Hyderabad, India – In the ever-evolving landscape of digital entertainment, where attention spans are fleeting and content consumption is rapid-fire, a new form of storytelling is emerging: the micro-drama. These bite-sized narratives, often clocking in at just a few minutes per episode, are increasingly serving as powerful launchpads for emerging talent. For Aditya Devulapally, a former journalist with a passion for cinema, this format has proven to be more than just a stepping stone; it’s a canvas for his directorial debut, a gripping 29-episode Telugu thriller series titled Dhandha (meaning "business"), now captivating audiences on the Chai Shots app.
Dhandha is not merely a collection of short episodes; it’s a meticulously crafted exploration of the insidious world of cybercrime, centered on an ambitious engineering student’s descent into a fraudulent digital enterprise. The series, lauded for its attention to detail, cinematic production aesthetics, and compelling narrative, is slowly but surely capturing the attention of both avid viewers and the discerning film industry.
The Genesis of a Vision: A Journalist’s Path to Directing
Aditya Devulapally’s journey into filmmaking is a testament to a persistent dream and a strategic pivot. Like many aspiring artists, his path was not a straight line. While academically gifted, the traditional engineering curriculum failed to ignite his passion. "I was good at studies, in fact a topper," Aditya recalls. "But I did not enjoy studying engineering and quit after the first year." This bold decision, made in 2018, was met with parental apprehension, but Aditya’s sole request was a camera, a symbol of his burgeoning ambition.
His early days were marked by small-scale event photography, a practical means to sustain himself while navigating his aspirations. The film industry, however, remained his ultimate goal. Recognizing the need for a structured entry point, Aditya enrolled in a mass communication and journalism course at St. Mary’s College, Yousufguda, Hyderabad. It was here, under the guidance of a professor who introduced him to the world of cinema, that his artistic vision truly began to crystallize. "I would spend more time watching movies in the lab than attending classes," he admits with a chuckle, highlighting his immersion in cinematic exploration.
This academic detour proved instrumental. His growing confidence in analyzing and discussing cinema, coupled with his early attempts at low-budget short films, paved the way for a career in film journalism. For nearly two years, Aditya honed his craft at The New Indian Express, a period that allowed him to not only write about films but also to build invaluable connections within the industry.
A Fortuitous Encounter and a Nascent Platform
It was during his journalistic tenure that Aditya crossed paths with Anurag Reddy and Sharath Chandra, the dynamic duo behind the burgeoning content creation platform Chai Bisket. He presented them with a script, and while Anurag was impressed by his narration, the timing for producing a "violent film" wasn’t ideal. However, the seeds of collaboration were sown, and a professional relationship was maintained.
The true turning point arrived with the launch of Chai Shots in late 2025. Aditya joined the platform as a creative producer, a role that offered him a unique vantage point into the nascent micro-drama ecosystem in India. He immersed himself in reviewing over 100 story pitches from aspiring filmmakers, a process that revealed a concerning trend. "Most micro drama platforms in India have been exploring similar stories – about a rich man turning poor or vice versa, or extramarital affairs – and the quality of production leaves a lot to be desired," Aditya observes. He also noted the critical feedback loop: "I noticed how viewers who sign in to watch are also brutal in rejecting content that does not engage them." This critical observation fueled his desire to elevate the standard of micro-drama storytelling.
The Birth of "Dhandha": Elevating the Micro-Drama Standard
Driven by a vision to create a micro-drama that stood out in terms of both narrative depth and production quality, Aditya made a decisive shift. He stepped down as a creative producer to fully dedicate himself to directing. Among the numerous scripts he had encountered, one crime thriller penned by Vijay Kumar particularly resonated with him. Aditya approached Kumar with a proposal: to reimagine the script for the micro-drama format. Kumar’s amiable agreement allowed Aditya to revamp approximately 40% of the original script, tailoring it for the concise episodic structure. Once the revised script was finalized, it was presented to Anurag and Sharath.
Aditya was adamant that Dhandha would not compromise on its visual and narrative ambition, even within the constraints of a micro-drama. While many such productions operate on budgets of ₹10 to 12 lakh, he recognized that his story demanded a significantly higher investment. "I was clear that this story would require at least three to four times that budget to give viewers an immersive experience," he states. The Chai Shots team, impressed by a compelling demo film Aditya presented, wholeheartedly supported his vision.
Crafting a Cinematic Experience on a Micro Scale
The production of Dhandha was a testament to meticulous planning and creative execution. Cinematographer Ashwin Lenin envisioned a distinctive visual palette, drawing inspiration from the hues of Indian currency – a subtle yet potent nod to the series’ theme of financial crime. Production designer Sanjana meticulously crafted gritty, authentic settings that mirrored the underbelly of cybercrime. The musical score, helmed by Rishi M, was an audacious experiment, blending diverse global influences from Mexican instrumentation to African beats, adding an unexpected layer of texture to the narrative. Jagdish Goud’s editing was crucial, designed to maintain a rapid-fire pace perfectly suited for the vertical viewing format prevalent on mobile devices.
Perhaps the most astonishing revelation is that Dhandha was filmed in a mere 10 days. This remarkable feat was achieved through extensive pre-production work and the innovative use of AI-led previsualization, a cutting-edge technique that allowed the team to meticulously plan every shot. "At the end of each day, we had 12-15 minutes of footage to edit, as against the industry norm of three to five minutes," Aditya explains, underscoring the team’s efficiency and dedication.
The Power of Performance and Nuance
Casting was a critical element in bringing Dhandha‘s complex narrative to life. Aditya recognized the need for recognizable faces in pivotal roles, particularly for the engineering student protagonist and the investigating police officer. He identified a gap in the market for young male actors capable of portraying nuanced, challenging leading parts. Dora Sai Teja, who embodies the protagonist, impressed Aditya with his raw talent, delivering a lengthy scene flawlessly in a single take during auditions. "He was also curious about the marketing of the show and what viewership we were aiming at. That long-term focus also helped," Aditya notes, highlighting Teja’s professional acumen. Nithin Prasanna was cast as the determined police officer, adding gravitas to the investigative thread.
The casting of Akshara Nalla as the female lead was approached with a unique narrative purpose. Her character was integrated with a specific quirk – a foot fetish – as a subtle and non-objectifying way to portray the nascent stages of romance for the protagonist. "The lead character is not a regular hero and we did not want to objectify women. His falling in love with someone who had beautiful feet was a nicer way to show the initial stages of romance," Aditya clarifies.
To ensure the authenticity of the cybercrime modus operandi depicted in the series, the production team enlisted the expertise of a consultant with prior experience in the cybercrime department. This collaboration brought a layer of realism to the narrative, incorporating intricate details such as call merging techniques and the deceptive practice of scammers impersonating cybercrime professionals. A deliberate choice was made to focus on the mechanics of the crime network rather than explicitly revealing the identities of the victims. "Throughout the series, we do not show the identity of the victims and instead focus on the crime network," Aditya explains.
While Dhandha masterfully explores the intricate world of cybercrime within the confines of the micro-drama format, Aditya acknowledges that the narrative, by its very nature, could not delve deeply into the repercussions faced by the anti-hero for his actions. However, the series concludes on a compelling cliffhanger, hinting at the potential for a subsequent season.
A Promising Future and a Director’s Debut
The success and critical acclaim of Dhandha have already sparked conversations about its potential expansion. Talks are underway to explore the feasibility of developing the story into a full-length feature film or a more extensive web series. For Aditya Devulapally, who is 28 years old, his directorial debut at this age holds significant personal meaning. He draws inspiration from renowned filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino, Stanley Kubrick, Christopher Nolan, and David Fincher, all of whom embarked on their directorial journeys at a similar age. "I am 28, and some of my favourite filmmakers including Quentin Tarantino, Stanley Kubrick, Christopher Nolan and David Fincher made their debut at 28 and I feel lucky to have made my first micro drama at the same age," he expresses, reflecting on the auspicious beginning to his directorial career.
As Dhandha continues to resonate with audiences, it stands as a powerful testament to the evolving possibilities of micro-drama, proving that compelling storytelling, cinematic quality, and impactful narratives can indeed be delivered in bite-sized formats, marking a significant milestone for both Aditya Devulapally and the future of digital content creation in India.
Dhandha streams exclusively on the Chai Shots app.
