Meet 'Rakasa' director Manasa Sharma: Former software engineer turns storyteller

Telugu filmmaker Manasa Sharma is suddenly in the spotlight after the release of her debut theatrical film Rakasa. The fantasy comedy, starring Sangeeth Shobhan and Nayan Sarika, has been doing decent business at the box office.Many are now curious about the woman behind the camera. Manasa’s journey from the IT sector to filmmaking has become an inspiring story for the aspiring filmmakers.As reported by Filmibeat, Manasa Sharma hails from Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh. She did not come from a film family and followed a non-traditional path into cinema.Like many engineering graduates, she started her career as a software engineer. She later shifted her focus toward storytelling and content creation. In an earlier conversation with New Indian Express, Manasa Sharma spoke about her journey. She said, “I started with Mad House, a YouTube web series, and then worked on Oka Chinna Family Story and Bench Life. Rakasa is a natural progression for me.”Her previous projects helped her build confidence and learn the craft before stepping into feature films. Manasa Sharma describes Rakasa as a fantasy adventure that mixes comedy and emotion. She explained, “The film has strong fantasy elements, and the title refers to ‘Rakshasudu’ (demon). But it’s not just about that — it’s a layered story with entertaining aspects.”She also shared that her interest in fantasy stories began earlier when she pitched ideas to a popular OTT platform. One of those concepts eventually led to Rakasa after she narrated it to Sangeeth Shobhan. She also mentioned how quickly Niharika Konidela agreed to be part of the project. “I narrated the story to her, and within 20 minutes, she said yes. That kind of trust is very encouraging,” she added.