Visakhapatnam-born filmmaker Sagi Sree Hari Varma is taking audiences around the world with his black-and-white techno-horror short Signal, filmed in a single take on an iPhone. Shot with minimal resources, the film centers on a young woman navigating a world suddenly cut off from internet connectivity. It has screened across six continents, picking up awards and selections at international festivals in Australia, Turkiye, Argentina, China, Nigeria, and beyond.
Global Recognition and Festival Success
Signal has been selected for the Accra Indie Film Festival, one of Africa’s largest short film festivals, and is headed to the prestigious Palm Springs International ShortFest, where Varma has been invited to represent the film. Among its many stops has been the Cannes Marché du Film, where the short was showcased as part of a curated Indian selection.
Inspiration Behind the Film
Speaking to Hyderabad Times, Varma reflects on the idea behind Signal. 'Signal came from a modern nightmare we all understand. We've become obsessed with signals without even realising it. They're invisible, but almost every aspect of our lives depends on them. It is a modern nightmare we all understand,' he says. What began as a small independent project soon traveled far beyond what he had imagined. 'For years, these festivals and theaters felt very distant to me, so seeing Signal travel to places like Cannes still feels surreal,' he admits.
From Engineering to Filmmaking
Before finding his way to the director's chair, Varma was on a deeply structured, conventional track. After studying at a military boarding school in Dehradun, he pursued computer science engineering in Bengaluru and initially envisioned a standard corporate future. But watching Baahubali 2 as a final-year engineering student proved transformative. 'The scale, the atmosphere in theaters, the celebration around the film—I had never seen anything like it. It made me realise what cinema could achieve, and the heights Telugu cinema could reach globally,' he says.
Dreaming of the Big Screen
Moving from inspiration to action, Varma chose to bypass the traditional industry gatekeepers entirely. 'You don't need permission to start making films anymore. If you have a story and the willingness to put in the work, there are ways to make it happen,' he explains. While the short continues its international festival run, Varma is now developing the idea into a feature-length film and exploring opportunities within Indian cinema. 'The dream has always been to see an entire audience completely lost in a world I built. A theatre full of people experiencing a story together.'
Support System and Mentorship
Bringing the independent project to life required a strong support system that Varma says made the entire journey possible. Along with his parents, he credits VFX professionals Sherry Bharda and Abhishek Krishnan for mentoring him. 'Their guidance and encouragement gave me the confidence to keep pushing the film forward,' he says.
Official Selections and Awards
Official Selections:
- Cannes Marché du Film (France)
- Accra Indie Film Festival (Ghana)
- Beijing International Short Film Festival (China)
- Sydney Indie Short Festival (Australia)
- Eko International Film Festival, Lagos (Nigeria)
Awards:
- Best International Film — SmartFone Flick Fest, Sydney
- Best Smartphone Film — FIIFF, Mumbai
- Best Film — Istanbul International Spring Film Festival, Turkiye
- Semi-Finalist — Bloody Horror International Film Festival
Sagi Sree Hari Varma, reflecting on his journey from engineering student to filmmaker, says, 'The dream has always been the theatre — a theatre full of people experiencing a story together.'
