Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Farmer's Son to Filmmaker Behind 'Trikaala Cinematic Universe'
Once there was a boy named Mani who grew up on a farm in a small village in India.
His father showed movies at a cinema, and Mani loved watching them from the projector room.
He wondered how the moving pictures were made.
When he grew up, he learned how to create movie magic called VFX, and he also learned how to edit films by putting stories together.
Later, he became a writer and a director, the person who leads how a movie is made.
He made a film called 'Trikaala' that mixes time travel, science and ideas with strong Indian roots.
People liked the film, which gave him confidence to keep going.
Now he wants to make more connected movies as part of his 'Trikaala Cinematic Universe'.
His journey shows that with hard work and self-belief, big dreams can come true.
Mani Thellagutie grew up in a farming family in Chintapudi village, Tirupati district, and became a VFX artist, editor, writer and director.
His father was a cinema projectionist, and watching films from the projection room sparked his early fascination with filmmaking.
His directorial venture 'Trikaala' blends visual effects with time travel, spirituality and science for Telugu audiences.
'Trikaala' was produced by Radhika Srinivas, with cinematography by Pawan Chenn.
Mani is now working to expand the 'Trikaala Cinematic Universe' (TCU) through interconnected stories and future films.
- Who
- Mani Thellagutie, a VFX artist, editor, writer and director from a farming family in Chintapudi village, Tirupati district.
- What
- He created the film 'Trikaala' and announced plans to expand it into the 'Trikaala Cinematic Universe' (TCU) through interconnected stories and future films.
- When
- The story was shared on his birthday; no specific date is given in the article.
- Where
- Chintapudi village in Tirupati district, India, where he grew up; the film targets Telugu audiences.
- Why
- Watching films from his father's projection room as a child sparked his fascination with cinema and his desire to become part of filmmaking.
- Filmmaker
- Mani Thellagutie
- Role
- VFX artist, editor, writer and director
- Film
- Trikaala
- Theme
- Visual effects with time travel, spirituality and science
- Producer
- Radhika Srinivas
- Cinematographer
- Pawan Chenn
- Hometown
- Chintapudi village, Tirupati district
- Upcoming Plan
- Trikaala Cinematic Universe (TCU)