Soumitra Ranade

A director, producer, screenplay artist and writer, a man with one name Soumitra Ranade, but different personalities in his work. Born in the capital of Afghanistan, Kabul, Soumitra lived only a few years of his adolescence in Kabul and later was brought to India. Keen in cinematography, Ranade stepped into the film making industry as an associate director. After pertaining appropriate skills and expertise, Ranade decided to make Jajantaram Mamantaram, which was an epic film starring Javed Jaffrey.

Self written story inspired by the tales of Bakasura and The famous Gulliver's travels, Ranade tried to render a classic by giving layers of cinematography and after effects which were greatly done by him at that time period, where adding post-shot effects was a major difficulty and needed a certain level of expertise and skilled hands in terms of shooting and creating a lively image in the characters of story after editing the post effects. The film made a different space in the hearts of audience and the movie was able to create a different impression in the minds of the people. Ranade went his home country Afghanistan in 2006 after a very long time. The fragrance of home country touched his soul and he decided to make a documentary 'Khoob Asti Afghanistan' meaning “Are you alright Afghanistan’’.

The documentary went on air in 2007. The next thing Ranade want to do was Animation, the world of cartoon and animated characters always mesmerized him. The Animated world opened hands for him and gave him the opportunity to screenplay the award-winning animation, Goopi Gawaiya Bagha Bajaiya which was a remake to "Satyajit Ray's Goopy-Bagha". The movie won Asia Pacific screen awards and the WIFTS Foundation International Visionary Award as the best feature animated movie. Also nominated in Children's Film Society and ASIFA Awards India as Best Professional Animated feature film. The film was followed by another great animated movie Alibaba aur 41 chor, based on the story concept of Alibaba and 40 chor. The personalities like Priyanka Chopra and John Abraham were also linked with the animation as voice overs.

The next project, Ranade worked as an animator was the animated series 'Kabuliwala' along with great filmakers like Mieke de Jong, Rasmus Horskjar and Anna Tamara Bos. The creation was among the projects in the National Film Development Corporation's (NFDC) Children's Labs. Kabuliwala was just a memory of Soumitra as a child, when he used to listen to stories in his childhood. With his animated creation, Ranade always tried to deliver a social message in the minds of his audience, basically children, as according to Ranade animation can be very useful to connect with them and inject a social message.