Directing
Venkatesh Maha
Venkatesh Maha is an Indian film director, screenwriter, and actor who works predominantly in Telugu cinema. Born in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, he entered the film industry at a young age, working various off-screen jobs including as a spot boy before transitioning into acting and filmmaking. He made an impactful directorial debut with the critically acclaimed indie drama *C/o Kancharapalem* (2018), which was shot entirely on location in Visakhapatnam using a cast of non-professional local actors. The film earned widespread praise for its authentic, hyper-local storytelling and multi-generational narrative, premiering at the New York Indian Film Festival and earning him nominations for Best Director at the Filmfare Awards South and SIIMA. He followed it with *Uma Maheswara Ugra Roopasya* (2020), an acclaimed slice-of-life comedy-drama starring Satyadev, and directed an episode for the Amazon Prime Video anthology series *Modern Love Hyderabad* (2022). He later reunited with Satyadev to write, direct, and edit the psychological dark comedy drama *Rao Bahadur* (2026). In addition to directing, Maha has worked actively as a screenwriter, producer, and actor. He adapted and wrote the screenplay for the political satire *Martin Luther King* (2023), in which he also played a key supporting role, and co-produced the drama *Ambajipeta Marriage Band* (2024). His notable acting appearances include roles in *Ante Sundaraniki* (2022), *Stand Up Rahul* (2022), and *Anger Tales* (2023).
Acting credits
7.2Plagued by guilt and fear, an eccentric aristocrat retreats into his ancestral manor, creating an alternate world that deeply blurs reality and imagination.
Rao Bahadur
2026
7.1A man from a Brahmin family falls in love with a Christian girl. In order to convince their parents, they say contrasting lies which complicates the situation and leads to a comedy of errors.
Ante... Sundaraniki!
2022
6.3A reluctant startup employee who doesn't stand up for anything in life, finally finding true love and learning to stand up for his parents, for his love and for his passion for stand-up comedy.
Stand Up Rahul
2022
5.8Surya, an aimless youngster, gets emotionally attached to his first bike ‘Ustaad’, playing a catalyst in his personal and professional journey, stimulates him to conquer acrophobia and to become a pilot and to win over the love of his life, Meghna.
Ustaad
2023
7.3Defeated and humiliated in a fight while trying to defuse a conflict among his fellow villagers, a photographer vows revenge on his attacker.
Uma Maheswara Ugra Roopasya
2020
9.0In a small village where caste politics rules the roost, amid a local election with two rival political parties vying to win by any means necessary, an underprivileged hairdresser becomes the game changer and lands in a curiously powerful position as the single deciding vote.
Martin Luther King
2023
Behind the camera
7.2Plagued by guilt and fear, an eccentric aristocrat retreats into his ancestral manor, creating an alternate world that deeply blurs reality and imagination.
Rao Bahadur
2026
7.2Plagued by guilt and fear, an eccentric aristocrat retreats into his ancestral manor, creating an alternate world that deeply blurs reality and imagination.
Rao Bahadur
2026
7.4From a schoolboy’s crush to a middle-aged bachelor’s office romance, four love stories spanning age, religion and status unfold in a small Indian town.
C/o Kancharapalem
2018
7.4From a schoolboy’s crush to a middle-aged bachelor’s office romance, four love stories spanning age, religion and status unfold in a small Indian town.
C/o Kancharapalem
2018
7.3Defeated and humiliated in a fight while trying to defuse a conflict among his fellow villagers, a photographer vows revenge on his attacker.
Uma Maheswara Ugra Roopasya
2020
7.3Defeated and humiliated in a fight while trying to defuse a conflict among his fellow villagers, a photographer vows revenge on his attacker.
Uma Maheswara Ugra Roopasya
2020
9.0In a small village where caste politics rules the roost, amid a local election with two rival political parties vying to win by any means necessary, an underprivileged hairdresser becomes the game changer and lands in a curiously powerful position as the single deciding vote.
Martin Luther King
2023