Ajay Kumar at 04:54, 20 August 2023

2023-08-20T04:54:25Z

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{{Short description|Indian filmmaker, screenwriter, graphic artist, fiction writer and poet}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| image =
| name = Devashish Makhija
| birth_place = [[Kolkata]], India
| nationality = [[India]]n
| occupation = Filmmaker, Screenwriter, Graphic Artist, Fiction Writer, Poet
| years active = 2004-present
| known_for = ''[[Ajji]]''
}}
'''Devashish Makhija''' is an Indian filmmaker, screenwriter, graphic artist, fiction writer and poet. He is best known for writing and directing the full-length feature films: ''[[Ajji]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/hindi/2019/jul/18/banerjee-casting-a-spell-with-his-acting-skills-now-2005460.html|title=Abhishek Banerjee casting a spell with his acting skills now|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=2019-07-20}}</ref> ''[[Oonga (film)|Oonga]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theweek.in/leisure/society/2018/10/19/devashish-makhija-filmmaker-refuses-to-make-escapist-cinema.html|title=Devashish Makhija, the filmmaker who refuses to make 'escapist cinema'|website=The Week|language=en|access-date=2019-07-20}}</ref> and ''[[Bhonsle (film)|Bhonsle]]''. He also authored the bestselling children's books, ''[[When Ali Became Bajrangbali]]'' and ''[[Why Paploo was Perplexed]]'', along with a series of 49 short stories published as an anthology, ''[[Forgetting]]'', published by [[HarperCollins]]. He has also worked on the films ''[[Black Friday (2007 film)|Black Friday]]'' and ''[[Bunty Aur Babli]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/bhonsle-director-devashish-makhija-on-making-films-on-the-marginalised-never-been-interested-in-status-quo-5435001.html|title=Bhonsle director Devashish Makhija on making films on the marginalised: Never been interested in status quo- Entertainment News, Firstpost|date=2018-10-27|website=Firstpost|language=en|access-date=2019-07-20}}</ref> He has also directed the new and upcoming film [[Joram (film)|Joram]].

==Early life==
Born and brought up in [[Park Circus]], Devashish spent the first 24 years of his life in [[Kolkata]]. He completed his schooling at [[Don Bosco School, Park Circus|Don Bosco High School]] and pursued a degree in economics at St. Xavier's College. Following a brief stint in advertising with [[McCann Erickson]] and [[DDB Mudra|Mudra]] Kolkata after his graduation, Devashish arrived in Mumbai to pursue filmmaking.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://astray.in/interviews/devashish-makhija|title=Astray - Devashish Makhija|work=Astray.in|accessdate=2015-04-30}}</ref>

==Career==
Devashish Makhija began his career in the Indian film industry as a researcher and assistant director on the critically acclaimed film ''[[Black Friday (2004 film)|Black Friday]]'' (2004), a film based on the [[Black Friday: The True Story of the Bombay Bomb Blasts|namesake book]] by [[Hussain Zaidi]] about the [[1993 Bombay bombings]], the feature-film directorial of [[Anurag Kashyap]].

In the following year, he was also the chief assistant director to [[Shaad Ali]] on the blockbuster ''[[Bunty Aur Babli]]''. Since then, he has written numerous screenplays, notably Avik Mukherjee's ''Bhoomi'' in the year 2008 and Anurag Kashyap's upcoming superhero project ''Doga''. In addition to writing its story, screenplay and dialogue, Devashish made his feature-film directorial debut with the highly appreciated Hindi-Oriya film ''[[Oonga (film)|Oonga]]''<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.thesundayindian.com/en/story/the-big-little-war-in-our-backyard/23/47987/ |accessdate=16 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230220544/http://www.thesundayindian.com/en/story/the-big-little-war-in-our-backyard/23/47987/ |archivedate=30 December 2013 |title=The Big Little War in our backyard - TSI - the Sunday Indian }}</ref> in 2013, starring [[Nandita Das]], [[Seema Biswas]], [[Salim Kumar]] and Raju Singh<ref>{{cite news|last=Mumbai Mirror|title=Little Big Boy|url=http://www.mumbaimirror.com/mumbai/others/Little-big-boy/articleshow/24325336.cms|newspaper=Mumbai Mirror|accessdate=2015-04-30}}</ref> (as Oonga). ''Oonga'' made its world premiere at the [[New York Indian Film Festival]] on 3 May 2013<ref>{{cite web|last1=New York Indian Film Festival|title=NYIFF|url=http://www.iaac.us/nyiff2013/schedule.htm|work=Iaac.us|accessdate=2015-04-30}}</ref> and was screened in the 'India Gold' competition section at the 15th [[Mumbai Film Festival]],<ref name="MAMI Website">{{cite web|title=India Gold Section - MAMI|url=http://www.mumbaifilmfest.org/index.php?page=film_selection|accessdate=1 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002012213/http://www.mumbaifilmfest.org/index.php?page=film_selection|archive-date=2 October 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> the 13th [[River to River. Florence Indian Film Festival]]<ref name="River to River Florence Indian festival">{{cite web|last=Florence Indian film festival|title=festival website|url=http://www.rivertoriver.it/index.php?option=com_zoo&view=frontpage&layout=frontpage&Itemid=187&lang=en|accessdate=2015-04-30}}</ref> and the Indian Film Festival at Melbourne in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last=Indian film festival Melbourne|title=Festival Website|url=http://iffm.com.au/oonga.html|accessdate=10 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413140336/http://iffm.com.au/oonga.html|archive-date=13 April 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Oonga was also a part of the international competition at the [[International Film Festival of Kerala]] in 2014.<ref name="IFFK">{{cite web|last1=International Film Festival of Kerala|author-link=International Film Festival of Kerala|title=Website listing|url=http://www.iffk.in/index.php?page=compfilms_14|website=Iffk.in|accessdate=12 December 2014}}</ref>

He has written and directed two acclaimed short films, ''Rahim Murge Pe Mat Ro'', starring [[Piyush Mishra]] as the voice of ''Rahim Murga'' in 2008, followed by the film ''El'ayichi'' in 2015, starring [[Nimrat Kaur]] and [[Divyendu Sharma]], which was chosen among the 5 short films exclusively screened at the 1st edition of the 'Terribly Tiny Talkies' initiative.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmycurry.com/elayichi-short-film/|title=El'ayichi - Short Film|work=Filmycurry|accessdate=2015-04-30|date=14 February 2015}}</ref> He has also written and directed the short film ''Absent'' in 2015, starring [[Vikas Kumar]] which was produced by 'Pocket Films'<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/news/missing-person/article8474044.ece|title=Missing person|work=The Hindu|accessdate=2016-04-14|date=14 April 2016|last1=Modi|first1=Chintan Girish}}</ref> and had an official selection at ''International Film Festival of South Asia (IFFSA), Toronto, Canada''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iffsatoronto.com/movie/absent/|title=Absent at IFFSA|work=iffsatoronto.com|accessdate=2016-05-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630130942/http://www.iffsatoronto.com/movie/absent/|archive-date=30 June 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[New York Indian Film Festival]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iaac.us/nyiff2016/Schedule-May8.htm|title=Absent - Short Film at New York Indian Film Festival|work=iaac.us|accessdate=2016-05-08}}</ref>

Apart from writing and directing films, he also made his debut as a graphic-poet in 2008 with ''Occupying Silence'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080827/jsp/calcutta/story_9745158.jsp|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150416200812/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080827/jsp/calcutta/story_9745158.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 April 2015|title=The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) - Metro - Timeout|work=Telegraphindia.com|accessdate=2015-04-30}}</ref> a book of graphic verse. He has authored<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tulikabooks.com/authors/devashish-makhija|title=Devashish Makhija|work=Tulikabooks.com|accessdate=2015-04-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150428070518/http://tulikabooks.com/authors/devashish-makhija|archive-date=28 April 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Tulika Publishers]]' bestselling children's books<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/monkey-philosophy-and-spirally-thinking-boys/155337|title=Monkey philosophy and spirally thinking boys|date=18 February 2012|work=mid-day}}</ref> ''When Ali became Bajrangbali'' and ''Why Paploo was Perplexed''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tulikapublishers.blogspot.in/2012/02/birth-of-ali-and-paploo.html|title=Tulika Publishers: The Birth of Ali and Paploo|author=Tulika Publishers|work=Tulikapublishers.blogspot.in|accessdate=2015-04-30}}</ref> ''By Two'', a crime noir story written by him, was featured in the omnibus ''Mumbai Noir'' which [[Akashic Books]] published in 2012 as part of their award-winning international Noir series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crimefictionlover.com/2012/04/mumbai-noir/|title=Mumbai Noir - Crime Fiction Lover|work=Crimefictionlover.com|accessdate=2015-04-30}}</ref> In early-2015, [[HarperCollins]] published a collection of 49 short stories<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/mumbai-in-49-stories/15906198|title=Mumbai in 49 stories|date=13 January 2015|work=Mid-day.com|accessdate=2015-04-30}}</ref> written by Devashish across a variety of genres in the acclaimed anthology ''Forgetting''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jayabhattacharjirose.com/blog/interview-devashish-makhija/|title=An interview with Devashish Makhija - Jaya's blog|work=Jaya's blog|accessdate=2015-04-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://helterskelter.in/2015/01/escape-velocity/|title=Helter Skelter - Escape Velocity|work=Helter Skelter Magazine|accessdate=2015-04-30}}</ref>

His most recent feature film ''[[Bhonsle (film)|Bhonsle]]'' had its world premiere at the 23rd [[Busan International Film Festival]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-09-04 |title=Manoj Bajpayee’s Bhonsle to have world premiere at Busan International Film Festival 2018-Entertainment News , Firstpost |url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/manoj-bajpayees-bhonsle-to-have-world-premiere-at-busan-international-film-festival-2018-5112671.html |access-date=2022-06-13 |website=Firstpost |language=en}}</ref> and is now streaming on [[SonyLIV|SonyLiv]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-06-27 |title=Bhonsle review: Manoj Bajpayee is in top form |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/bhonsle-movie-review-manoj-bajpayee-6477434/ |access-date=2022-06-13 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> He was recently a co-writer Pavan Kriplani's ''[[Bhoot Police]]'' , a horror-comedy starring Saif Ali Khan, Arjun Kapoor, and Yami Gautam.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kumar |first=Anuj |date=2021-09-12 |title=‘Bhoot Police’ movie review: Two ghost hunters address the family audience |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/bhoot-police-movie-review-two-ghost-hunters-address-the-family-audience/article36412029.ece |access-date=2022-06-13 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> His upcoming feature, title ''Joram,'' stars Manoj Bajpayee and is being co-produced under his production house Makhijafilm.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-22 |title=Manoj Bajpayee reunites with Devashish Makhija for Joram, calls it a ‘wonderful challenge’ |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/manoj-bajpayee-reunites-with-devashish-makhija-for-joram-7830965/ |access-date=2022-06-13 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

==Reviews of his work==
Of ''By Two'', Kankana Basu of [[The Hindu]] said "'By Two' by Devashish Makhija, where the fates of twin brothers, Rahim and Rahman, resonate with the paradoxical nature of life in the teeming metropolis. The unique place of the humble auto-rickshaw in the bigger scheme of things could not have been driven home more exquisitely, as in this story".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/books/article3584067.ece|title=Grime and grit|author=KANKANA BASU|work=The Hindu|accessdate=2015-04-30}}</ref> Aditi Seshadri wrote for the [[Daily News and Analysis|DNA]], "..the stories that stand out are the ones that have the most authentic voice (like) 'By Two' by Devashish Makhija, a gritty story about twin auto-rickshaw drivers and what they do to survive in Mumbai."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/review_book-review-mumbai-noir_1694244|title=Book review: 'Mumbai Noir'|work=Dnaindia.com|accessdate=2015-04-30}}</ref> About his anthology ''Forgetting'', one review said, "Infused with every aspect of emotion, big and small, this book is a complete eye opener that throws light on the reality of human lives that we sometimes tend to ignore."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://readersclubdelhi.com/forgetting-devashish-makhija/|title=Forgetting|author=RCD Team|work=Readers Club Delhi|accessdate=2015-04-30}}</ref> His debut as a graphic-poet with ''Occupying Silence''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080820/jsp/entertainment/story_9715816.jsp|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150422021204/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080820/jsp/entertainment/story_9715816.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 April 2015|title=The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) - Entertainment - The Good Life|work=Telegraphindia.com|accessdate=2015-04-30}}</ref> was celebrated as "Brave and fresh", to quote Aparna Sen from the [[Indian Express]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/verse-sassy/397109/0|title=Verse Sassy|work=The Indian Express|accessdate=2015-04-30}}</ref>

Among the positive reviews his award-winning short film ''Rahim Murge Pe Mat Ro'' received, Kishore Budha from the Wide Screen Journal said, "Rahim Murge Pe Mat Ro is a fast, witty short with a great voiceover. And there's a message on animal welfare somewhere in there. A lesson in short filmmaking."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://widescreenjournal.org/|title=Wide Screen|work=Widescreenjournal.org|accessdate=2015-04-30}}</ref>

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Film !! Year !! Credits
|-
| ''[[Joram (film)|Joram]]'' || 2022 || Writer, director
|-
| ''Cheepatakadumpa'' || 2021 || Short film Writer, director
|-
| ''Cycle'' || 2021 || Short film Writer, director
|-
| ''[[Bhonsle (film)|Bhonsle]]'' || 2018 || Writer, director
|-
| ''[[Ajji]]'' || 2017 || Awardered Singapore International Film Festival Writer, director
|-
| ''Absent'' || 2016 || Short film Writer, director
|-
| ''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgO1HvdcZl8&t=65s Taandav]'' || 2016 || Short film writer, director
|-
|El'ayichi
|2015
|Short film writer, director
|-
| ''[[Oonga (film)|Oonga]]'' || 2013 || Director and story, screenplay & dialogue writer
|-
| ''Rahim Murge Pe Mat Ro'' || 2010 || Writer, director
|-
| ''Bhoomi'' || 2009 || Screenplay & dialogue writer
|-
| ''[[Black Friday (2007 film)|Black Friday]]'' || 2007 || Asst. director, asst. scriptwriter & research
|-
| ''[[Bunty Aur Babli]]'' || 2005 || Chief asst. director
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|1941973}}
* [http://www.nakedindianfakir.com/ Official website]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Makhija, Devashish}}
[[Category:Film directors from Kolkata]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Kolkata]]
[[Category:Don Bosco schools alumni]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

Devashish Makhija - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 04:54, 20 August 2023