Young Telugu director Prasanth Varma is once again in the spotlight—this time for his blockbuster film Hanu-Man, which has bagged two National Film Awards. The film won Best Action Choreography and Best AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming & Comics), making it a double victory for both creativity and craft.
Prasanth Varma has become a standout figure among the new wave of Telugu filmmakers bringing fresh, bold ideas to Indian cinema. Starting with Awe! in 2018, which also won two National Awards, Varma has consistently focused on experimental storytelling. His second film Kalki, followed by Zombie Reddy, proved he is not afraid to break genre boundaries.
With Hanu-Man, released in 2024, he introduced India’s first superhero from a mythological lens. The film, starring Teja Sajja, became a massive success across India, including in the Hindi belt. Not just a box-office hit, it was critically praised for its storytelling and technical brilliance, especially given its modest budget.
Varma has emphasised that budget isn’t the most important factor—talent and time are. “With the right people and enough time, even a small budget can create magic,” he said, reflecting on the film’s VFX win. He believes the awards give him more motivation to build his cinematic superhero universe on a global scale.
His next film, Jai Hanuman, a sequel in the same universe, is already underway. With top actors and the backing of Mythri Movie Makers, known for Pushpa, expectations are sky-high. Kannada actor Rishab Shetty is playing Hanuman in the sequel, adding to the excitement.
Varma’s work shows that new-generation directors from Tollywood are not just reaching pan-India audiences but also setting international benchmarks. His success is a reminder that strong ideas, bold experiments, and sincere effort can lead to both awards and applause.
