17 Facts About Rahul Thakkar

Rahul Chandrakant Thakkar is an Indian-American software inventor who was one of the 33 recipients of Academy Award for scientific and technical achievement in 2016.

Rahul Thakkar was a key member of the animation software development team for Shrek, which went on to win the first-ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature at the 74th Academy Awards.

Rahul Thakkar's mother Prabha, whom he considered his inspiration, was a teacher and encouraged his interest in science.

Rahul Thakkar spent his early years in Mumbai and considers himself a Mumbaikar.

Rahul Thakkar completed his graduation from the University of Mumbai with a degree in computer science.

Currently, Rahul Thakkar stays with his wife and a daughter in Virginia.

Rahul Thakkar developed the show opening software for CBS' 1994 and 1996 election coverage, and for the Late Show with David Letterman.

Rahul Thakkar was invited by Pacific Data Images and he joined in 1996, to develop an animated film that turned out to be Antz.

Rahul Thakkar was the primary coder for the system's product suite since his time at PDI, when it was yet to be known as DreamWorks Animation Media Review System.

At PDI and DreamWorks, Rahul Thakkar worked on several films, including Forces of Nature, Antz, The Legend of Bagger Vance, The Peacemaker and A Simple Wish.

Rahul Thakkar was a member of the animation software development team for Shrek, which went on to win the first-ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature at the 74th Academy Awards.

Rahul Thakkar then worked at Madison Square Garden from 2013 to 2014 as Vice President of Technology contributing in the entertainment, media and sports fields.

Rahul Thakkar noted certain surveillance drones used in the rescue of Captain Philips ran on their software.

Rahul Thakkar left Brivio in 2015, and since then has been engaged with the aerospace industry, working for a Boeing subsidiary in the cloud-computing sector.

At the time of winning the 2016 Academy Award, Rahul Thakkar had 25 patents in his name, including patents pending, and had developed a web standard.

Rahul Thakkar won the 2016 Academy Award for scientific and technical achievement for his "groundbreaking design" of DreamWorks Animation Media Review System.

Rahul Thakkar was interviewed by six members of the Academy during the shortlisting process.