Ashoke Pandit
Encyclopedia
Early years
Ashoke Pandit’s relentless artistic efforts have been spread over various mediums ranging from television shows, documentary films, ad films and also feature films. He made his foray into the entertainment arena with notable shows that were going to prove to be milestones in television for the posterity. He has been an Associate Director for shows like NukkadNukkad
Nukkad was the name of a popular Hindi TV serial that aired on the Indian Television channel DD National in 1986 - 87. It was co-directed by Kundan Shah and Saeed Akhtar Mirza, and was written by Prabodh Joshi....
, Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi
Yeh jo hai zindagi
Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi was a popular comedy sitcom on Indian television, aired for the first time in 1984. It was written by comedy writer Sharad Joshi and directed by S. S...
and Circus
Circus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
working with Kundan Shah
Kundan Shah
Kundan Shah is an Indian film director and writer.He is most known for his comedy classic Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro and his 1985-1986, TV series Nukkad with Saeed Akhtar Mirza.-Biography:...
, Sudhir Mishra
Sudhir Mishra
Sudhir Mishra is an Indian film director and screenwriter most renowned for directing critically acclaimed films like Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, Dharavi and Chameli.-Early life and education:...
and Aziz Mirza
Aziz Mirza
Aziz Mirza is an Indian film director and writer.-Biography:Mirza started his career in 1985 when he joined his brother Saeed Mirza and veteran director Kundan Shah to set a new production company called Iskra....
.
Television
Ashoke Pandit produced and directed of a comic sitcom called Filmi Chakkar starring Satish ShahSatish Shah
Satish Ravilal Shah is a Hindi and Marathi film and television actor best known for his comedy films. He is perhaps best known for his roles in the ever popular 80's sitcom Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi directed by Kundan Shah and Manjul Sinha. He is famous for playing the role of Municipal Commissioner...
and Ratna Pathak Shah. The show had achieved success from its first episode.
Filmi Chakkar was followed by Tere Mere Sapne
Tere Mere Sapne
Tere Mere Sapne is the title of two Hindi movies:* Tere Mere Sapne * Tere Mere Sapne * Tere Mere Sapne , a drama-series appearing on the Indian satellite television network STAR Plus...
on Zee with Aruna Irani
Aruna Irani
Aruna Irani is an Indian actress. An accomplished actress and dancer of her time, Aruna Irani has acted in about 300 movies, with many memorable acting performances to her credit...
and Irrfan Khan, Colgate Top 10, Thriller at 10, Hanste Khelte
Hanste Khelte
Hanste Khelte is a 1994 Indian Bollywood film directed by Bharat Rangachary and produced by Firoz Nadiadwala. It stars Rahul Roy, Aparajita and Ishrat Ali in pivotal roles.-Cast:* Rahul Roy... Rahul Chopra* Aparajita... Pooja's maidservant*Asrani...Namah...
, Vilayati Babu, Mungeri Ke Bhai Naurangilal, Rishtey
Rishtey
Rishtey is a Bollywood film released on 6 December 2002. The film directed by Indra Kumar stars Anil Kapoor, Karisma Kapoor, Shilpa Shetty and Amrish Puri in the lead roles.-Synopsis:...
, Gubbare and Mukkammal with Deepti Naval
Deepti Naval
Deepti Naval is an acclaimed Indian actress. She has acted in over 75 Hindi films, and most often worked in arthouse and independent films, known as parallel cinema in India.-Early life:Born in Amritsar, Punjab, India...
on Sahara Manoranjan.
Pandit produced and directed a show for Sony Entertainment Television in association with Madhur Bhandarkar
Madhur Bhandarkar
Madhur Bhandarkar is a National Award-winning Indian film director, script writer, and producer. He is best known for his films such as Chandni Bar , Page 3 , Traffic Signal , and Fashion...
called Heroine-Zindagi ke Panno se. It was a series of 12 short films all based on women-oriented stories.
He has produced and directed numerous live events for television:
- musical shows like Safarnama (Sahara One) which featured Amitabh Bachchan and 18 singers from Bollywood;
- comedy awards with Percept (NDTV Imagine), Masti Express (Sahara One).
He also has been major associated with the Indian Television Awards.
Documentary
Besides television Ashoke Pandit has been a front runner for social causes and he being a film maker he has always found his voice in his craft. His documentary based on the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits, And the World Remained Silent has been a stark portrayal of the pain and pathos of a community who were reduced to be refugees in their own country. His documentary has travelled the world over to International Film Festivals to the UN in Geneva. This documentary was felicitated in International Film Festival in Goa, Pune International Film Festival, MAMIMAMI
MAMI can mean:* Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image* the Mainz Microtron particle accelerator, also known as MAMI...
in Mumbai. The documentary got a standing ovation when screened at the House of Commons in London.
Pandit’s second documentary Paani was based on the 26 July deluge of Mumbai. It was screened on 3 June 2005.
He is now producing a documentary called the Village of Widows, which has also received the Indian Television Academy Award for the Best Documentary.
Film
Pandit’s directorial film debut was under the production mantle of Sahara Manoranjan. SheenSheen
Sheen could mean:Places:*In south west London, England:** Sheen or West Sheen, an alternative name for Richmond, London** East Sheen** North Sheen** Sheen Priory* Sheen, Staffordshire, United Kingdom...
premiered in the Human Rights Violation Conference, Geneva. The film captured the agony of the Kashmiri Pandit refugees.
Production house
His production company called Shaarika Images is very active in the production of live ground events and television commercials 11 national and international brands feature in the ads produced by his Production House.Actor
- Tera Kya Hoga Johny" (2011) (Special Appearance)
- Corporate (2006) as a Journalist (As Himself)
- C KkompanyC KkompanyC Kkompany is a 2008 Hindi comedy film directed by debutant Sachin Yardi, and starring Tusshar Kapoor, Anupam Kher, Rajpal Yadav and Raima Sen. It also features Mithun Chakraborty, Mahesh Bhatt, Sakshi Tanwar, producer Ekta Kapoor and Karan Johar in special appearances. Sanjay Dutt has an extended...
(2007) as a News Channel Head (Special Appearance) - "Maan Gaye Mughal-e-AzamMaan Gaye Mughal-e-AzamMaan Gaye Mughal-E-Azam is a 2008 film about a group of actors who attempt to prevent an underworld conspiracy from destabilising the Indian government. The film is set in 1993 after the communal riots that followed the demolition of the Babri Masjid. The film stars Rahul Bose and Mallika...
" (2008) (Special Appearance) - "Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin MaraMaine Gandhi Ko Nahin MaraMaine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara , is an Indian film, directed by Jahnu Barua and produced by Anupam Kher...
" (2005) (Special Appearance)
Social activism
Pandit is associated with the struggle of displaced Kashmiri Pandits. For last 15-17 years he has been working for the cause.For last 20 years Pandit has been working create newer platforms to address the issue of Kashmiri Pandits. He took the mantle of the cause to platforms like Human Rights Violation Conferences in Geneva, House of Commons in London, Shri. Abdul Kalam - President of India, various leaders and political offices of the country. His efforts compounded by the efforts of other mainstream activist did force the offices of power to take cognizance of this issue. He strived hard to persuade the then Maharashtra Government to reserve two seats for displaced Kashmiri students in professional colleges of Maharashtra. This did give a major impetus to the students who were toiling hard to get admissions after the exodus. Whenever he has stood for an issue he has stood by the credibility of the issue. It may be the genocide of Hindu Kashmiri Pandits in the Kashmir valley or the mass genocide of the Muslims in Gujarat.
He has been working hard to create a better living ambience for the residents of Mumbai, especially in the suburbs. His activism regarding the 26th July floods has brought about the awareness required in order to avoid such a calamity which he has pointed out was more a man-made disaster than a natural calamity.
He has taken up the cause of supporting the anti-reservation movement and for that purpose along with making his presence felt at various rallies and forums, he is also responsible for initializing a music video that has music by Roop Kumar Rathod
Roop Kumar Rathod
-Personal life:Roopkumar is the son of the late Pandit Chaturbhuj Rathod, the classical luminary – an exponent of the rare and arguably the oldest style of singing i.e. Dhrupad. He belonged to the “Aditya Gharana of Jamnagar”. Pandit Rathod has trained and groomed many well known names like...
and lyrics by Sameer, the video was directed by Ashoke Pandit.
He was one of the frontrunners in the rescue operations and post rescue working during the blasts of 7/11 and 26/11.
He has been a strongly supporting the Anti-Corruption movement led by Shri Anna Hazare
Anna Hazare
Kisan Baburao Hazare , popularly known as Anna Hazare is an Indian social activist and a prominent leader in the 2011 Indian anti-corruption movement, using nonviolent methods following the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi...
and Dr. Kiran Bedi by carrying out protests & rallies in Mumbai and speaking on various public forums.
Personal
He married playback singer Neerja PanditNeerja Pandit
Neerja Pandit is an Indian Playback Singer in Hindi Film & Television Music and also a Live Performer. She has also recorded songs for Telugu films.-Early Life and Background:...
in the year 1988. They have a daughter, Shaarika and a son, Raj.
External links
- http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4349551/ at IMDB
- http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/celebrities/filmography/7168/index.html at Bollywood HungamaBollywood HungamaBollywood Hungama is a leading Bollywood entertainment website, owned by hungama.com....
- http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-11-29/mumbai/28106779_1_widows-indo-pak-border-pain
- http://www.cultureunplugged.com/play/375/And-The-world-Remained-Silent