{{Short description|Indian filmmaker}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox person | image = Jayathirta (Director).jpg | name = Jayathirtha | caption = | birth_place = Bangalore, India | birth_date = <!---WP:DOB---> | occupation = {{hlist|Film director|Theatre director|Production designer}} | known_for = Olave Mandara<br /> Tony<br /> Beautiful Manasugalu<br /> Bell Bottom | spouse = Poornima H. D. | children = 1 }}
'''Jayathirtha B. V.''' is an Indian theatre activist, production designer, and filmmaker.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/five-top-kannada-directors-collaborate-film-136816|title = Five top Kannada directors to collaborate on a film|date = 3 November 2020}}</ref> He is known for his movies Olave Mandara, Tony, Beautiful Manasugalu, and Bell Bottom.
He is also known for his work as a director and play writer.
==Early life and education== Jayathirtha B. V. was born and brought up in Bangalore, Karnataka. A high school dropout due to financial constraints, he started working as a salesman at 17 and took up theatre as a pastime.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}} He trained at Abhinayataranga under the renowned theatre personality A. S. Murthy<ref>{{cite web| title= A S Murthy|url=http://abhinayataranga.com/our-founder/}}</ref> and later became a teacher in the same institution.
Jayathirtha won several awards for his works in theatre, including the ''B. V. Karanth Best Stage Reviewer Award'' (1997) for his critical review of the play, ''Maranayak''.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}
==Film career==
=== Beginnings === In 2007, he directed a short film called Hasivu (Hunger). The movie won the Best Indian Short Film award at Cinerail Film Festival, Paris.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}
=== 2011–2013: Directorial debut and breakthrough === In 2011, he directed a full-fledged Kannada feature film, Olave Mandara which brought several awards including the 59th Filmfare Awards (Best Director).<ref>{{Cite news |title=The 59th Idea Filmfare Awards 2011(South) - Times of India ► |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/the-59th-idea-filmfare-awards-2011south/articleshow/14742576.cms |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref> The sub-plot of Olave Mandara is inspired by the real-life events of Dashrath Manjhi who cut a rocky hill for 22 years to build a road in memory of his wife. Later he directed Tony (2013) which won him the Karnataka State Film Award for Best Screenplay.<ref>{{cite web| title= South Cinema Karnataka State Film awards 2013 announced|url=https://www.bollywooddhamaka.in/south-cinema/karnataka-state-film-awards-2013-announced-full-list-available-online/6291|first=Akshay|last=Bansal|date=5 Jan 2015|work=BollywoodDhamaka}}</ref>
=== 2015–2018: Career fluctuations === He wrote the screenplay for the 2015 film ''Endendigu''. His next was ''Bullet Basya'' (2015) starring Sharan and Haripriya, which opened to mixed reviews owing to its sexist jokes.<ref>{{cite web |date=28 Nov 2016 |title=Bullet Basya |url=https://www.sify.com/movies/bullet-basya-review-kannada-phzmyredjaeaa.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150811074339/http://www.sify.com/movies/bullet-basya-review-kannada-phzmyredjaeaa.html |archive-date=11 August 2015 |work=Sify.com}}</ref>
He made a comeback with the movie ''Beautiful Manasugalu'' (2017), which was based on shocking events that occurred in 2012.<ref>{{cite web| title=Beautiful Manasugalu|url= https://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/charleston/beautiful-manasugalu/Film?oid=6518605|work=Charleston City Paper| date=30 December 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=A beautiful return for 'Lucia' stars|url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/south-masala/a-beautiful-return-for-lucia-stars/articleshow/55653427.cms|first=Nishcith|last=N.|date=28 Nov 2016|work=The New Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Review: 'Beautiful Manasugalu' lets the usual stereotypes drag down a 'women-centric' film| url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/review-beautiful-manasugalu-lets-usual-stereotypes-drag-down-women-centric-film-56038|first=Rakesh|last=Mehar|date=20 Jan 2017|work=The News Minute}}</ref> The movie won Best Dialogues Award at KAFTA Times of India 2017, the only awards given to technicians in Kannada film industry.<ref name="auto">{{cite web| title=Presenting the list of awardees for Times KAFTA 2017| url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/presenting-the-list-of-awardees-for-times-kafta-2017/articleshow/66401690.cms|date=28 Oct 2018|work=The News Minute}}</ref> His next movie was Vanilla (2018),<ref>{{cite web|title='Beautiful Manasugalu' director Jayathirtha explores Capnophobia in next 'Vanilla'|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2018/may/30/beautiful-manasugalu-director-jayathirtha-explores-capnophobia-in-next-vanilla-1821580.html|date=31 May 2018|work=The New Indian Express|access-date=27 February 2020|archive-date=3 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103080654/https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2018/may/30/beautiful-manasugalu-director-jayatheertha-explores-capnophobia-in-next-vanilla-1821580.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> a murder mystery with a message of social concerns.
=== 2019–present: commercial success and fluctuations === Bell Bottom (2019)<ref>{{cite web| title=True-life theft turns inspiration for Rishab Shetty starrer 'Bell Bottom'|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2019/feb/09/true-life-theft-turns-inspiration-for-rishab-shetty-starrer-bell-bottom-1936466.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212180323/http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/kannada/2019/feb/09/true-life-theft-turns-inspiration-for-rishab-shetty-starrer-bell-bottom-1936466.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 February 2019|date=9 Feb 2019|work=The New Indian Express}}</ref> is a comedy crime thriller, a story of a die-hard fan of detective stories. It became the first Kannada film in 2019 to complete 100 days.<ref>{{cite web| title=Bell Bottom is an enjoyable crime comedy|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/dh-talkies-despite-flaws-enjoyable-crime-bell-bottom-moview-review-718606.html|date=15 Feb 2019|work=Deccan Herald}}</ref> It also won the second best commercial film recognition at Bangalore International Film Festival 2020.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/BIFFESblr/posts/12th-bengaluru-international-film-festival-second-popular-kannada-cinemabell-bot/2758391440941470/ |website= Facebook| title=Bengaluru International Film Festival's post|date= 7 March 2020|access-date=8 June 2023}}</ref> The movie has won Best Director Award in Critics Choice Film Awards 2020.<ref>{{cite web| title=Critics' Choice Film Awards 2020: Complete winners list |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/critics-choice-film-awards-2020-complete-winners-list-6336210/ |date=28 Mar 2020|work=The Indian Express}}</ref> thumb|Director Jayathirtha during the shooting of Banaras, on the banks of river Ganga. In November 2020, It was reported that Jayathirtha along with four other Kannada film directors KM Chaitanya, Shashank (director), Yogaraj Bhat, and Pawan Kumar (director) would team up to make a two-hour film.<ref>{{cite web| title=Five renowned Kannada film directors come together for commercial entertainer| url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/stories/news/2020/nov/03/five-renowned-kannada-film-directors-come-together-for-a-commercial-entertainer-21106.html|first=Sharadaa|last=A.|date=3 November 2020|work=Cinema Express}}</ref> However it did not materialise. His next directorial was ''Banaras'', starring newcomer Zaid Khan alongside Sonal Monteiro, which opened to mixed reviews and was a box office failure.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Banaras: Zaid Khan and Sonal Monteiro's time-loop romance gets TV premiere |url=https://www.ottplay.com/news/banaras-zaid-khan-and-sonal-monteiros-time-loop-romance-gets-tv-premiere/8b99f1325471 |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=OTTPlay |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Khajane |first=Muralidhara |date=2022-11-04 |title='Banaras' movie review: Spirituality and time travel meet to tell a unique, poignant love story |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/banaras-movie-review-spirituality-and-time-travel-meet-to-tell-a-unique-poignant-love-story/article66095479.ece |access-date=2024-10-12 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He then directed the action drama Kaiva with Dhanveerah and Megha Shetty in the lead roles and released in 2023, which also opened to mixed reviews and ended as box office disappointment.
In January 2021, ''Bell Bottom 2'', the sequel to the blockbuster ''Bell Bottom'' was announced to be directed by Jayathirtha.<ref>{{cite news| title=Official title poster of Bell Bottom 2 revealed| url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/official-title-poster-of-bell-bottom-2-revealed/articleshow/80478871.cms|date=27 Jan 2021|work=The Times of India}}</ref> However the shooting of the film was paused as of 2022 owing to Rishab Shetty's other commitments.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Exclusive {{!}} Bell Bottom 2 with Rishab Shetty to take off after Kantara 2? Jayatheertha answers |url=https://www.ottplay.com/news/exclusive-bell-bottom-2-with-rishab-shetty-to-take-off-after-kantara-2-jayatheertha-answers/8e671515de556 |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=OTTPlay |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharadhaa |first=A. |date=2022-12-29 |title=Rishab Shetty talks about the year that was, his plans for Bell Bottom 2 and much more |url=https://www.indulgexpress.com/entertainment/cinema/2022/Dec/29/rishab-shetty-talks-about-the-year-that-was-his-plans-for-bell-bottom-2-and-much-more-46373.html |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=Indulgexpress |language=en}}</ref>
== Theatre activities == Jayathirtha has conducted more than 150 theatre training programs, focusing on issues including life skills.{{citation needed|date=March 2016}} He penned and directed 65 street plays and ten stage plays from 1996 to 2007. He organized those plays to spread social awareness among illiterates and the backward classes. Jayathirtha directed ''Hathim Thi'', an experiment with 500 actors, at the Al-Ameen school building.{{cn|date=October 2025}}
Jayathirtha has used street plays as an effective medium to convey philosophical messages, concerning social issues, imbued with the entertaining flow. His approach is to involve the audience in the flow of the plays. He scripted six stage plays and 69 street plays/shows.<ref>{{cite web| title=Filmmaker takes on big pharma| url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/filmmaker-takes-on-big-pharma/article7959075.ece|first=Muralidhar|last=Khajane|date=24 March 2016|work=The Hindu}}</ref>
==Radio== Jayathirtha directed a 450-episode{{when|date=March 2021}} of educational radio drama for children, ''Chukki Chinna – Chinnara Chukki'', for an NGO Education Development Center under ''Sarva Shikshana Abhiyana'' program of Government of India.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Anandraj |first=Shilpa |date=2021-06-24 |title='Banaras' will be a poignant love story, says Kannada director Jayathirtha |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/banaras-will-be-a-poignant-love-story-says-kannada-director-jayathirtha/article34944995.ece |access-date=2024-10-12 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> This interactive syllabus-based radio program was recorded between 2005 and 2007, but it continues to play on the radio for first-standard to sixth-standard students in Karnataka government schools.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}
==Recognition== {{BLP unreferenced section|date=March 2021}} *Best Back Stage designer 1994 (''Abhinaya Tharanga'') *Best script writer 1996 (''Abhinaya Tharanga'') *Best stage reviewer 1997 (''B.V.Karanth Award'') *Second Best Small Story Award – from ''Gulbarga University'' (2002) *First place in small story award – from ''Belagali Sahithya Pratistana.'' (2002) *First place in small story award – from ''Kannada Sahithya Parishath''. (2002) *First place in script writing – Street play – Pravardhini from ''Sahithya Sankramana'' (2003) *Best Indian short film ''Hasivu'' from Cinerail film festival in Paris
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" ! scope="col" |Year ! scope="col" |Title ! Notes |- | 2007 || ''Hasivu'' || Short film |- |2011 || ''Olave Mandara'' || |- |2013 || ''Tony'' || Also lyricist |- |2015 ||''Bullet Basya'' || |- |2017 || ''Beautiful Manasugalu'' || |- |2018 || ''Vanilla'' || |- |2019 || ''Bell Bottom'' || |- |2022 || ''Banaras'' || <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/director-jayathirtha-completes-the-shoot-of-new-film-banaras-films-team-shares-pictures/articleshow/79718308.cms|title = Director Jayathirtha completes the shoot of new film 'Banaras', film's team shares pictures - Times of India|website = The Times of India| date=14 December 2020 }}</ref> |- |2023 || ''Kaiva'' || |- |TBA|| ''Bell Bottom 2''<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news/jayathirtha-promises-even-more-twists-and-turns-in-the-bell-bottom-sequel/articleshow/79087424.cms|title=Jayathirtha promises even more twists and turns in the Bell Bottom sequel - Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=7 November 2020 }}</ref> || Announced |- |}
===As screenwriter=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" ! scope="col" |Year ! scope="col" |Title ! Notes |- |2015 ||''Endendigu'' || |- |}
==Awards== {| class="wikitable sortable ! Movie !!Award !!Category !!Result !!Ref. |- |''Hasivu'' |Cinerail Film Festival, Paris |Best short film (Indian) |{{won}} | |- |rowspan=5|''Olave Mandara'' |59th Filmfare Awards South |Best Director – Kannada |{{won}} |<ref>{{cite web |author=Filmfare Editorial |title=59th Idea Filmfare Awards South (Winners list) |url=http://filmfare.com/news/59th-idea-filmfare-awards-south-winners-list-809.html |work=Filmfare |publisher=Times Internet Limited |access-date=20 July 2012 |date=9 July 2012}}</ref> |- |Raghavendra Chitravaani Award |Best Director |{{won}} | |- |'Big FM – ETV' award |Best Director |{{won}} | |- |Santosham Award |Best Director - Kannada |{{won}} | |- |1st SIIMA Awards |Best Director |{{nom}} |<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://siima.in/2012/winners.html|title=SIIMA Awards 2012 Winners|website=South Indian International Movie Awards|access-date=18 April 2020|archive-date=6 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706025553/http://siima.in/2012/winners.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- |rowspan=2|''Tony'' |2013 Karnataka State Film Awards |Best Screenplay |{{won}} |<ref>{{cite news|url= http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/kannada/movies/news |title=Karnataka State Film Awards Announced|access-date=2016-11-08|work=The Times Of India}}</ref> |- |Lalitha Kala Academy Award |Best Director |{{won}} | |- |rowspan=2|''Beautiful Manasugalu'' |65th Filmfare Awards South |Best Director |{{nom}} |<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.filmfare.com/features/winners-of-the-65th-jio-filmfare-awards-south-2018_-28887-2.html | title=Winners of the 65th Jio Filmfare Awards (South) 2018 | date=16 June 2018 | work=Filmfare | access-date=9 December 2018 }}</ref> |- |KAFTA Times of India 2017 |Best Dialogues |{{won}} |<ref name="auto"/> |- |rowspan=4|''Bell Bottom'' |Zee Comedy Awards 2020 | Best Director |{{won}} |<ref>{{cite web |date=2020-01-21 |title='ಜೀ ಕನ್ನಡ ಕಾಮಿಡಿ ಅವಾರ್ಡ್ಸ್' ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಿಂಚಿದ ಸ್ಯಾಂಡಲ್ವುಡ್ ತಾರೆಯರು! |url=https://vijaykarnataka.com/vk-gallery/cinema/zee-kannada-comedy-awards-2020-event-photos/photoshow/73486345.cms |access-date=16 July 2020 |website=vijaykarnataka.com}}</ref> |- |Chandanavana Critics' Academy Award |Best Screenplay |{{won}} | |- |Critics’ Choice Film Awards 2020 | Best Director |{{won}} |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/critics-choice-film-awards-2020-complete-winners-list-6336210/|title=Critics' Choice Film Awards 2020: Complete winners list|date=28 Mar 2020|website=The Indian Express|access-date=16 July 2020}}</ref> |- |- |9th SIIMA Awards |Best Director |{{nom}} | |- |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links ==
*{{IMDb name|5852303}} *[http://abhinayataranga.com/ abhinayataranga.com]
Category:Kannada film directors Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:People from Bengaluru Category:Kannada screenwriters Category:21st-century Indian people Category:Filmfare Awards South winners Category:Film directors from Bengaluru