Today and other publications. Currently, he is writing a series on "Film Production & Marketing" in Galatta Cinema magazine.

GD has written the book about Tamil cinema titled The Best of Tamil Cinema: 1931 to 2010[7],[8][9] in English, which was released by Legend, Kamal Haasan on March 2, 2011 in the presence of eminent film makers.[10] Super Star Rajinikanth personally appreciated the book by giving a memento for the fantastic research and writing on Tamil cinema.[11] The book has reached out to many Universities world-wide and has become a reference point on Tamil cinema for many interested foreigners to know about Tamil cinema. GD is regularly interviewed by BBC and many other foreign media on Tamil cinema.

GD's monthly column in 'Galatta Cinema' for two years was widely read by eminent personalities in South Indian Cinema and was appreciated for his professional contribution to South Cinema. His current article series in Tamil newspaper 'The Hindu' is widely read and appreciated for the valuable contribution he is doing by enlightening the readers on the happenings in Tamil cinema and the changes required. He is also writing articles to many monthly magazines from time to time on film business.

GD spends considerable time in interacting with students[12] of various Film Institutes across India. He also delivered speeches at IIT, NIT and other management institutes on film business. He also developed and managing a knowledge oriented website www.inspiringnotes.com. GD is invited to various forums and programs to speak on Tamil cinema and many other topics. GD also pursues speaking in All India Radio on public interest topics on many occasions.

Filmography

At Moser Baer Entertainment as the Producer or Co-Producer

Also associated with Abhiyum Naanum (2008) and Mayilu(2012) in funding the project to Prakash Raj's Duet Movies.

At Disney-UTV as the Associate Producer

Press Meets

Interviews

Audio Launch speeches

Film Festivals

Book Launch

Debates/News

Newspaper articles by GD

Personal life

GD has a strong passion for movies and he almost watches most of the Tamil,Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi movies as soon as it is released.He also spends most of his time reading books, new movie scripts,traveling, networking through Facebook ,Twitter and LinkedIn. He is active in all social media networks and he is connected with all his followers in twitter and friends in Facebook.

His family fully supports his passion for cinema and are the source of his strength. His daughters too are passionate about films.

References

  1. ^ "Dhananjayan Chief of the South Films business of Disney-UTV". http://india.disneycareers.com/. The Walt Disney Company. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  2. ^ "GD helps Disney-UTV establish credentials in south business". Box office India. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  3. ^ "Guest Leacture by Dhanajayan Govind in SIMSREE". 17 August 2010.
  4. ^ Ravikumar, R. (Mar ch10, 2009). "Ten films in Moser Baer's production kitty for 2009". The Hindu. Retrieved 8 December 2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ "Dhanajayan joins UTV". sify.com. Retrieved 2 Februrary 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  6. ^ "We want to be India's best entertainment company". rediff news. Retrieved 17 April 2008.
  7. ^ "The Best of Tamil Cinema, launched in style". sify.com. Retrieved 4 , March 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  8. ^ Nadu, Tamil (January 5, 2011). "Chronicling the legacy of Tamil cinema". The Hindu. Retrieved 8 December 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ Venkateswaran, N (March 20, 2011). "The chronicler of Kollywood". The Times of India. Retrieved 8 December 2013. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ "THE BEST OF TAMIL CINEMA 1931-2010 released by Dr Kamal". CNN. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
  11. ^ "Rajinikanth appreciates Dhananjayan's book". sify.com. Retrieved 8 April 2011.
  12. ^ "Guest Lecture by Dhananjayan Govind". pragyan.org. NIT Trichy.
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