From Farmer’s son to creator of the ‘Trikaala Cinematic Universe’: Mani Thellagutie

Dreaming of making films is easy, but turning those dreams into a larger-than-life cinematic vision requires determination, technical expertise and self-belief. Mani Thellagutie’s journey from a farming family in Chintapudi village of Tirupati district to becoming a VFX artist, editor, writer and director is a story of passion and perseverance. On his birthday, the filmmaker opens up about his journey, ‘Trikaala’ and his plans for the ‘Trikaala Cinematic Universe’.

Born into a farming family, Mani developed a fascination for cinema at an early age. His father was a cinema projectionist, and watching films from the projection room left a lasting impression on him.

“Cinema fascinated me from a very young age. Growing up around the projection room, I was curious about how the images on the screen were created. That experience slowly made me realise that I wanted to be part of the world of filmmaking,” says Mani.

Instead of limiting himself to one department, Mani explored the technical and creative aspects of filmmaking. He chose VFX as his entry point into the industry and later worked as an editor, gaining an understanding of visual storytelling.

“VFX gave me the technical foundation, while editing taught me how to understand a story, its rhythm, emotions and pace. These experiences helped me when I eventually moved towards writing and direction,” he explains.

His directorial venture ‘Trikaala’ blends visual effects with elements of time travel, spirituality and science. Produced by Radhika Srinivas, with cinematography by Pawan Chenn, the film created a distinct visual experience for Telugu audiences. “‘Trikaala’ was an attempt to give audiences something different. I wanted to combine technology and imagination with concepts that have strong Indian roots. The response from audiences has given me the confidence to take this vision forward,” says Mani.

For the filmmaker, ‘Trikaala’ is not the end of the journey but the beginning of a larger universe. He is now working towards expanding the ‘Trikaala Cinematic Universe’ (TCU) through interconnected stories and future films.