Venu Kodaganti

Venu Kodaganti, yeah, you might’ve seen his name pop up lately—he’s been making some noise with a couple of 2024 releases: “I 20” and “Pranaya Godari.” Let’s be real, this guy isn’t one of those cookie-cutter filmmakers who just cranks out the same recycled stuff. There’s something kinda raw about his work, like he’s not afraid to get his hands dirty in the world-building department. “I 20” is basically a road trip flick on the surface, sure, but it’s got these undercurrents of nostalgia, regret, and hope that sneak up on you. The characters don’t just drive from point A to point B—they drag all their baggage with them, and Kodaganti doesn’t bother sugarcoating any of it. The dialogue feels like stuff you’d overhear at a roadside dhaba at 2 a.m.—messy, honest, a little funny, a little sad. Now, “Pranaya Godari,” that’s a whole different beast. It leans into romance, but not the sappy, Bollywood-dance-number kind. Think more longing looks across crowded rooms, heartbreak that doesn’t get tied up in a neat bow, and a setting that actually feels lived-in. Kodaganti has this knack for capturing those fleeting, awkward silences—the moments when nobody knows what to say but everything’s being said anyway. Honestly, he’s got his finger on the pulse of real, messy human emotion. You watch his movies and you kinda feel seen, you know? He’s definitely someone to keep an eye on if you’re tired of the same old formulaic stuff.