Merlapaka Gandhi

In this Telugu name, the surname is Merlapaka.
Merlapaka Gandhi
Born
Merlapaka Che Guevara

(1988-05-11) 11 May 1988 (age 36)
Vedulla Cheruvu, Andhra Pradesh, India
EducationB. Tech
Occupations
  • Film director
  • screenwriter

Merlapaka Gandhi (born Merlapaka Che Guevara) is an Indian film director and screenwriter who works primarily in Telugu cinema.[1] In 2013, he made his directorial debut with Venkatadri Express. He later directed Express Raja (2016), and Krishnarjuna Yudham (2018) starring Nani.[2][3]

Early life

Merlapaka was born in the village of Vedulla Cheruvu near Renigunta, Andhra Pradesh in a Telugu-speaking family.[4] His father Merlapaka Murali was a Telugu language novelist and a contemporary of author Yandamuri Veerendranath.[1] Merlapaka was initially given the name Che Guevara because his father was fond of Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara. As their friends and relatives found it difficult to pronounce the name, after watching film Gandhi. Murali changed his five-year old son's given name to 'Gandhi' in honour of independence activist Mahatma Gandhi.[4][5]

Merlapaka was schooled in Tirupati and graduated with a Bachelor of Technology from Allagadda.[4]

Film career

Merlapaka wanted to become a film director since the 10th standard. After completing his graduation, he convinced his father to let him join a Cinematography course at the L. V. Prasad film institute in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, although, he eventually pursued a direction course there. Later on, he started writing stories and directed a short film. Having received a good response upon its release online, he then started developing the script for Venkatadri Express which was his debut film as a director.

Filmography

Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released
Year Film Director Writer Notes
2013 Venkatadri Express Yes Yes Directorial debut
2016 Express Raja Yes Yes
2018 Krishnarjuna Yudham Yes Yes
2021 Ek Mini Katha No Yes
2021 Maestro Yes Yes
2022 Like, Share & Subscribe Yes Yes

References

  1. ^ a b Chowdhary, Y. Sunita (26 November 2015). "Merlapaka Gandhi on an expressway". The Hindu. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  2. ^ "Nani to play a dual role again in director Merlapaka Gandhi's next". The Times of India. The Times Group. 27 June 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  3. ^ "Krishnarjuna Yudham Worldwide Closing Collections - Disaster". Telugu360.com. 1 May 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
  4. ^ a b c "Interview with Merlapaka Gandhi - Telugu cinema director". www.idlebrain.com. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  5. ^ "గాంధీ అసలు పేరు చే గెవెరా..!". Sakshi (in Telugu). 12 January 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2021.