Rewriting the Rules of Vertical Storytelling: Dhandha Director Aditya Devulapally Speaks Out!
The short-form vertical series Dhandha, released under the Chai Shots (Chai Biscuit) banner, has taken the digital space by storm. Breaking away from typical melodramatic micro-content, director Aditya Devulapally delivered a fast-paced, edgy cybercrime thriller that has moviegoers and industry insiders talking.
In an exclusive conversation, the 28-year-old filmmaker opened up about his journey as a complete industry outsider, dropping out of engineering, and why making a successful microdrama is actually harder than directing a feature film.
From Engineering Dropout to Newsrooms and Movie Sets
Reflecting on his journey into filmmaking, Aditya revealed that his passion for cinema led him to make a radical life decision early on:
"I am a 100% industry outsider. I dropped out of engineering to pursue my love for cameras. My parents bought me a small camera, and I eventually studied Mass Communication at St. Mary’s College under Amrit sir, who exposed me to world cinema. Later, I worked in journalism, built contacts, and pitch-narrated a raw story to Anurag anna at Chai Biscuit."
— Aditya Devulapally
When Chai Biscuit launched its vertical content vertical, Chai Shots, Aditya joined as a creative producer. But driven by a desire to bring cinematic production values to short-form series, he pitched and spearheaded Dhandha.
"80% of Mainstream Film Directors Might Fail at Microdramas"
Addressing the technical challenges of vertical storytelling, Aditya emphasized that the format leaves zero room for slow setups or unnecessary filler:
-
Non-Stop Climax Pacing: In traditional 2-hour feature films, high points are spaced out across acts. In a vertical microdrama, every episode must feel like a climax to keep users from scrolling away.
-
A Harder Craft: According to Aditya, nearly 80% of traditional film directors would struggle with the relentless pacing demanded by short-form vertical platforms.
Reshaping Dhandha & Casting Dora Sai Teja
While the original story concept was penned by Vijay Kumar, Aditya completely overhauled 40% of the script to flesh out character backstories and heighten tension.
When it came to casting the protagonist Aravind, Aditya chose digital creator Dora Sai Teja:
"Teja gave his 1000% to this project and trusted my vision blindly without even checking the playback monitor. In episode 28, he delivered a massive monologue in a single take that blew me away. He has the hunger to become a star, and I guarantee I will make a full-length feature film with him that will be even wilder than Dhandha."
— Aditya Devulapally
The series also stars Nithin Prasanna in a key role and features lead actress Akshara as Neeru.
Raw Aesthetic, Thrilling Music & Social Awareness
To give Dhandha a distinct visual and sonic identity:
-
Visual Palette: Cinematographer Aswin Lenin designed a color space inspired by currency notes.
-
Pre-Scored Music: Composer Rishi M finalized most of the high-octane background score before shooting even commenced.
-
Cybercrime Awareness: Beyond raw entertainment, the plot weaves in realistic cyber-fraud scenarios to educate viewers on digital scams.
What’s Next for Aditya Devulapally?
Riding high on unanimous praise for Dhandha, the young director is currently writing his next major venture—a feature project centered around a 50-year-old criminal. An official announcement regarding the cast and production banner is expected within the next two to three months.
Quick Look: Dhandha Key Highlights
-
Series Title: Dhandha (Chai Shots)
-
Director & Co-Writer: Aditya Devulapally
-
Original Story: Vijay Kumar
-
Lead Cast: Dora Sai Teja, Nithin Prasanna, Akshara
-
Music Director: Rishi M
-
Cinematographer (DOP): Aswin Lenin
-
Core Theme: Cybercrime, Money, & Gen Z Action Thriller
