Dayal Padmanabhan
Dayal Padmanabhan is a noted Indian film writer, director and producer, mainly working in Kannada cinema who is a two times Karnataka State award winner. Most of his films are experimental in the genre of Rom-Com and Thriller.
His most notable films are Baa Baro Rasika, Yeshwanth, Circus, Haggada Kone, Actor, Aa Karaala Ratri, Ranganayaki . His first film as a director was OK Saar OK. He starred in Gaalipata, where his Dracula character received critical and public acclaim. His film Haggada Kone and Aa Karaala Ratri received widespread critical acclaim and he won Karnataka State awards for the those films under Best Director & Best Film Category in the year 2014 & 2018 respectively. DayalPadmanabhan competed in the television show Bigg Boss House for Bigg Boss Kannada Season 5, and was eliminated on his 21st day. Dayal has already moved on to his next direction which he is also co-producing called Ombattane Dikku.
Personal life
Dayal Padmanabhan hails from Villupuram town. His Father Padmanabhan was an electrician in Tamil Nadu electricity board and mother Radha Padmanabhan was a house wife, till he lost his father in his early age. Then his mother continued to work in Tamil Nadu electricity board. They were from a poor background but that didn't deter his passion for acting in movies. He has participated in many extra curricular activities while schooling and proved as a young talent. His role model was Tamil actor Murali. He wished to become an actor like him but destiny made him a writer, Producer and director in Kannada films. He completed his Diploma in Civil Engineering from Muthiah polytechnic, Chidambaram. Later he finished his B.E from the famous B.M.S. College of Engineering, Bangalore. He worked for 15 years in Indian Institute of Science. He is married and has two children.Film career
He entered Kannada film industry in the year 2000. He is indebted to Naga from the Tamil film industry and Hamsalekha, Upendra, S.Mahendar and Madan Mallu from the Kannada film industry for guiding him to gain a foothold in the movie industryAs a Writer
Dayal Padmanabhan entered the Kannada industry as a writer in the year 2000. His first movie as a writer was Om Ganesh starring "Dialogue King" Sai Kumar and directed by Thriller Manju. From then on, he went on to write for many films including Hudugigage,H2O,Gattimela.He has written the story, Screenplay & Dialogues for most his movies. He is also known for adopting Kannada plays and Novels to make as films.While his film Haggada Kone and Aa karala Ratri are based on Kannada plays written by Late Shri.Parvathavani and Shri.Mohan Habbu respectively, Ranganayaki was based on his own Kannada short Novel. His screenplay style is unique and notable. He was one of the nominees' by the Times of India Film Awards 2011 for the best screenplay writer for his film Yogaraj. His writing combination with well known actor cum writer Naveen Krishna is most sensational.As a Director
He later on directed his first film OK saar OK in 2003 and went on to direct ten more Kannada films including the hits like Baa Baaro Rasika,Circus,Masala, Sri Harikathe and 'Haggadha Kone'. His dream project was Circus starring Golden star Ganesh.He has also starred in Gaalipata where he played a mute character called "Dracula" that was widely appreciated by the public.His current project as a director is 'Ondu rupayalli eradu preethi ' is retitled as Toss which is scheduled to be released in month of July 2015.His movie Gharshane is the first full-fledged action genre film that he is helming as a director,produced by Shankar S Gowda under Shankar Productions. Currently His movie "Haggada kone"released to rave reviews. His last release was a rom-com titled Satya Harishchandra.He ventured into commercial filmmaking zone after a long time with this movie.Famous comedian-turned-hero Sharan is played the lead in the movie. His latest release was the critically and commercially successful Aa Karaala Ratri starring Jayaram Karthik and Anupama Gowda. The movie was a indie production and was given a small release.But upon widespread critical acclaim the movie added theatres in the second week.Post the release of Aa Karala Ratri, Dayal has been working in break neck speed and has already completed two films and is directing the third movie. The two completed films are Tryambakam and Ranganayaki. The latter is set to hit screens soon while he has started his new venture as direction Ombattane Dikku.
As a Producer
He also turned to production with this film where he was the executive producer. He has also produced Circus and Co produced Shriharikathe under his own production house D Pictures. He is the Producer for the under production project Ondu Rupayalli Eradu Preethi. He is the producer for the films Circus and Yogaraj. He Co-produced the film Shriharikathe,. All the above projects were executed under his own production house D Pictures.He believes the turning point of his film career came with the movie Gaalipata. His movie Yogaraj But,starring Naveena Krishna & Neethu which released mid-2011. The movie released to positive critical response in Rediff, IBN,ChitralokaA,Times of India and others, with critics rating the movie 3 to 4 stars. After the reception, Dayal boldly quoted " Once again i have made a movie that was appreciated but not a hit".
Dayal padmanabhan also worked as an executive producer for the Tamil movie Brahman starring Sasikumar.
As a Distributor
On 14 January Dayal announced that he is foraying into distribution with the Kannada film "RANKAL RAATE" through his company D+ Distributors.Role in Karnataka film industry bodies
On 26 September 2011, Dayal won in the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce election as a member of Producer Sector. Dayal Padmanabhan won the election purely on the reputation he had earned as a general member in the KFCC working body.Controversies
Film Awards
Dayal filed a petition against a prestigious film award for not nominating his film even after it had received widespread critical acclaim. His petition was accepted by Bangalore City civil court and the organizers/Jury were ordered to add nominations for his movie on four different categories, Best Actor, Best Director, Best Film, Best Supporting Actor.Petition Against Multiplexes
The Karnataka state budget 2016 - 2017 was scheduled to be proposed on 18 March. Ahead of this major event Dayal padmanabhan started a petition requesting the state government to cap the movie ticket prices to 120 Rs at multiplexes in the state.He explained his intentions behind this petition."Multiplexes in Karnataka price the ticket based on the demand and profit margins. This reduces the occupancy rate. On an average, a cinema hall records only 46% occupancy even for a high profile film as the price is set at a higher range. My idea is to reduce the pricing and increase the occupancy. More the patrons, more the patronage. Only this can make the industry healthier."
His Petition went viral and was signed by thousands of people across karnataka.