GMB Entertainment

I have to commend Venkatesh Maha in three different ways, and fittingly, I’ll do it through the three hats he wears. Maha the Writer: You know a film is brilliantly written when it can make you laugh even in its darkest moments, not because it undercuts the drama, but because the characters feel so authentic in the way they navigate it. Every single line in RaoBahadur lands, and almost every conversation leaves behind something to think about. Maha the Director: For me, a director has truly succeeded when every actor, regardless of the size of their role, delivers their very best. Not just the leads, but even those with a scene or two leave an impression. That’s exactly what happens in RaoBahadur. Every member of the cast brings their A-game, and it shows in every frame. Maha the Actor: Perhaps the most surprising of the three. Venkatesh Maha is absolutely commanding on screen. He is pitch-perfect throughout, and even in moments that could have easily come across as self-indulgent, he elevates them with complete conviction.

#RaoBahadur took me back to when I was just discovering Hollywood. I’d stumble upon films that were big on ideas and powered by performances from actors at the top of their game. The kind of movies that left me staring at the screen, then reaching for a notebook right after because they made me want to write something worthy of how they made me feel.