Virupaksha is a 2023 Indian Telugu-language horror thriller film[1] directed by Karthik Varma Dandu, who co-wrote the script with Sukumar.

Produced by B. V. S. N. Prasad and Sukumar under their respective banners, the film stars Sai Dharam Tej and Samyuktha Menon alongside Rajeev Kanakala, Sunil, Brahmaji, Ajay, and Ravi Krishna in supporting roles.

In 2018, Sukumar joined the project, refining the script and helping bring in producer B. V. S. N. Prasad and actor Sai Dharam Tej.

Released on 21 April 2023, Virupaksha received positive reviews for its engaging story, direction, and performances, with particular praise for the lead actors and technical aspects like cinematography and editing.

In 1991, a week after the mysterious disappearance of a villager named Siddhayya, Anasuyamma returns to Rudravanam with her son, Surya, and nephew to donate land for a school and attend the annual carnival honouring Goddess Modamamba.

During the festival, Siddhayya, who has developed a severe pox after being mauled by a supernatural crow, returns to the village temple and dies in the inner sanctum, which is considered sacrilege.

Sudha, Nandini's friend, attempts to elope with her lover Kumar, but tragically witnesses his accidental death when he is run over by a train.

Surya, aided by an RMP (Registered Medical Practitioner), investigates and uncovers a disturbing pattern: each victim witnesses a death before their own demise, passing the curse onto the next person.

Confronting Nandini, Surya discovers that she, along with her brother Bhairava, has been seeking revenge on the village for wrongfully accusing her father of black magic.

After Bham Bolenath, I firmly decided to make an impactful horror film and that’s when I came across a news article about residents of a North Indian village stoning a widow to death over suspicion about her black magic practices.

The incident shocked me on multiple levels: the probability that black magic is still being practised and an entire village killing someone just because of a suspicion without even verifying if it’s true or informing the matter to police.

The idea for Virupaksha originated in 2016–17 after he read about a Gujarati woman accused of practicing black magic and stoned to death by villagers.

While the film includes a few jump scares, such as a crow hitting the windshield early on, Karthik Varma focused on building tension and mood rather than relying on cheap thrills.

[7] Securing producers was initially difficult for Karthik Varma, as his previous film Bham Bholenath was not commercially successful, and Virupaksha required a larger budget.

[5] Sukumar worked with Karthik Varma to refine the screenplay, adding dramatic elements and expanding its scope while keeping the horror tone intact.

Sukumar’s involvement brought credibility to the project, leading to further support from producer B. V. S. N. Prasad and actor Sai Dharam Tej.

[5] Sukumar suggested casting Sai Dharam Tej in the lead role, believing the shift from commercial films to a project like Virupaksha would showcase his versatility and earn critical acclaim.

[7] Karthik Varma chose Samyuktha Menon for the role of Nandini, believing her relatively recent experience in the industry was a good fit for the character.

Shamdat suggested adding a second water body to enhance this symbolism, and the abandoned house was designed with two windows resembling eyes.

Cinematographer Shamdat drew inspiration from Hollywood films and collaborated with Varma to create a lighting style that complemented the supernatural themes.

[6] Filming faced a significant setback in September 2021 when lead actor Sai Dharam Tej was injured in a serious bike accident, resulting in a 22-day delay.

During this time, Tej underwent extensive rehabilitation, including speech therapy and dance classes, to regain his strength and improve his dialogue delivery.

He joined the project after the first schedule, having been previously approached by Karthik Varma for Bham Bolenath, a collaboration that did not materialise due to budget constraints.

[15] Raghu Bandi of The Indian Express also praised the direction, and story written by Karthik Varma Dandu along with performances of lead actors, particularly Samyuktha Menon's.

"[18] The Hans India wrote that story, screenplay, sound design and performance of lead actors, are the major positives of the film.