Meet Santhosh Ram Mavuri | Filmmaker / Actor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Santhosh Ram Mavuri and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Santhosh, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk is an inherent part of any creative endeavor, including filmmaking. It involves taking a chance on an idea, a story, or a cast and crew, and investing time, money, and energy into bringing that idea to life. For a filmmaker who comes from a business background, the ability to assess and manage risk is likely to be a key skill. They may be able to bring a level of financial acumen and strategic thinking to the filmmaking process that can help mitigate potential losses and maximize potential gains. However, it’s also important for a filmmaker to be able to take creative risks and not be too risk-averse, as this is often what leads to the most innovative and successful projects, my biggest risk that I’ve taken is to step out from my family business and get into filmmaking which has been my passion since childhood, to find my own path and journey. One of my favorite actors said that, life’s happy when passion meets profession. That’s the line that drives me to do any process of filmmaking. From the excitement of finding an idea to completing the film. Passion, risk and creative break storming keep my brains and body work with pleasure. There’s a line from a advertisement which keep running in my mind “ risk lekapothe life lo migiledi rusk matrame” which loosely translates without taking any risk you’ll be settled only with the baby food.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I was born in Rajahmundry a town in Andhra Pradesh to a middle class family who are into retail business. My family shifted to Nellore to expand the business and I did my schooling there. My family members are huge movie goers and would never miss a film that releases in the theatre. It was almost a ritual for us. During my 8th grade I remember watching a movie with a friend for the first time without my parents and me and my friends used to talk about cinema a lot. From the conversations of cinema I gained a interest to become an actor and a filmmaker, and experience the art of filmmaking. My parents was kinda hard on me post schooling I told them I wanna be an actor. I didn’t like to disappoint them so I left to Bangalore to study Bachelors in Business Administration and Marketing. During those days I was opened to film that were in other South Indian languages and my movie knowledge expands cross states and boundaries which fascinated me that within the states the art of storytelling is different among the culture. I slowly explored multi cultural Indian film during my bachelors and watched videos of filmmaking and tutorials which helped me a write and directed my first 30mins short during my college days. I travelled to Hyderabad for the first time for work. I had a script but didn’t know whom to contact and gather the crew to make this happen. With the help of my cousins who were really supportive introduced me to few of their friends who were needing an opportunity. We made the film and released it on YouTube which stands 350k+ views and growing. That gave a ray of hope that I can tell stories and this is just a beginning to a dream come true but COVID put a hold on to my dream. My parents were quite sure to send me to US for filmmaking but I had a convince them to come here to study and here I am studying at New York Film Academy in Los Angeles telling my story. I wrote and directed 3 short films and worked on more than 15 short films in the camera department, G and E, Acting etc. I personally feel that I’m a Filmmaker who loves to tell stories from both in front and behind the camera, someone who understands every penny that’s put in the film is important and how to make it back.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would start off with drive to the Hollywood Sign and drive along Beverly Hills, Bel Air to Santa Monica. I’m a huge sucker for Authentic Indian Food which is very rare to find. I would take him to Annapurna Cuisine for tasty Ghee Spicy Dosa which an authentic recipe that’s born in Nellore. Delicious Briyani at Annapurna Grill in Pasadena and ending with amazing Indian Mutton Curry , Rice and Kababs at Pista House. I’ve got many suggestions for club scenes in LA like Bungalow and Victorian In Santa Monica is good on a Saturday Evening, Sound Nightclub, Station 1640 for some good techno vibes. Speakeasies like No Vacancy and Good Times at Davey Wayne’s is super fun and have exciting entry experiences

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would start with my parents and friends who has been my constant support. My teachers Satyanand L sir and who taught the nuances in acting and film.
David Newman my professor in NYFA Los Angeles who’s my first directing professor who taught my filmmaking and how explore my own style.

Instagram: @srmfilm

Twitter: @SanthoshMavuri

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/santhoshrammohan?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Image Credits
Profile : @bts_by_zs Rest : Nani