Janardhana Maharshi (born 16 May) is a Sanskrit film director, Indian screenwriter, poet, author, producer, novelist, lyricist & film director who works predominantly in Telugu cinema and Kannada cinema. His directorial movies namely Devasthanam and Viswadarshanam are screened in many Film festivals.

His recent movie, Sloka (2024) is the first in a series of 5 Sanskrit films he plans to create in the series. The next 4 films are going to be Visuddha, Shunya, Sanskrit, Swadhishthana.

Maharshi was in Kandukuru, Prakasham district and completed his schooling and higher education in Chittoor. In his college days he acted in and wrote stage plays, and published some poems and stories in weekly magazines. He joined as a Script Assistant to Tanikella Bharani in the year 1989 and became an independent writer in the year 1993.

Since his childhood he has been an admirer of the director K. Viswanath and Ilayaraja.

He married Lakshmi Sunitha in 1995. The couple have two daughters. He resides in Ameerpet, Hyderabad.

He got his first break as a writer in years 1994 and 1995. His four films namely "One by Two", "Aunty" and "Pekata Papa Rao" ran for 100 days establishing him as a very popular story, screenplay and dialogue writer. His collaboration with directors T. S. B. K. Moulee, Siva Nageswara Rao got him fame and success.

He also worked with director E. V. V. Satyanarayana in multiple films.

In 2004, he entered Kannada film industry and continuously delivered super hit films like "Aakash", "Arasu", "Dattha", "Meravanige", "Kannadadda Kiran Bedi" and so on. He had written 15 films in Kannada and 75 films in Telugu. He also worked closely with directors K.Raghavendra Rao and S.V.Krishna Reddy and delivered great films. He had also written dialogues for the National Award Winning Film Eega.

As a writer his famous films are Venky Mama, Hungama, Eega, Maa Nannaku Pelli (which won Nandi Award for best family picture), Kanyadanam, Chala Bagundi, Goppinti Alludu, Bava Nachadu, Maavidaakulu, Jai Bolo Telangana, Pilla Nachindi, Maayajaalam. In Kannada Natasaarvabhowma, Paramesha Panwala, Raj Vishnu, Bindaas and Bombaat etc.

He is very much acclaimed for his comedy films like Evadi Gola Vaadidhi, Pattukondi Chooddam, Maa Alludu Very Good, Sriramachandrulu, One by Two, Hungama, Once More, Pekata Papa Rao, Pavitra, Gopi – Goda Meeda Pilli and Pellala Rajyam.

He produced and directed the film "Devasthanam" starring the legendary director K. Viswanath and singer S.P. Balasubrahmanyam in the year 2013 and won numerous awards in film festivals. In the year 2020 a biopic documentary on director K. Viswanath named "Viswadarshanam" won awards in film festivals and is also widely appreciated. His films "Viswadarshanam" and "Devasthanam" were screened in more than 30 International Film Festivals. As a writer he got great appreciation for his film "Ammo! Okato Tareekhu".

From the year 2004 he started writing poetry, short stories and published 7 books till date. He won many accolades for his book "Vennamudhalu" which garnered huge response and was very widely read; so much that it was published 12 times and is ready with the 13th edition. He has also written "Garbhagudi Loki(Novel)", "Chidambara Rahasyam(Story)", "Panchaamrutham(Short Stories)", "Naaku Nenu Raasukunna Premalekha(Prose)", "Kavigaane Kanumustha(Poetry)", "Madhura Sambhashanalu(Conversations)" and is ready with his new book "Smasaanaaniki Vairagyam. Four of his books are translated in other languages too.

As a writer two of his films in Telugu and one Kannada Film are going to begin shooting in the months March and April. Right now he is going to direct a film "Pibare Ramarasam" a mythological drama based on the epic Ramayana.^[1][2]

His most recent movie, Sloka is a 2024 Sanskrit film in which produced, directed, wrote story & lyrics and also composed the music. It is the first in a series of 5 Sanskrit films he plans to create as a mission to bring the ancient living language back to the mainstream.

He also acted in films "Pattukondi Chooddam", "Bhookailas", "Bava Nachadu", Maa Aavida Meeda Ottu Mee Aavida Chala Manchidi", "Jai Bolo Telangana", "O Panai Pothundi Babu".

Source:^[3]

• Vennamuddalu (2003)

• Garbha gudiloki (2004, 2021)

• Naku Nenu Rasukunna Premalekha (2008)
• Kavigaane Kannumoostha (2014)

• Panchamrutham (2005)
• Madhura Sambhashanalu (2017)

• Chidambara Rahasyam (2019)
• Smasananiki Vyragyam (2021)

• List of Indian writers
• List of Telugu-language writers
• Telugu writers
• Sanskrit cinema
• List of Indian film directors

• "Devasthanam Movie Review". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
• "Late than never". The Hindu. 14 April 2012. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
• "Devasthanam Movie Review". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
• "Viswadarshanam on K Viswanath to be aired on ETV". www.ragalahari.com. 15 February 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
• "'Viswadarshanam' teaser gives us a look into the inspiring life story of the 90-year-old golden director". The Times of India. 19 February 2019. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
• "'Viswadarshanam' to be premiered at South Asian International Film Festival (SAIFF)". The Times of India. 3 March 2019. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
• "Director Janardhan Maharshi unveils the first look of Sanskrit film 'Shloka'". The Hindu. 5 September 2024. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
• "Sloka Sanskrit Film | janardhana maharshi". Sloka. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
• "Ragini Dwivedi Announces Her Debut Sanskrit Film 'Sloka'". Times Now. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
• "Janardhana Maharshi to direct a biopic on K Vishwanath". The Times of India. 29 July 2018. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
• "Books by Janardhana Maharshi on Google Play". play.google.com. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
• "Books authored by Janardhana Maharshi". www.exoticindiaart.com. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
• "Janardhan Maharshi". watch.plex.tv. Retrieved 11 March 2025.

• Janardhana Maharshi at IMDb
• Janardhana Maharshi on Facebook
• www.janardhanamaharshi.com