{{short description|Indian filmmaker}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}} {{Infobox person | name = Prakash Varma | image = Prakashvarma (cropped).jpg | caption = Varma in 2012 | birth_place = Alappuzha, Kerala, India | alma_mater = SD College, Alappuzha | occupation = {{Hlist|Ad filmmaker|Actor|Producer}} | spouse = Sneha Iype | children = 3 | relatives = Jagannatha Varma (uncle) | website = {{URL|nirvanafilms.com}} }} '''Prakash Varma''' is an Indian filmmaker who is known for directing and producing advertisement campaigns.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-04-28 |title=Who is Prakash Varma, the debut actor who gave Mohanlal a run for his money in Tharun Moorthy's Thudarum? |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/who-is-prakash-varma-the-debut-actor-in-mohanlal-film-thudarum-9968348/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Meet actor who directed ads with Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone; is now going toe-to-toe with Mohanlal in Thudarum |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/others/prakash-varma-who-directed-ads-with-shah-rukh-khan-deepika-padukone-mohanlal-in-thudarum-101745754642400.html |access-date=29 April 2025}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Meet Prakash Varma: The Ad Filmmaker Who Stole The Show As CI George Mathan In Mohanlal's Thudarum |url=https://www.news18.com/movies/meet-prakash-varma-the-ad-filmmaker-who-stole-the-show-as-ci-george-mathan-in-mohanlals-thudarum-aa-9316217.html |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=News18 |language=en}}</ref> He has directed commercials for Vodafone featuring the ZooZoos, Incredible India, Cadbury and the Indian Railways.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vodafone's beloved 'ZooZoo' ad creator makes brilliant debut in 'Thudarum': Meet Prakash Varma |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2025/04/26/prakash-varma-the-antagonist-who-played-george-sir-in-thudarum-man-behind-iconic-ads.html |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Vodafone's beloved 'ZooZoo' ad creator makes brilliant debut in 'Thudarum': Meet Prakash Varma |language=en}}</ref> Varma is the co-founder of Nirvana Films, a Bangalore-based production company, for which he has directed commercials for Kit Kat, Bisleri, Netflix, Amazon Prime, iPhone, PhonePe and UltraTech Cement.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-03-18 |title=Film & Ads: Best Advertisement Production Houses - Economic Times |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-02-02/news/28429838_1_nirvana-films-film-ads-jaisalmer |access-date=2025-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110318064749/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-02-02/news/28429838_1_nirvana-films-film-ads-jaisalmer |archive-date=18 March 2011 }}</ref> He has also directed campaigns for Kerala Tourism and Dubai Tourism, which featured Shah Rukh Khan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-27 |title=Meet Prakash Varma, the first-time villain from Mohanlal's Thudarum. Bonus: He also created the famous ZooZoo ads |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/life/entertainment-meet-prakash-varma-the-first-time-villain-from-mohanlals-thudarum-bonus-he-also-created-the-famous-zoozoo-ads-3824209/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Financialexpress |language=en}}</ref>
In 2009, American filmmaker Michael Bay hired Varma to direct commercials for his company The Institute.<ref name=HT/>
Varma debuted as an actor in Mohanlal starrer ''Thudarum'' (2025), where he received critical acclaim for his performance.<ref name=":3" />
==Early life== Varma was born and brought up in Cherthala Alappuzha, Kerala, India.<ref name="TH">{{cite news|date=21 May 2009|title=The world of Zoozoos|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/The-world-of-Zoozoos/article15927080.ece|work=The Hindu}}</ref> His father and mother were teachers. He is an alumnus of SDV Central school Alappuzha and SD College, Alappuzha.<ref name="Mathrubhumi">{{cite news |title='കരണം നോക്കി ഒന്ന് പൊട്ടിക്കാൻ തോന്നുന്ന വില്ലൻ'; ആരാണ് 'തുടരും' ചിത്രത്തിലെ സിഐ ജോർജ് സാർ |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/movies-music/news/prakash-varma-thudarum-villain-1.10540297 |access-date=2 May 2025 |work=Mathrubhumi |date=26 April 2025 |language=ml}}</ref> Varma is nephew to Malayalam film actor Jagannatha Varma.<ref name="MM">{{cite news |last1=Alexander |first1=Princy |title=Mohanlal was very protective while filming an action scene with me: 'Thudarum' actor Prakash Varma {{!}} Exclusive |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/interviews/2025/05/01/prakash-varma-interview-thudarum-performance-as-george-inspector-of-police.html |access-date=2 May 2025 |work=OnManorama |date=1 May 2025}}</ref> He has four brothers. In an interview, Varma said that he knows his family is related to painter Raja Ravi Varma, but has "no clue how". He worked in Pfizer before pursuing his passion in filmmaking.<ref name="BM"/>
== Career == After graduation from college, Varma worked as an assistant director to filmmakers A. K. Lohithadas and Viji Thampi.<ref name="TH"/> He began his commercial career as an assistant to ad filmmaker V.K. Prakash.<ref name="Mathrubhumi"/> After three years of assisting Prakash under the ad company Trends, in 2001, Varma and his wife set up their own production house, Nirvana Films, in Bangalore.<ref name="BM"/> The company's first notable ad was for WagonR's ''Feel at Home'' series, which won an awards for the best campaign of 2001. He also directed ad for Bajaj XCD 135.<ref name="TH"/> His campaign for Hutch featuring a pug was so popular that the price for pugs rose in India. He has also done ad for Airtel.<ref name="BM"/> He directed campaigns for Vodafone featuring the characters ZooZoos, sketched by himself. He then went on to make notable ads, including Titan, Hyundai Santro, Chevrolet Optra, Frooti, Lee, Pond's.<ref name="TH"/>
In 2009, American filmmaker Michael Bay hired Varma to direct commercials for his company The Institute.<ref name=HT>{{cite news |last1=Nyayapati |first1=Neeshita |title=Meet actor who directed ads with Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone; is now going toe-to-toe with Mohanlal in Thudarum |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/others/prakash-varma-who-directed-ads-with-shah-rukh-khan-deepika-padukone-mohanlal-in-thudarum-101745754642400.html |access-date=2 May 2025 |work=Hindustan Times |date=27 April 2025}}</ref>
He also directed ads for Cadbury Gems, Cadbury Dairy Milk, Facebook, iPhone, Indian Railways, Kerala Tourism, Rajasthan Tourism, Madhya Pradesh Tourism, West Bengal Tourism, and Incredible India. In 2013, he produced the Malayalam film ''Ezhu Sundara Rathrikal'' directed by Lal Jose and also directed a promo song in the film, "Pettidamaarum Aapathil".<ref name="Mathrubhumi"/> His ad for Greenply served as the inspiration for Lijo Jose Pellissery's 2022 film ''Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam''. In 2025, he made his acting debut with ''Thudarum'', playing CI George Mathan, for which he received widespread critical acclaim.<ref name=":0"/>
==Personal life== Varma married Sneha Iype, whom he met when the two were working in V. K. Prakash's Trends in Bangalore. The couple has twin sons. In 2001, they founded the production company Nirvana Films. He resides in Whitefield, Bengaluru.<ref name="BM">{{cite news |title=Meet the Zoozoo creator |url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/opinion/sunday-read/meet-the-zoozoo-creator/articleshow/22149502.cms |access-date=2 May 2025 |work=Bangalore Mirror |date=9 May 2009}}</ref>
== Filmography == {| class="wikitable sortable" ! Year !! Title !! Role !! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2013 || ''Ezhu Sundara Rathrikal'' || || Producer |- | 2014 || ''Gangster'' || || Opening narrator |- | 2025 || ''Thudarum'' || George C. Mathan || Acting debut<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2025-04-28 |title=Who is Prakash Varma, the debut actor who gave Mohanlal a run for his money in Tharun Moorthy's Thudarum? |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/who-is-prakash-varma-the-debut-actor-in-mohanlal-film-thudarum-9968348/ |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> |- |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Varma, Prakash}} Category:Living people Category:Indian filmmakers Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
== External links ==
*{{IMDB name|12551052}} {{india-film-bio-stub}}