Reddy S.J. Reddy
- Producer
- Director
- Writer
SJ Reddy is an Auteur Filmmaker whose work is uniquely focused on the most pressing social problems of our time and their deleterious effect on society at large and the individual in particular. Reddy writes, produces and directs his films, all of which are financed and distributed by MahaFilm Collective; a boutique studio that is dedicated to the development, production and delivery of socially themed films intended for the greater good of society.
In workshops for film-school students from UCLA, John Madison University, Drexel University, Temple University and other educational organizations in Europe and Asia, Reddy provides in-depth and exhaustive lectures on "auteur theory." His particular focus is "Indian Parallel Cinema" (1952-1990s) and his presentations revolve around the work of India's best-known quartet of Parallel Cinema; namely, Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Ritwik Ghatak and Tapan Sinha. In addition, he also features the work of famed Indian auteurs such as Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Govind Nihalani and others. In addition to Indian Parallel Cinema, Reddy's talks feature other major film movements that originated in mid-1900s. These include the Italian Neo Realism movement, the French New Wave, the Hollywood Renaissance movement and Japanese New Wave Cinema. For case studies, Reddy often explores the work of pioneering auteurs such as Roberto Rossellini, Giuseppe De Santis, Federico Fellini, Jean-Luc Godard, François Truffaut, Agnès Varda, Nagisha Oshima, Akira Kurosawa, Alfred Hitchcock, Ingmar Bergman, Stanley Kubrick, Sidney Lumet, Martin Scorcese, Francis Ford Copolla, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Quentin Tarantino and a few others.
Prior to taking-up auteur filmmaking at MahaFilm Collective, Reddy 's past professional career was that of a Wall Street executive with a background in Investment Banking. Consequently, Reddy's foray into the world of films was first as a Financier and Producer, then as a Studio Entrepreneur and Studio Executive. Additionally, before launching Mahafilm, Reddy was an Executive Producer of a select number of Films, while also serving as an investor, advisor corporate director in a handful of Film Studios in North America, Southern Europe and Greater Asia. In addition to his commitments and contributions to the business world, Reddy has been closely involved with several worthy causes in the Social sector, and has made many noteworthy contributions to this end. An avid sports enthusiast, Mr.Reddy was a founding Advisor of "The Champion's Trust;" India's largest and most prestigious non-profit Sports charity that was founded by 12-Time Tennis Grand Slam Doubles Champion, Mahesh Bhupathi. In November 2005, the Champion's Trust was endowed by a $10 Million grant from Mr. Laxmi Niwas Mittal, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Mittal Steel, and was re-named the "Mittal Champion's Trust." Today, the Trust continues to provide an invaluable national service by developing future champions for India in the Olympics and other major sporting events.
Separately, as a lifelong tennis fan, Reddy sponsored individual members of the Indian Davis Cup team between 1999 and 2003, and traveled to various parts of the world as a guest of the team. In 2002, Reddy, in partnership with Mahesh Bhupathi, purchased the "Los Angeles Strings;" a professional tennis franchise of World Team Tennis, previously owned and managed, between 1978 and 1992, by the Los Angeles Lakers organization. In 2004, the Los Angeles Franchise was acquired by the World Team Tennis organization lead by tennis great, Billie Jean King, and WTT Commissioner, Ilana Kloss. Reddy serves with various Non-Profit, Charitable, and Civic Organizations worldwide, and in recognition of his contributions in the Corporate and Social sectors, has been honored by representatives of various public, private, and governmental undertakings, in India and the USA.
In workshops for film-school students from UCLA, John Madison University, Drexel University, Temple University and other educational organizations in Europe and Asia, Reddy provides in-depth and exhaustive lectures on "auteur theory." His particular focus is "Indian Parallel Cinema" (1952-1990s) and his presentations revolve around the work of India's best-known quartet of Parallel Cinema; namely, Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Ritwik Ghatak and Tapan Sinha. In addition, he also features the work of famed Indian auteurs such as Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Govind Nihalani and others. In addition to Indian Parallel Cinema, Reddy's talks feature other major film movements that originated in mid-1900s. These include the Italian Neo Realism movement, the French New Wave, the Hollywood Renaissance movement and Japanese New Wave Cinema. For case studies, Reddy often explores the work of pioneering auteurs such as Roberto Rossellini, Giuseppe De Santis, Federico Fellini, Jean-Luc Godard, François Truffaut, Agnès Varda, Nagisha Oshima, Akira Kurosawa, Alfred Hitchcock, Ingmar Bergman, Stanley Kubrick, Sidney Lumet, Martin Scorcese, Francis Ford Copolla, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Quentin Tarantino and a few others.
Prior to taking-up auteur filmmaking at MahaFilm Collective, Reddy 's past professional career was that of a Wall Street executive with a background in Investment Banking. Consequently, Reddy's foray into the world of films was first as a Financier and Producer, then as a Studio Entrepreneur and Studio Executive. Additionally, before launching Mahafilm, Reddy was an Executive Producer of a select number of Films, while also serving as an investor, advisor corporate director in a handful of Film Studios in North America, Southern Europe and Greater Asia. In addition to his commitments and contributions to the business world, Reddy has been closely involved with several worthy causes in the Social sector, and has made many noteworthy contributions to this end. An avid sports enthusiast, Mr.Reddy was a founding Advisor of "The Champion's Trust;" India's largest and most prestigious non-profit Sports charity that was founded by 12-Time Tennis Grand Slam Doubles Champion, Mahesh Bhupathi. In November 2005, the Champion's Trust was endowed by a $10 Million grant from Mr. Laxmi Niwas Mittal, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Mittal Steel, and was re-named the "Mittal Champion's Trust." Today, the Trust continues to provide an invaluable national service by developing future champions for India in the Olympics and other major sporting events.
Separately, as a lifelong tennis fan, Reddy sponsored individual members of the Indian Davis Cup team between 1999 and 2003, and traveled to various parts of the world as a guest of the team. In 2002, Reddy, in partnership with Mahesh Bhupathi, purchased the "Los Angeles Strings;" a professional tennis franchise of World Team Tennis, previously owned and managed, between 1978 and 1992, by the Los Angeles Lakers organization. In 2004, the Los Angeles Franchise was acquired by the World Team Tennis organization lead by tennis great, Billie Jean King, and WTT Commissioner, Ilana Kloss. Reddy serves with various Non-Profit, Charitable, and Civic Organizations worldwide, and in recognition of his contributions in the Corporate and Social sectors, has been honored by representatives of various public, private, and governmental undertakings, in India and the USA.