Prasanth Varma is an Indian film director and screenwriter who works primarily in Telugu cinema. He is known for attempting genre-driven narratives, including supernatural thrillers and superhero films, and is credited with directing HanuMan, an entry in his planned shared cinematic universe themed around Indian mythology.
| Name | Prasanth Varma |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Film director, screenwriter |
| Industry | Telugu cinema (Tollywood) |
| Notable works | Awe (2018), Kalki (2019), Zombie Reddy (2021), HanuMan (2024) |
| Cinematic universe | Prasanth Varma Cinematic Universe (PVCU) |
| Language of work | Telugu |
Prasanth Varma began his career in the Telugu film industry by working on short films and assisting on feature productions before making his debut as a director. He has stated in interviews that he is interested in blending Indian cultural and mythological motifs with mainstream commercial storytelling, and in attempting genres that are uncommon in Telugu cinema.
Varma made his feature directorial debut with Awe (2018), an anthology-style psychological thriller produced by actor Nani. The film featured an ensemble cast including Kajal Aggarwal, Nithya Menen, Regina Cassandra, Eesha Rebba and Murali Sharma, and was noted for its non-linear narrative structure and use of multiple interconnected storylines.
His next film, Kalki (2019), was a period crime drama set in a fictional village, starring Rajasekhar in the lead role. In 2021, he directed Zombie Reddy, considered one of the first zombie films in Telugu cinema, which combined the zombie genre with a faction-rivalry backdrop set against the COVID-19 pandemic.
HanuMan (2024) was conceived as the launching film of the Prasanth Varma Cinematic Universe, a shared superhero franchise drawing on figures and themes from Indian mythology. The film stars Teja Sajja in the lead role and is set in a fictional village called Anjanadri. HanuMan received wide commercial success across Telugu and dubbed releases in other Indian languages, and is regarded as a significant entry in the emerging Indian superhero genre.
Varma's filmography is characterised by:
Prasanth Varma is regarded as one of the directors associated with the wave of Telugu filmmakers attempting to expand the regional industry's range beyond conventional commercial templates. His work on HanuMan drew attention to the possibility of indigenous superhero franchises rooted in Indian mythology, and contributed to wider discussions on pan-Indian cinema and the commercial viability of mid-budget Telugu productions in markets outside the Telugu-speaking states.