Judhajit Bagchi & Ranadeep Bhattacharyya are internationally acclaimed filmmakers, photographers and interdisciplinary visual artists.
The Path (Yaanah in Sanskrit) of our creative quest is inspired by the philosophy of the twin-headed Roman deity 'Janus'- ‘Utilising wisdom of the Past, with focused vision of the Future to strive for excellence in the Present.’ We dedicate ourselves to offer a unique perspective through innovative storytelling and visuals to engage audiences and elicit desired emotional response.
Our story started together from Presidency College Kolkata, through completing our Masters in Communication Film Semiotics & from Manipal University and starting off our career by assisting Ad-man Prahlad Kakar. Our passionate commitment to realize our joint creative vision resulted in our internationally acclaimed award winning short film Amen (2010) on gender and sexuality.
Over the last decade, we have won Cannes Dolphin consecutively in 2015 and 2016 for our brand films. Our experimental short film Children of the Soil, with poetry penned by Gulzar Saab, won the 2020 National Award in the Non-Feature Film category. Our fashion films have won at top fashion film festivals in the world leading us to Chair as Jury for the prestigious London Fashion Film Festival since 2019.
'We tell stories with the intent of making them timeless.'
We believe in the power of love; in freedom, justice, peace and harmony. We believe in happiness. We believe in the transformative power of love. Between us, we map minds and desires. Deep dive into relationships across communities, cultures, economies, locations and interactions with the environment. We believe in lifting the veil in every domain that we work in. Believe in the essential goodness of human beings. We recognise that what ties us together can also tear us apart. We know with intuitive understanding that love is what glues all human connections. To do good in society we start by searching for the goodness inside ourselves and through our art.
With academic training in film studies, visual art, meaning-making and semiotics, our collaborative artistic expression over the past decade, explores themes of freedom, desire, identity and spirituality in the context of human relationships with self and beyond. Inspired by poets and painters from the East and West alike, our visual style and storytelling influences is a delicate mix of poetic and classical on one hand and surreal and experimental on the other, often employing performative modes to unearth the ineffable, with evocative imagery at the heart of our work.
In the heart of our artistic approach lies an unwavering commitment to unveil the layers beneath the surface. Through our work, we continuously seek to unearth multiple perspectives, guided by intuition, empathy, and a deep insight that stems from our diverse life experiences. With a conviction that art holds the power to transform and heal, we dedicate ourselves to mapping the uncharted landscapes of the human heart and mind through our artistic expression, revealing the beautifully complex tapestry of our collective experiences.
- Judhajit & Ranadeep
Our Journey of Triumphs
As filmmakers and visual artists, we, Judhajit Bagchi and Ranadeep Bhattacharyya, have journeyed through a landscape rich in creativity and recognition. Each award and accolade we've received is a chapter in our story, one that speaks of artistic passion and a relentless pursuit of cinematic excellence.
Our Breakthrough in Narrative Filmmaking:
Our film project "Kal Baisakhi" marked a significant milestone, being selected at the 16th NFDC Film Bazaar Co-Production Market 2022. This recognition was a testament to our storytelling capabilities. We were also honored with the Best Audiography at the 66th Indian National Film Awards in 2020 for our experimental short Children of the Soil, a nod to our commitment to the sensory intricacies of film and its social relevance.
Making Our Mark Internationally:
Our foray into the international film arena has been a journey of pride and discovery. Winning the Best Experimental Short at the Oregon Independent Film Fest in 2019 and premiering at prestigious festivals like the American Documentary Film Festival and INTERFILM Berlin International Short Film Festival in the same year were moments of global recognition that we cherish deeply.
Consecutive Win at Cannes and Beyond:
We were elated to receive back-to-back Best Corporate Image Film awards at the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards in 2015 and 2016. Similarly, our work was repeatedly honored at the Accolades Global Film Competition in the USA from 2015 to 2018, including accolades in direction and acting, underscoring our versatility and creative depth.
A Golden Streak in Business and Creativity:
Our narrative and visual storytelling were consistently recognized with Gold Stevie Awards at The International Business Awards (The Stevies), USA, from 2015 to 2017. The Telly Awards and the Muse Creative Awards in New York mirrored this golden streak, honoring us with a range of accolades that spanned from 2015 to 2018.
Recognition for Communication and Creativity:
Our proficiency in communication and creative execution was celebrated with multiple awards at The Communicator Awards and the Hermes Creative Awards in New York, from 2015 to 2018. The Summit International Awards and the Marcom Awards further acknowledged our creative contributions with a variety of honours.
Championing Diversity and Inclusivity:
One of our most meaningful achievements was being awarded the Best Indian Narrative Short at the Mumbai International Queer Film Festival in 2011. This recognition was complemented by our multiple accolades at the Indian Documentary Producers’ Association (IDPA) Awards, where we were honored for everything from Best Product Film to Best Brand Integration Film.
Exploring Artistry in Fashion and Video Art:
Our creative endeavors extended into the realms of fashion and video art, with official nominations and participations at prestigious festivals like the Berlin Fashion Film Festival and the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. Our exhibits at events like the Videobardo Archive And Video Festival in 2021 have allowed us to showcase our versatility and vision.
The Storytellers
Judhajit Bagchi
Producer - Director - Editor - DOP
Judhajit, after completing his Higher Secondary (1st Division) from Ramkrishna Mission Vidyamandir, has completed his Bachelors in Economics Hons. (1st Division) from Presidency College Kolkata (2004), securing top position in Development Economics. Post that he went on to complete his Masters in Communications - Film Art and Film Studies (1st Division) from Manipal Institute of Communication, Manipal University (2006). His Post Graduate dissertation 'Towards an inclusive national identity - an analysis of Swades' has been published in the book - 'Indian Media in a Globalised World' Sage Publications.
While not making films, Judhajit, a true Bengali at heart, loves to experiment with photography, travel, explore food and spend time at home with his pet cat Elio .
Ranadeep Bhattacharyya
Director- Writer- Artist
Ranadeep has studied from Don Bosco School Liluah and has been the All India ISC Topper (2001) (Humanities) and is recipient of the Big Leap School Achievers Award. He completed his Bachelors from Calcutta University in BSc. Geography Hons. (1st Division 1st in Geography Practicals) from Presidency College Kolkata (2004). Along with his Post Graduate degree, he has also been awarded the TMA Pai Gold Medal by Manipal University for becoming the University Topper (Gold Medalist) in Masters in Communication - Film Art and Film Studies and Deccan Herald Award for coming 1st in his college Manipal Institute of Communication (2006).
Raised in a sprawling Bengali joint family, Ranadeep is a bibliophile and a cinephile who in his free time can be mostly found either listening to old film songs, painting or writing poetry if not playing with his pet cat Elio.