Rajnesh Domalpalli, Film maker

From http://vanajathefilm.com/filmmakers.html

After completing his B. Tech in EE from the IIT Mumbai in 1984 and an MS from SUNY, SB in 1986 he worked as a Computer Engineer in California’s Silicon Valley before deciding to take up Film at Columbia University in New York and graduating with an MFA in 2006.

“Vanaja” is not only his first Feature but also his Thesis at Columbia. Rajnesh loves writing, and feels that it is the greatest challenge in making a good film. While at the IIT, he had dabbled in penning short stories during his spare time, and one of these, “The Dowry” was eventually picked up and broadcast by BBC’s World Service in Sept 1984 and Aug 1989. College was also where he was introduced to South Indian classical music on the veena, before following it up with several years of training in the vocal tradition.

From http://www.desiclub.com/bollywood/bollywood_features/bolly_article.cfm?id=288

"I knew that I lacked the experience to get into a good Film School. So I began by taking courses at a local community college - classes ranging from Writing, Photography, Art History and Visual Design to Voice Control and the basics of Acting. I never expected to get into Columbia, but when I did, I think it brought both concern and jubilation in equal measure to my family. But when they realized that my heart was set, they supported me through and through."

"Even while at IIT, I used to write Short Stories, learn Carnatic music and dabble in the visual medium - all fundamental aspects of Filmmaking. When BBC broadcast one of my Short Stories "The Dowry" in 1984, I felt the first twinge of a pull towards the "Creative Arts". But giving up a career that I was working on so hard for, wasn't easy. I think it was only in Cameroon, working as a volunteer for the World Wildlife Fund, that I decided to make the switch. Somehow, the raw experience of African culture, its wildlife, its landscapes and its people, triggered an awakening and a realization of what the world had to offer if I decided to step outside the realm of my computer."

Recognising the Rebellious

I was stumbling upon photo websites using StumbleUpon, and came across a photographer's website, Palani Mohan was born in Madras and is a successful photojournalist. Rajnesh Domalpalli , a Telugu film maker won the Best Debut award at the Berlin film festival, and was nominated for the same category at the Independent spirit awards. It is my impression that it is unusual for Indians to pursue anything other than engineering. India produces 350,000 engineers a year, compared to a 70,000 in the USA. There is of course the population factor, but I have a feeling that engineering is over-valued as a career in India. I was thinking that there was a need to recognize people who have gone against the grain, and show that the careers they have pursued are worth pursuing, and to illustrate that it is rewarding to take a risk(as perceived by the rest of us who pursue not-so-uncommon careers).

I will explain how it might inspire us to know about people pursuing alternative careers, through my own case. I first heard of the National Institute of Design(NID) in India when there was little hope of my getting into an engineering program at the IITs, and the only options available were the architecture or design programs at the IITs. I started taking classes in drawing for the architecture/design test, and heard about NID at that time. After the test, I didn't opt for the design program because my father knew a person who graduated from it and was paid Rs.7,000 salary a month. I got an admit in Architecture, but dropped out of the program, to join a program in computer science elsewhere, and will have to cite the low salaries architects were paid as one of the reasons. Actually, the way it has been setup, most people who are at the design/architecture bachelors programs at the IITs would have been engineer wannabes or engineer haftabees, who had to pick design because their rank wouldn't fetch engineering. Some would later have realized that they found their calling in design.

Somebody who went to NID, on the other hand, would have gone there in a calculated decision, and looking at all the people from NID who are associated with the best design companies/universities, it was a rewarding decision for them. I am an interaction designer now and have at times thought I would have had a richer background had I gone to a design school for my bachelors. I wish people recognized design as a possible career option and thought of NID as a place-to-be while I was in high school. Often, career choices are made with the knowledge that a cousin who had gone to a particular university or an uncle who went to a particular program, was doing well. If I knew about people who considered a bachelors in design and were successful, I possibly would have considered pursuing it too. Based on that predisposition, the intention of this site is to provide information about people from India who are successful in alternative careers.

Successful only has a vague meaning, and will mostly be equated with a high paying salary in India. We will look at it here as high achievement in the career pursued. Achievement will be gauged by experiences had and awards won. In most cases, it is not debatable that a high degree of achievement results in higher monetary rewards. I will post on this site profiles of people pursuing alternative careers with their education decisions, career paths and achievements, which I am hoping will provide inspiration for people to consider such careers. Possible careers will include arts and design, cinema and journalism. I will try to post one profile a week, and have them categorized by career type. If you would like to contribute to finding people with alternative careers and posting them here, please contact me at c.balakrishna@gmail.com. Please feel free to write to me if you have suggestions for making this site more effective in inspiring people.