Venkatesh Maha's remarkable journey began at the tender age of sixteen, when he left his childhood home to pursue a series of unconventional jobs. This precocious departure from the norm marked the start of his journey towards stardom, as he worked as a spot boy on the film Teen Maar in 2011, before making his acting debut in the same year with Aakasame Haddu.
Fast forward to 2018, Venkatesh Maha's directorial debut, C/o Kancharapalem, was a groundbreaking film that was shot entirely in the village of the same name. The film boasted an entirely new cast of newcomers, and critics were quick to praise Venkatesh's innovative approach. One critic noted that "Full marks to Venkatesh for not only coming up with a different kind of film but successfully carrying off the experiment of roping in locals for a film which is about themselves." Another critic praised Venkatesh's vision, stating that "If the director Venkatesh Maha is the brain behind this idea, he deserves credit yes."
Following the success of C/o Kancharapalem, Venkatesh Maha went on to direct Uma Maheswara Ugra Roopasya, a remake of the Malayalam film Maheshinte Prathikaaram. The film featured Satyadev Kancharana in the lead role and was shot extensively in the picturesque Araku valley. Critics were once again impressed by Venkatesh's casting choices, with one noting that "And a big shout to Venkatesh Maha's casting choices, which makes the movie more relatable."
