Rajesh Touchriver

Film Director, Production Designer, Scriptwriter

Indian Idukki District, Kerala

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Quick Info

ProfessionFilm Director, Production Designer, Scriptwriter
NationalityIndian
Date of Birth06/03/1972
Age54 years
BirthplaceIdukki District, Kerala

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Bio/Wiki

Real NameM. S. Rajesh
Famous ForWinning National Awards for the Telugu film 'Naa Bangaaru Talli' (2013) and being recognized as the 'Conscience of Indian Cinema' for issue-driven films addressing socio-political realities

Educational Qualification(s)

SchoolGovt. High School, Moolamattom, Kerala
College/University
  • School of Drama, Thrissur, Kerala
  • University of Calicut, Kerala
  • Wimbledon College of Arts, Wimbledon, United Kingdom
Educational Qualification
  • BTA in Direction
  • Masters in Visual language, Scenography & Direction

Personal Life

Food HabitNon-Vegetarian

Relationships & More

Marital StatusMarried

Family

WifeSunitha Krishnan (Social-Activist)
Parents
FatherSiva Sankaran Nair (Kathakali Actor)
MotherRukmini Amma
Siblings
  • Name
  • (Ph
  • D in Theater)

Career

DebutFilm, Director: In the Name of Buddha (2002)
Awards, Honours, Achievements
  • Indie Gathering International Film Festival, Ohio, USA 2017: Best Foreign Feature Film for RAKTHAM (The Blood), Best Cinematography for Ramathulasi RAKTHAM (The Blood), Best Overall Feature, Peoples Choice for RAKTHAM (The Blood)
  • National Film Awards 2013: Best Feature Film in Telugu for Na Bangaaru Talli, Best Music Direction (Background Score) to Shantanu Moitra for Na Bangaaru Talli (2013), Special Mention - Actress Anjali Patil for Na Bangaaru Talli
  • Nandi Awards (Govt of Andhra Pradesh State Awards) 2013: Best Feature Film for Na Bangaaru Talli, Best Actress (Anjali Patil) for Na Bangaaru Talli, Special Mention (Actor Siddique) for Na Bangaaru Talli
  • International Awards: The Charles Wallace India Trust Award 2001, Best foreign film Award Beverly Hills International Film Festival 2003, Best Film Award New port Beach International Film Festival 2003, Best Film Award Wine country International Film Festival 2003, Best Foreign Documentary film Award Action Cut International Film Festival 2006, Best Editing Award Festival De Cine De Granada 2007, Best Documentary Film Award Hyderabad International Film Festival 2008, Best Feature Film Award Trinity International Film Festival 2013, Award of Excellence from IFFCRM, Indonesia 2013, Film maker of the Year from IFFCRM, Jakarta, Indonesia 2013
Filmography Overview11 Feature Films (released and in pre-production), 5 Short Films, 16 Documentaries across six languages (English, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Odia, and Tamil)
Theatre WorkDirected over 30 plays in Malayalam, English, Telugu, and Hindi prior to transitioning to film
Notable Works
  • In the Name of Buddha (2002) - Premiered at Oslo International Film Festival, screened at 2003 Cannes Film Festival
  • Naa Bangaaru Talli (2013) - Social problem film, won five International honours and National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu
  • Dahini - The Witch (2025) - Feature film addressing witch-hunting, screened at Indian Film Festival of Sydney
Global Recognition52 International Awards, 9 Nominations, and 25 Official Selections across prestigious film festivals worldwide; works officially represented in over 20 countries

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. He is skilled in Kathakali and Kalaripayattu training.
2. To aid distributors with pronunciation, he altered his last name to Touchriver.
3. In 1995, he collaborated with the National School of Drama in New Delhi.
4. By 1998, he had directed over 30 plays in Malayalam, Telugu, and English languages.
5. He has directed 16 documentaries and 5 short fiction films on critical issues such as human trafficking, HIV/AIDS, and communal riots for the United Nations, various NGOs, and his own production banner Sun Touch Productions.
6. He is widely recognized as the 'Conscience of Indian Cinema' for his issue-driven narratives exploring complex socio-political realities.
Information on this page is collected from public sources and may not be 100% accurate. Report an error
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