View source for Rajiv Chilaka

{{Short description|Indian animated film director and producer}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2020}}
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{{Infobox person
| name                      = Rajiv Chilakalapudi
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| education                 = [[Osmania University]], [[Hyderabad, India]]
| alma_mater                = [[Hyderabad Public School]], [[University of Missouri]] – [[Kansas City]]
| occupation                = Creator & director of animated tv & film
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| organization              = Green Gold 
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| notable_works             = ''[[Chhota Bheem]]''
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| website                   = {{URL|greengold.tv/}}
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'''Rajiv Chilakalapudi''', also known as '''Rajiv Chilaka''' and '''Sitarama Rajiv Chilakalapudi''', is the founder and CEO of [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]]-based [[Green Gold Animations]] and the creator of a few cartoons including Krishna cartoon series and ''[[Chhota Bheem]]'' which has now been made into an animated series and films.<ref name="hindu1">{{cite news |author=Rao, Subha J. |title=Home Grown Hero |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |location=Chennai, India |date=28 May 2012 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article3465216.ece}}</ref> For his work in presenting cartoons at affordable price, Chilaka was conferred with an honorary doctorate of humane letters by the [[Academy of Art University]], San Francisco in 2016.<ref name="AoAU1">{{cite news |title=Rajeev Chilaka Awarded Honorary Doctorate from Academy of Art University |date=26 June 2016 |url=http://www.below14.com/rajeev-chilaka-awarded-honorary-doctorate-from-academy-of-art-university/}}</ref><ref name="AoAu2">{{cite news |via=YouTube |title=Honorary Doctorate – Rajiv Chilaka |date=23 June 2016 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yei6GnPBT7U |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/Yei6GnPBT7U |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He was the recipient of the 2013 School of Computing and Engineering Alumni Achievement Award at the [[University of Missouri - Kansas City]].<ref name="UMKC1">{{cite news |title=Chilakalapudi Receives SCE Alumni Achievement Award |date=26 March 2013 |url=http://info.umkc.edu/news/chilakalapudi-receives-sce-alumni-achievement-award/}}</ref>

==Early life==
Rajiv Chilaka is an alumnus of [[Hyderabad Public School]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2018}} He received his [[Electronic engineering#:~:text=Electronic engineering (also called electronics,devices, integrated circuits and their|BE in Electronics and Telecommunications engineering]] from [[Osmania University]], Hyderabad in 1995 and went on to the [[University of Missouri - Kansas City]] for his master's degree in Computer Science.

==Career==
He started working as a software engineer in [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]] for three years, but in 2000 he switched courses to study animation at the [[Academy of Art University]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Academy of Art University Publication: Let's Talk Art, India |url=http://www.academyart.edu/content/dam/academics/academic_departments/fashion/lets-talk-art-india.pdf |publisher=[[Academy of Art University]] |accessdate=2 November 2016 |date=April 2015}}</ref> San Francisco. He has an elder brother, Srinivas Chilaka, who helps him in running Greengold.<ref name=hindu2>{{cite news |author=Mohan, Rajiv |title=Animated Life |newspaper=The Hindu |location=Chennai, India |date=16 July 2009 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article3465216.ece}}</ref><ref name="gg">{{cite web |title=Management |publisher=greengold.tv |url=http://greengold.tv/coporate/management.html |accessdate=1 November 2012}}</ref>
Chilaka is the youngest son of noted technocrat Madhusudan Rao Chilaka and Ms. Chilaka.

The magazine [[Businessworld]] named Rajiv Chilaka's company [[Green Gold Animations]] and Gamitronics as two of the top ten companies in India for making visual content in 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=Top 10 Visual Content Production Companies In India 2023 |url=https://www.businessworld.in/article/Top-10-Visual-Content-Production-Companies-In-India-2023/16-01-2023-461987/ |publisher=[[Businessworld]] |accessdate=27 July 2023 |date=January 2023}}</ref>

==Green Gold Animation==

In January 2001, Chilaka set up [[Green Gold Animation Pvt Ltd]]. According to a report in the Indian newspaper, ''[[The Hindu]]'' it is now "perhaps the largest animation production company in India that caters primarily to children."<ref name="hindu2" />

His first break came in 2004 with the animation series ''[[Bongo (Indian TV series)|Bongo]]'' about an alien who lands on Earth. That led to ''Vikram Betal'', an 80-minute 2D animation on the [[Cartoon Network (India)|Cartoon Network]] in 2005. Chilaka and his team made a series of four animated telefilms on the life of [[Krishna]] for the Cartoon Network, before its sister channel [[Pogo (TV channel)|Pogo]] agreed to air their next project ''[[Chhota Bheem]]'' in 2008. According to Chilaka, a few episodes into the telecast of Chhota Bheem, Pogo TV told him that due to the losses suffered the channel can no longer remain in air. But such was the great success in the very next episodes that Pogo continued with content. Chhota Bheem changed everything.<ref name=telegraph>{{cite news |author=Dua Aarti |title=Small wonder. Toon hero Chhota Bheem has emerged as the favourite homegrown television character of tiny tots |work=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)|The Telegraph]] |location=Calcutta, India |date=26 August 2012 |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120826/jsp/graphiti/story_15896553.jsp#.UKZ52-RFWAh |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130203133401/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120826/jsp/graphiti/story_15896553.jsp%23.UKZ52-RFWAh |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 February 2013 |accessdate=1 November 2012}}</ref>

==Chhota Bheem==
Chilaka has told Wikipedia teams that he devised the concept of an Indian historically mythological hero, ''[[Chhota Bheem]]'' in 2005. During the first three years of the series Bheem was 'if not out-rightly presented at least allowed to be thought of' as a reincarnation of legendary warrior prince [[Bhima]] from [[Mahabharata]] but later on the concept itself was modified to make the village of Dholakpur and its inhabitants more contemporary showing episodes featuring things as disparate and modern as Bollywood, trains, air-crafts etc. to emphasise the change. The first episode aired on 6 April 2008. As of 2012, more than 130 episodes have been telecast in English, Hindi, Telugu and Tamil on the [[Pogo (TV channel)|Pogo TV]].<ref name="hindu1" /> These have been accompanied by more than 10 Chhota Bheem television movies also on Pogo. It has been ranked as the most popular television character among children of 2012 by Ormax Media's Small Wonders.<ref name="telegraph" />

In 2012, the feature film ''[[Chhota Bheem and the Curse of Damyaan (2012 film)|Chhota Bheem and the Curse of Damyaan]]'' written by Richa Ingle Deo and Seeta was released. It is considered to be the first Indian home-grown TV series to be made into a feature film.<ref name="hindu1"/> By November 2012, the movie had grossed 50 million Rupees at the box office.<ref name=telegraph/>

In January 2016, the feature film Chhota Bheem Himalayan Adventure written by Teja Pratap and Chilaka was released. The film was directed by Rajiv Chilaka and Rusauro B. Adorable.

On 10 May 2019, another feature film titled [[Chhota Bheem: Kung Fu Dhamaka]] was released. The film's music was composed by [[Sunidhi Chauhan]] and the film was distributed by [[Yash Raj Films]]. The film just like the previous ones was directed and produced by Rajiv Chilaka. This was the first film to be released in both [[Traditional animation|2D]] and [[3D film|3D]] formats.

==Related series==
The following series have been created by [[Green Gold Animations]]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Original Run
! Series
! Network
! Notes
|-
| 2004–2006 || ''Bongo'' || [[DD National]] || 
|-
| 2006–2007 || ''Krishna'' || [[Cartoon Network (India)|Cartoon Network]] || 4 part serialised film
|-
| 2008–present ||  ''[[Chhota Bheem]]'' || [[Pogo (TV channel)|Pogo]] ||
|-
| 2008–2010 || ''Krishna and Balram'' || Cartoon Network ||
|-
| 2009–2012 || ''[[Chorr Police]]'' || [[Disney XD (India)|Disney XD India]] ||
|-
| 2011–present || ''Mighty Raju'' || Pogo|| First spin-off of ''Chhota Bheem'' series
|-
| 2012–2014 || ''Luv Kushh'' || Disney XD || Series now in syndication on [[Discovery Kids (India)|Discovery Kids India]] since 2015
|-
| 2014 present
14–2016
| ''[[Arjun - Prince of Bali]]'' || [[Disney Channel India]] || Spin off of 2013 film [[Chhota Bheem and the Throne of Bali]]<br>Second spin-off of ''Chhota Bheem'' series<br>Reruns also aired on Disney XD in 2017
|-
|rowspan="2"|2017–present || ''Super Bheem'' || Pogo || Third spin-off of ''Chhota Bheem'' series
|-
| ''Kalari Kids''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indiantelevision.com/iworld/over-the-top-services/green-gold-amazon-prime-put-kerala-martial-art-on-the-map-171209 |title=Green Gold, Amazon Prime put Kerala martial art on the map |accessdate=9 December 2017}}</ref> || [[Amazon Video|Amazon Prime Video]] || 
|-
|rowspan="2"|2018–present || ''[[Kicko & Super Speedo]]'' || [[Sony Yay]] ||<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indiantelevision.com/television/tv-channels/kids/sony-yay-banks-on-originals-with-a-slew-of-fresh-content-180419 |title=Sony Yay banks on originals with a slew of fresh content |accessdate=19 April 2018}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Rudra: Boom Chik Chik Boom]]'' || [[Nickelodeon India]] ||<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.exchange4media.com/media-tv/nickelodeon-launches-fifth-local-ip-rudra-targets-500-hrs-of-content-by-fy19_90374.html |title=Nickelodeon launches fifth local IP Rudra; targets 500 hrs of content by FY19 |work=Indian Advertising Media & Marketing News – exchange4media |access-date=10 June 2018 }}</ref>
|-
| 2019–present || ''[[Mighty Little Bheem]]'' || [[Netflix]] || Fourth spin-off of ''Chhota Bheem'' series<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/television/report-inpired-from-chota-bheem-netflix-to-launch-first-animated-series-mighty-little-bheem-2553228 |title=Inspired from Chhota Bheem, Netflix to launch first animated series 'Mighty Little Bheem' |accessdate=16 October 2017}}</ref>
|-
| 2021–present || ''Chhota Bheem: Adventures in Singapore ''|| Voot Kids || Fifth spin-off of Chhota Bheem series.
|-
| 2022–present || ''Bheem in the city''|| Pogo || Sixth spin-off of ''Chhota Bheem'' series and the follow-up mini series of the 2020 Chhota Bheem film ''Bheem in the city''
|-
| 2024-present || ''[[Bujji and Bhairava]]''|| Amazon Prime Video || Co-produced by [[Vyjayanthi Movies|Vyjayanthi Animation]]<ref>{{Cite web|date=27 May 2024|title=Bujji and Bhairava’s animated prelude from Prabhas-starrer Kalki 2898 AD to release soon. Watch|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/telugu-cinema/bujji-and-bhairava-s-animated-prelude-from-prabhas-starrer-kalki-2898-ad-to-release-soon-watch-101716821236376.html|website=[[Hindustan Times]]}}</ref>
|}

==Merchandising and demographics==
The merchandising accompanying the popularity of the [[Chhota Bheem|''Chhota Bheem'' series]] has produced a range over 500 products such as DVDs, T-shirts, bedsheets, ceiling fans which are available at 20 Green Gold Stores across India as well as on-line games, comics and carnivals.<ref name=telegraph />

Chilaka, who directs each episode of the TV series and directed the movie, claims "the show has worked across demographics" by not being tied to a specific location in India and "it's followed equally by boys and girls."<ref name="hindu1" /><ref name="telegraph" />
<!-- Plot 
The series is all about the adventures of nine-year-old Chhota Bheem and his friends Chutki, Raju and the talking monkey Jaggu as they take on the 11-year-old Kalia and his cronies Dholu and Bholu in their fight to protect the weak and innocent. Bheem's also got a patron in King Indraverma and Princess Indumati. From the Telegraph -->

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://greengold.tv/ Green Gold Animation]

{{India Animation Industry}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chilaka, Rajiv}}
[[Category:Indian animators]]
[[Category:Indian animated film directors]]
[[Category:Indian animated film producers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Osmania University alumni]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Hyderabad, India]]
[[Category:Green Gold Animation]]