“I come from a family where storytelling was part of everyday life. My parents used to perform veedi bhagothalu—street plays that moved through villages, through streets, through daily routines. They didn’t act on stage; they lived it. That’s how I first began to see the world in performance—not just what happens, but how it happens, and why it matters.
I’m Sunny Palle and I come from a small village named Pocharam in Medak district. I’ve loved drawing and painting since childhood. I drew and painted almost every day—faces, shadows, nature, village scenes, anything around me that caught my eye. My school encouraged my love for arts, and I often spent hours trying to capture light, expressions, and the world I saw around me.
I also took part in Telangana Dhoom Dham programs during the statehood movement. Those performances weren’t just art; they were a voice for our people, a way to connect culture and identity. That’s where I first understood that life, art, and community are inseparable. My parents quietly supported my career choice when I said I wanted to pursue fine arts, and I carried their encouragement with me.
After my class 10, photography came into my life through a friend who shot weddings. I started by assisting him—carrying gear, observing, learning to wait for the right moments instead of chasing them. Photography taught me patience before it taught me technique. Slowly, people began noticing my eye, and some even requested the way I captured moments.
A turning point came when I saw MC Shekhar’s work in a Sunday magazine. I attended one of his workshops. Everyone else had formal Fine Arts training. I didn’t. But I watched, listened, asked questions, and absorbed as much as I could. He appreciated my raw approach, and for the first time I felt my way of seeing could really take me somewhere.
After Plus Two, I moved to Hyderabad. I continued wedding photography while learning independently. Later, I joined Sri Venkateshwara Fine Arts College, where photography became more than an interest—it became a way of thinking, observing, and engaging with the world responsibly.
Travel changed my life. Exploring rural cultures across India shaped my perspective. I visited villages, forests, and interior regions of Chhattisgarh, including Sukma and the Bastar area, staying with tribal communities to understand their lifestyles for photo stories. I explored Odisha, meeting the Bonda tribes, and traveled through Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
Experiencing these communities, their connection to land, water, and forest, made me realise that humans belong to nature, and culture grows from this bond. Every trip deepened my understanding of life, environment, and society, and inspired my photography.
Cinema entered gradually through photography. I met Tollywood cinematographers and learnt aspects of framing, angles, and focus. Through this, I understood the nuances of filmmaking and how photography becomes part of cinema. I started attending auditions, and Dorasani became my first acting role. Workshops, script readings, and improvisation felt natural, like returning to the way I grew up observing people. Everyone was supportive and friendly. Later came Virata Parvam and Mail. In the Mail movie, I also worked as Assistant Director, learning the craft from both sides of the lens. Then Shivarapalli, the Panchayat remake, kept me involved throughout. Recognition pushed me to work harder, constantly improvising, analysing, and refining my craft.
So far, I’ve worked on six films and web series, with three movies ready for release and two in production. Alongside acting, I’ve assisted as cameraman in four films, worked on several short films, and in 2019 received the Best Cinematography award for The Last Chapter. Acting keeps me busy, but photography never leaves me. Whenever I can, I take my camera and walk—exploring characters, lifestyles, gestures, silences, and the essence of life. I study films, dialogues, languages, and slang to prepare, imitate, and own my characters.
When my first film released, my parents and village friends watched it together. Their smiles, their pride—that moment meant everything.
Nature, society, and human stories continue to inspire me. I try to minimise plastic, honour the environment, and tell stories through my photographs and films. Direction, filmmaking, and storytelling are always on my mind, from shots to scripts. Social media is a space to learn, share, and trust in your abilities—always improving, never stopping, regardless of humble beginnings.
I’m still learning, still travelling, still growing through images, films, and the people I meet. Every frame, every role, every journey reminds me: life is always moving, always teaching, and if you watch closely, it will show you exactly how to see, feel, and understand the world.”