Director
Vivek Athreya is an Indian film director, screenwriter, and lyricist who works predominantly in Telugu cinema. Born Rayaprolu Vishnu Vivek on October 18, 1989, in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, he graduated with a degree in electronics engineering from SASTRA University and worked as a software engineer at IBM in Chennai for five years before pursuing a full-time career in filmmaking. He made his directorial debut with the romantic drama *Mental Madhilo* (2017), which earned critical praise for its grounded characters and nuanced writing. He followed it with the widely acclaimed crime comedy *Brochevarevarura* (2019), a multi-narrative caper that established his signature style of layered screenplays, witty dialogue, and situational humor. In 2022, he directed the interfaith romantic comedy *Ante Sundaraniki*, starring Nani and Nazriya Nazim, which received widespread appreciation for its character dynamics and intricate writing. He expanded into high-concept action drama with *Saripodhaa Sanivaaram* (2024), reuniting with Nani alongside S. J. Suryah in a commercially successful vigilante thriller. In addition to directing and screenwriting, Athreya has contributed as a lyricist for several notable films, including *Mental Madhilo*, *Ee Nagaraniki Emaindi* (2018), and *Keedaa Cola* (2023). For his writing and direction, he has received honors such as the Critics' Choice Film Award for Best Writing and the Zee Cine Award Telugu for Best Screenplay for *Brochevarevarura*.
