Sekhar Kammula graduated in Mechanical Engineering from Osmania University, completed his M.S(Computer Science) in the U.S. He worked in the IT industry for about 3 years and then joined a film school and got his M.F.A (Film) degree at Howard University, Washington D.C. During this time he worked on a number of films (short and feature length) in the U.S.
He came back to India to make his first feature film Dollar Dreams (1999) which was about the exodus of Indian students and young I.T professionals to the US. It won the National Film Award for the Best First Film of a Director that year.
His next film Anand (2004), co-produced by NFDC India, was a path breaking success giving birth to a new wave of Telugu films. It broke the commercial and art divide by proving that a film with aesthetic values can still be a commercial success.
Godavari (2006) was his most ambitious yet. Set on a boat that travelled on the mighty river Godavari, between the towns of Rajahmundry and Bhadrachalam. The film focused on the lives and relationships of the people who got on that boat as they made their inward and outward journey. Its considered a modern day classic in Telugu cinema and went on to win 5 State Govt. Nandi Awards.
His young college based film Happy Days (2007) introducing all new faces was the biggest hit of that year. A coming of age story of a group of young kids who start engineering college together, learn about life and relationships and finally graduate to have truly found themselves. It made the young actors into stars overnight. The film maintains a cult status among youngsters even today.
Sekhar Kammula made a genre shift for his political drama Leader (2010). It is hailed as one of the best political films made in Telugu. The film follows the personal and political journey of a youngster who goes on to become a Leader. Introducing the grandson of Dr. Rama Naidu, Rana and produced by one of the most prestigious production companies in the south, AVM studios.
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