Hemanth M. Rao

Biography:

Hemanth M. Rao is a prominent Indian film director and screenwriter renowned for his work in Kannada cinema. His journey in the film industry commenced after a brief stint in journalism, beginning in 2005. Rao gained valuable experience as an assistant director, collaborating with distinguished filmmakers like Girish Kasaravalli on “Gulabi Talkies” (2008), Jacob Varghese on “Savaari,” and “Prithvi.”

However, it was in 2016 that he achieved widespread recognition with his directorial debut, “Godhi Banna Sadharana Mykattu.” This Kannada drama depicted the emotional journey of a man searching for his father afflicted with Alzheimer’s, and Rao co-wrote the script. Starring Rakshit Shetty and Anant Nag, the film, produced by Pushkar Films, not only succeeded at the box office but also garnered critical acclaim.

Operating under his banner, Lost & Found Films, Rao co-produced “Humble Politician Nograj,” a political satire comedy inspired by “The Campaign,” released in January 2018.

Rao’s writing prowess found its way into Hindi cinema with “Andhadhun” (2018), a critically acclaimed film he co-wrote with Sriram Raghavan, Pooja Ladha Surti, Arijit Biswas, and Yogesh Chandekarand. This venture earned them a Filmfare Award and a National Film Award for their screenplay.

In 2019, he directed “Kavaludaari,” the maiden production of Puneeth Rajkumar’s PRK Productions, which won the Best Movie in the “Kannada Cinema Competition” at the 12th Bengaluru International Film Festival in 2020.

Rao’s affinity for thrillers continued with “Maestro” in 2021. His upcoming directorial venture, “Sapta Sagaradaache Ello,” is a romantic drama divided into two parts: Side A, released to critical acclaim on 1 September 2023, and Side B scheduled for release on 17 November 2023. Hemanth M. Rao has solidified his place as a prominent filmmaker, known for his versatility and contribution to Indian cinema.