Ravi Chopra (27 September 1946 – 12 November 2014) was an Indian filmmaker, best known for directing the television show Mahabharat (1988–1990).
Life Chopra was the son of producer and director B.R. Chopra and nephew of Yash Chopra. Aditya Chopra and Uday Chopra are his cousins.
He was married to Renu since 1975, they have two children together.
On 23 October 2012, he was diagnosed with a severe lung ailment and was discharged from Breach Candy Hospital after a week. "He was discharged from hospital on October 26," hospital sources said, without going into details. He was being treated for lung cancer at CMC Vellore. Chopra died on 12 November 2014 at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai where he had been admitted a few days earlier for a lung ailment. He was 68 years old, and survived by his wife and two children.
Career Film career Chopra started his career assisting his father B.R. Chopra in films like, Dastaan (1972) and Dhund (1973). He also assisted his uncle Yash Chopra in Ittefaq (1969). Eventually, he made his independent directorial debut with Zameer (1975), produced under the family banner, B. R. Films.
In 1980, he directed the ensemble disaster film The Burning Train, which over the years is considered a cult classic. Other films he directed included Mazdoor (1983), , Dehleez (1986), Pratigyabadh and Kal Ki Awaz (1992).
During 1988-89 along with his father, he directed the TV series Mahabharat. After his father's death the only movie Ravi produced was Bhoothnath (2008).
Television career Ravi directed the highly successful television serial Mahabharat, which aired during 1988–1990, and the television mini-series, Ramayan, which was aired in 2002. He also directed mythological shows like Vishnu Puran and Ma Shakti. His TV series Aap Beeti was one of the most popular TV show on Doordarshan National in the early 2000s.
Plagiarism charge Chopra was served with a legal notice in 2009 by 20th Century Fox, which charged that Banda Yeh Bindaas Hai blatantly plagiarised their 1992 film My Cousin Vinny. Chopra and the production company, BR Films, denied the charges in court in May 2009. The film's release was to be delayed until June 2009 by order of the Bombay High Court.
A lawsuit was filed against BR Films by 20th Century Fox for copying their film without buying the rights. Fox sought damages of $1.4 million; they had given Chopra permission "to make a film loosely based on the Academy Award winning movie" but concluded the final product was a "substantial reproduction" of the original. Fox eventually accepted a $200,000 settlement from the film's producer. Although since the death of Ravi Chopra in 2014, it has not seen a theatrical release.
The Telegraph, listing a number of other Bollywood movies "inspired" by Hollywood blockbusters, noted that the case would "decide whether Indian filmmakers can continue to get their 'inspiration' with impunity, or buy rights the legal way."
Filmography
Films Year Title Director Producer Writer Notes 1969 Ittefaq Assistant director 1972 Dastaan Assistant director 1973 Dhund 1975 Zameer 1978 Tumhari Kasam 1980 The Burning Train Insaf Ka Tarazu 1981 Agni Pareeksha 1982 Nikaah Teri Meri Kahani Television film 1983 Dharti Aakash Television film Mazdoor 1984 1986 Dahleez 1987 Awam 1991Pratigyabadh 1992 Kal Ki Awaz B.R. Chopra 1999 Eastside 2003 2004 Karma Short film 2006 Baabul 2008 Heaven on Earth Bhoothnath 2009 Cooking with Stella TBA Banda Yeh Bindaas Hai Unreleased
Television Year Title Director Producer 1986 Bahadur Shah Zafar 1987 Chunni 1988–1990 Mahabharat 1993–1996 Kanoon 1995 Ek Se Badhkar Ek 1995–1996 Jhansi Ki Rani 1997 Aurat 1997–1998 Mahabharat Katha 2000–2002 Vishnu Puran 2001 Aap Beeti 2001–2002 Ramayan 2002–2003 Maa Shakti 2004–2005 Kamini Damini 2008 Sujata
Awards In 1985, Chopra was nominated for Best Director at the 32nd Filmfare Awards for his film Aaj Ki Awaaz (1984).
In 2004, he was nominated at the IIFA Awards and Screen Awards for Best Director for his film Baghban (2003).Screen Award for Best Director
References
External links