RowenaProctor6 at 02:46, 18 February 2026

2026-02-18T02:46:00Z

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{{Short description|Indian director (born 1995)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Chidananda S Naik
| image =
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| birth_name =
| birth_date =
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| death_date =
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| other_names =
| occupation = Director
| years_active = 2023{{Endash}}present
| known_for =
| notable_works = ''[[Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know...]]'' (2023)
}}
'''Chidananda S Naik''' is an Indian doctor-turned-filmmaker from Mysuru, Karnataka, known for his short film ''[[Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know...]]'' In 2024, he won the first prize at [[Cinéfondation|La Cinéf]], a sidebar competition for student films at the [[Cannes Film Festival]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=16 June 2024 |title=MIFF 2024 {{!}} Chidananda S Naik: 'Medicine itself drew me towards art; while we delved into anatomy, I often pondered about emotions and feelings' |url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/entertainment/movies/chidananda-s-naik-interview-2-article-12749643.html}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Born in 1995 in [[Shimoga|Shivamogga]], Karnataka, Chidananda pursued a career in medicine and completed his MBBS at [[Mysore Medical College & Research Institute|Mysore Medical College]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Sampalli |first=Shashi |date=2024-06-07 |title=Chidananda S. Naik interview: 'My only goal is to make a good film' |url=https://thefederal.com/films/chidananda-s-naik-interview-my-only-goal-is-to-make-a-good-film-126272 |access-date=2024-06-21 |website=thefederal.com |language=en}}</ref> He was inspired by [[Akira Kurosawa]]'s ''[[Dreams (1990 film)|Dreams]]'' (1990) during this seventh grade''.''<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sudevan |first=Praveen |date=2024-05-11 |title=Kannada short film 'Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know' to be screened in Cannes |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/kannada-short-film-sunflowers-were-the-first-ones-to-know-to-be-screened-in-cannes/article68149619.ece |access-date=2024-06-29 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> His experiences with patients led him to explore filmmaking. He then enrolled in a Direction course at FTII, Pune and graduated.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />

== Career ==
Chidananda made ''[[Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know...]]'' in four days at the end of his one-year television course in the Film and Television Institute of India. The 16-minute film is based on a Kannada folk tale.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=24 May 2024 |title=India's Chidananda S Naik wins Cannes La Cinef first prize for Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/others/indias-chidananda-s-naik-wins-cannes-la-cinef-first-prize-for-sunflowers-were-the-first-ones-to-know-101716512811591.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-24 |title=Indian films Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know and Bunnyhood win first and third prize at Cannes Film Festival's La Cinef |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/indian-films-sunflowers-were-the-first-ones-to-know-bunnyhood-win-prize-cannes-film-festival-la-cinef-9348782/ |access-date=2024-06-29 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> The film premiered at the [[2024 Cannes Film Festival]] and was one of 18 titles judged by a jury of five members, chaired by Belgian actress [[Lubna Azabal]].<ref name=":1" />

Chidananda is the first student from FTII's one-year Television course to win [[Cinéfondation|La Cinéf]].<ref name=":0" /> Commenting on the choice of the jury, director [[S. S. Rajamouli]] has rejoiced an Indian short had received it, saying "Indian talent breaching boundaries".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-05-25 |title=SS Rajamouli REACTS to 'Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know' winning at Cannes 2024: 'Indian talent breaching boundaries' |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/ss-rajamouli-reacts-to-sunflowers-were-the-first-ones-to-know-winning-at-cannes-2024-indian-talent-breaching-boundaries/articleshow/110406940.cms |access-date=2024-06-29 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

== Filmography ==

* ''[[Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know...]]'' (2023) (short film; 16 min)

== Awards ==

* ''Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know...'' - 1st prize at [[Cinéfondation#Prize winners|LA CINEF 2024]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-21 |title=SUNFLOWERS WERE THE FIRST ONES TO KNOW... |url=https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/f/sunflowers-were-the-first-ones-to-know/ |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=Festival de Cannes |language=en-US}}</ref>
* ''Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know...'' - Best Script (Non Feature) at [[71st National Film Awards]].<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2025-08-01 |title=71st National Film Awards{{!}} Mysuru's Chidananda S Naik bags another honour after Cannes win |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/71st-national-film-awards-mysurus-chidananda-s-naik-sunflowers-were-the-first-ones-to-know-best-script/article69884481.ece |access-date=2025-08-03 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
* ''Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know...'' - Winner of Indian Competition at [[Bengaluru International Short Film Festival]] 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BISFF Winners 2024 |url=https://bisff.in/winners/2024-winners/ |access-date=2025-08-29 |language=en-US}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* {{IMDb name|id=15062066}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:S Naik, Chidananda}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Film directors from Karnataka]]
[[Category:Film and Television Institute of India alumni]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

Chidananda S Naik - Revision history

RowenaProctor6 at 02:46, 18 February 2026