Ajay Kumar at 04:39, 20 August 2023

2023-08-20T04:39:13Z

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{{Short description|Film director}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Danish Renzu
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date =
| birth_place = [[Kashmir]], India
| parents =
| relatives =
| spouse =
| nationality = Indian
| alma mater = [[University of California, Los Angeles]]
| occupation = {{Hlist|Director|screenwriter|producer}}
| notable works = ''[[Half Widow]]'', ''[[The Illegal (film)|The illegal]]''
| years_active =
}}

'''Danish Renzu''' is an Indian born [[Los Angeles]] based [[film director]], [[film producer|producer]], and [[screenwriter]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Tagat |first=Anurag |date=2022-05-05 |title=Premiere: Watch the Teaser for Kashmiri Short Film ‘The Good News’ by Filmmaker Danish Renzu |url=https://rollingstoneindia.com/premiere-kashmiri-short-film-the-good-news-danish-renzu-teaser/ |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=[[Rolling Stone|Rolling Stone India]] |language=en-US}}</ref> He is also the Founder of Renzu Films. Renzu is best known for directing and producing films like ''[[Half Widow]]'', ''[[The Illegal (film)|The illegal]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-03-23 |title='The Illegal' movie review: A sublime take on hopes, aspirations and despair |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/the-illegal-movie-review-a-sublime-take-on-hopes-aspirations-and-despair-965092.html |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Illegal Movie Review: Suraj Sharma pays the price of his American dream |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/reviews/story/the-illegal-movie-review-suraj-sharma-pays-the-price-of-his-american-dream-1782284-2021-03-22 |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref> and ''[[Songs of Paradise]]'' featuring [[Saba Azad]], [[Soni Razdan]], [[Lillete Dubey]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bukhtiyar |first=Idrees |title=‘Kashmir needs to have its own regional cinema’ |url=https://www.greaterkashmir.com/srinagar/kashmir-needs-to-have-its-own-regional-cinema |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=[[Greater Kashmir]] |language=en}}</ref> currently in post production.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dore |first=Shalini |date=2017-06-29 |title=AFI Alums Pitch in for Classmate’s Movie |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/asia/danish-renzu-the-illegal-afi-funding-1202483372/ |access-date=2023-05-09 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-26 |title=Hrithik Roshan’s girlfriend Saba Azad to play lead role in Danish Renzu's Songs Of Paradise; deets inside |url=https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/news/hrithik-roshans-girlfriend-saba-azad-to-play-lead-role-in-danish-renzus-songs-of-paradise-deets-inside-1192103 |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=[[Pinkvilla]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sehgal |first=Chirag |date=2022-12-15 |title=Saba Azad Wraps Up Rocket Boys 2, Minimum, and Songs of Paradise Shoot; Deets Inside |url=https://www.news18.com/news/entertainment/saba-azad-wraps-up-rocket-boys-2-minimum-and-songs-of-paradise-shoot-deets-inside-6622915.html |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=[[News18]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite news |date=2022-09-25 |title=Saba Azad to play Raj Begum in Danish Renzu's Songs Of Paradise - Exclusive |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/saba-azad-to-play-raj-begum-in-danish-renzus-songs-of-paradise-exclusive/articleshow/94440093.cms |access-date=2023-05-04 |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

Renzu has received numerous accolades, his film ''[[The Illegal (film)|The illegal]]'' as a writer and director was shortlisted for nominations for the [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture Category]] at the [[91st Academy Awards|Academy Awards 2019]].<ref name=":1" />

==Early life and education==
Danish Renzu was born in [[Kashmir|Kashmir, India]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chhibber |first=Mini Anthikad |date=2021-04-17 |title=Danish Renzu talks about 'The Illegal' |language=en-IN |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/danish-renzu-talks-about-the-illegal/article34343748.ece |access-date=2023-01-31 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> In 2005, he shifted to Los Angeles for further studies,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seta |first=Keyur |title=We have had enough of 'Bumbro' from Kashmir: Danish Renzu on Half Widow |url=https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2019/nov/19/23148/we-have-had-enough-of-bumbro-from-kashmir-danish-renzu-on-half-widow |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=Cinestaan}}</ref> where he graduated from the [[University of California, Los Angeles]]. He holds a [[Bachelor of Electrical Engineering|degree in Electrical Engineering]] and [[UCLA Extension Writers' Program|UCLA Writers' Program]] certification in screenwriting from the same University.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bhat |first=Adil |date=2017-09-19 |title=A window to the Valley - Danish Renzu talks about reviving cinema in Kashmir |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/a-window-to-the-valley/article19714135.ece |access-date=2023-01-31 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

==Career==
Renzu started directing short movies in 2015. He directed two short films ''In Search of America, Inshallah'' (2014) and ''First Love'' (2015). His first feature film ''[[Half Widow]]'' was released in 2017 and narrates the story of a woman searching for her husband against the backdrop of the [[Kargil War]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bhat |first=Niyati |date=2020-01-10 |title=Half Widow does not fall into the Bollywood trap of the formula Kashmir film |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/half-widow-does-not-fall-into-the-bollywood-trap-of-the-formula-kashmir-film/article30535093.ece |access-date=2023-01-31 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Seta |first=Keyur |title=Half Widow review: Hopeful end to grim tale of a missing husband |url=https://www.cinestaan.com/reviews/half-widow-41372 |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=Cinestaan}}</ref> His second directorial film was ''[[The Illegal (film)|The illegal]]'' (2019)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seta |first=Keyur |title=The Illegal review: This story of immigrants in the US is filled with reality and hope |url=https://www.cinestaan.com/reviews/the-illegal-42202 |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=Cinestaan}}</ref> starring [[Suraj Sharma]] of [[Academy Awards|Oscar-winning]] film [[Life of Pi]], [[Shweta Tripathi]], and [[Adil Hussain]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Roy |first=Lachmi Deb |date=25 March 2021 |title='I Am An Immigrant From Assam To Delhi, So I Can Relate To ‘The Illegal’: Adil Hussain |work=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook India]] |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/entertainment-news-i-am-an-immigrant-from-assam-to-delhi-so-i-can-relate-to-the-the-illegal-adil-hussain/378260 |access-date=2023-01-31}}</ref> The film was shortlisted for nominations for the [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture Category]] at the [[91st Academy Awards|Academy Awards 2019]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Ramanan |first=Manju |date=2021-03-21 |title=Oscar nominee 'The Illegal,' written and directed by Danish Renzu, to release on OTT |url=https://filmfaremiddleeast.com/oscar-nominee-the-illegal-written-and-directed-by-danish-renzu-to-release-on-ott/ |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=[[Filmfare Awards|FilmFare]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

He also directed and produced the music video ''Ae Savere'' starring [[Soni Razdan]]. His recent short film ''The Good News'' is streaming on [[Disney+ Hotstar]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramanan |first=Manju |date=2021-08-10 |title=Taha Shah and Soni Razdan talk of their music video 'Ae Savere', shot in Kashmir |url=https://filmfaremiddleeast.com/taha-shah-and-soni-razdan-talk-of-their-music-video-ae-savere-shot-in-kashmir/ |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=FilmFare |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Filmography==
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Film
! Director
! Writer
! Notes
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2023 || ''[[Songs of Paradise]]''
| {{y}}
|{{y}}
|
|-
| ''My Father’s Doctor''
| {{y}}
|{{y}}
|
|-
|2022 || ''The Good News''<ref name=":0" />
| {{y}}
|{{y}}
|
|-
|2019
| ''[[The Illegal (film)|The Illegal]]''
| {{y}}
|{{y}}
| Critics’ Choice Award for Best Film, Audience Poll Award and Special Award, Best Narrative Feature, Best Feature Film and Best Director
|-
| 2017 || ''[[Half Widow]]''<ref>{{Cite web |last=HK |first=Varun |date=2021-04-02 |title=Cinema has a responsibility to bring people together, says 'The Illegal' director Danish Renzu |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/cinema-has-a-responsibility-to-bring-people-together-says-the-illegal-director-danish-renzu-969329.html |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=[[Deccan Herald]] |language=en}}</ref>
| {{y}}
|{{y}}
|Best feature (Audience Award), Best Director Award, (Grand Prize) Best Feature Film
|-
| 2014 || ''In Search of America, Inshallah''
| {{y}}
|
|Nominated for Award of Excellence for Best Director, Winner in Best Short Film Category
|-
|}

==Awards and recognition==
{| class="wikitable"
|+Awards and recognition
!Year
!Award
!Category
!Work
!Result
!{{Abbreviation|Ref.|References}}
|-
|2021
|''[[Austin Film Festival]]''
|Best Feature Film and Best Director
| rowspan="5" |''[[The Illegal (film)|The illegal]]''
|{{nom}}
| rowspan="5" |<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Past Films |url=https://austinfilmfestival.com/past-films/ |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=Austin Film Festival |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|2020
|''Sunscreen Festival Award''
|Best Narrative Feature
|{{won}}
|-
| rowspan="3" |2019
|''Vancouver International South Asian Film Festival (VISAFF)''
|Critics Choice Award for Best Film
|{{won}}
|-
|''[[Mumbai International Film Festival]] (MIFF)''
|Jury Special Prize
|{{won}}
|-
|''Washington DC South Asian Film Festival''
|Best Feature Film
|{{won}}
|-
| rowspan="4" |2018
|''Vancouver International South Asian Film Festival''
|Vancouver Film School Scholarship
| rowspan="5" |''[[Half Widow]]''
|{{won}}
|
|-
|''Washington DC South Asian Film Festival (DCSAFF)''
|Best Director Award
|{{won}}
|
|-
|[[New Jersey Film Festival|''New Jersey International Festival'']]
|Best Feature Film (Grand Prize)
|{{won}}
|
|-
|''Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival''
|Jury PrizeBest Director Category
|{{won}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=Danish Renzu honoured with Dada Sahib Palikhi Film Festival-18 Award |url=http://www.knskashmir.com/danish-renzu-honoured-with-dada-sahib-palikhi-film-festival-18-award-26211 |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=KNS Kashmir |language=en-GB}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" |2017
|[[ISAFF|''South Asian Film Festival'']]
|Best Feature (Audience Award)
|{{won}}
|
|-
|''ARY Film Festival''
|Best Short Film Category
| rowspan="3" |''In Search of America, Inshallah''
|{{won}}
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2015
|''California Women’s Film Festival Award''
|Jury Award for Best Director (Short film)
|{{nom}}
|
|-
|[[Toronto International Film Festival Award for Best Canadian Short Film|''Canada Short Film Festival Award'']]
|Award of Excellence for Best Director (Short film)
|{{nom}}
|
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==

* {{IMDb name|nm5094453}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Renzu, Danish}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian film directors]]
[[Category:Film producers from Jammu and Kashmir]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

Danish Renzu - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 04:39, 20 August 2023