(October 1, 2025) When Ajay Reddy Koppula opened the email confirming that his debut film Chingam had been selected for the Chicago South Asian Film Festival 2025, he could hardly believe it. ‘I read it again and again, unable to believe my eyes,’ recalls the producer and creative director of Chingam. The film’s director and Ajay’s longtime collaborator, Abhay Sharma, was in tears when the duo connected over the phone following the email. For both of them, this news was a validation of their hard work and faith in their craft, even when the resources were scarce while making the film. The festival’s packed hall responded exactly as they had dreamed: giggling at the right moments, falling silent during the poignant scenes, and finally applauding with the kind of warmth every filmmaker hopes to earn. That evening in Chicago affirmed that a heartfelt story, even from a remote place like a Himachal village, can resonate with people far away.
View this post on Instagram
From cricket fields to cinematic dreams
Before the world knew Ajay as a filmmaker, cricket was his universe. Born in Hyderabad, he grew up in a bustling joint family of 17 members where chaos was the norm and love was constant. Dinners resembled vibrant gatherings, and every night ended with his grandmother’s storytelling which worked as tiny seeds that would one day blossom into a passion for cinema.
As a boy, Ajay idolized Brendon McCullum and Adam Gilchrist, imagining himself in India’s blue jersey. He opened for his club team and represented Telangana in U-14 and U-16 state cricket. Cricket demanded discipline, focus, and a touch of audacity. These were the qualities that would later serve him behind the camera. Yet, alongside the thwack of the bat and the cheers of the crowd, another rhythm played in the background: storytelling. He often entertained cousins by narrating and reimagining films, making predictions about how the plot would unfold. “That sense of drama, community and the larger-than-life magic of storytelling pulled me in,” Ajay says. “Cinema became the field where I felt I could bring together the same passion, discipline, and joy I once found in cricket.”
A story born in the hills
The idea for Chingam germinated during the long, uncertain days of the Covid lockdown. Director-actor Abhay Sharma and Ajay had just completed a screenplay that felt too big to execute at that time. That’s when Abhay pitched a more intimate tale. “The moment he narrated it, I knew this was the sort of story I wanted to back—rooted, cultural, about ordinary people carrying extraordinary emotions,” Ajay explains.
Set in a remote Himachal village, Chingam explores the tender reunion of two former sweethearts—Ajay (played by Abhay Sharma) and Radhika (Swati Nayal). Years after parting ways, they cross paths once again, both weighed down by unfulfilled dreams, forgotten memories, and unspoken feelings. The title itself carries a metaphor. “Chewing gum is sweet at first bite, playful, full of promise, almost addictive,” Ajay says. “But as one keeps chewing, the sweetness fades, leaving only the slow, repetitive act itself—like memory and longing that bind people tighter than love.”
A scene from the movie Chingam
The film’s soul lies in its texture. Local rituals, folk songs, and contemporary rap intermingle, brought alive by collaborations with diverse musicians and artists. Every frame is a nod to the landscape and culture of Himachal, making the mountains as much a character as the people on screen.
Battling the elements
Shooting in the Himalayan terrain was an adventure of its own. Highway roadsides became impromptu lunch spots as the crew lugged heavy equipment up and down the slopes. Rain interrupted schedules, tires punctured at crucial moments, and clouds played a relentless game of hide-and-seek with the sun. Cameras were hidden amid festival processions to capture authentic scenes without breaking the mood.
Ajay’s days began at dawn and ended late in a tiny cottage-turned-edit-room where he meticulously copied memory cards and reviewed daily rushes. “It was exhausting, chaotic, and unforgettable,” he says. “We went through seven edits, whittling a 3-hour cut down to 1 hour 55 minutes.”
The shoot lasted 21 days, and thanks to the exceptional Cooke lenses, the team avoided the technical glitches they had feared. “The mountains tested us every step of the way, but those challenges became part of the film’s heartbeat,” Ajay reflects.
A family of creators
If Chingam shines with an unpolished, raw energy, it’s because of the close-knit team behind it. Director of Photography Karthik C.S. came from Kerala, editor Jousha George John from Mumbai, sound recordist and designer Gunavardhan Balu from Hyderabad, and production designer c’estlavie from Mumbai. Crew members from Hyderabad and Tamil Nadu added their own flair.
“We worked with rappers, musicians, actors, non-actors, kids, elders—everyone added something vital,” Ajay says. “Our heads of departments were our own batchmates, which gave the whole project a raw, familial energy.” It was not just a film shoot; it was a collective act of faith.
Few members of the Chingam team
Growing up in a house full of stories
Ajay credits his upbringing for the resilience and creativity he carries today. His father, Sridhar Reddy K, was the first-generation entrepreneur of the family, while his mother provided quiet strength and taught him that “kindness and humility go farther than pride.”
At Delhi Public School, Hyderabad, Ajay explored every avenue—from the school band to drama workshops—while serving as Sports Prefect in 10th grade. Math frustrated him, but biology fascinated him. His family hoped he would become a doctor, but Ajay’s imagination led him elsewhere. At Saint Mary’s Junior College, he even dreamed of creating half-human, half-animal beings for rescue and military work, a reflection of his boundless curiosity.
The big turning point came when he moved to Mumbai to join Whistling Woods International. Rejected from the Direction program and placed in Editing instead, Ajay initially felt disappointed. “At first, it felt like a setback, but it turned out to be the best thing that could’ve happened.” Editing taught him the rhythm and structure of cinema, giving him a bird’s-eye view of storytelling that now defines his work.
From short films to a studio of his own
Before Chingam, Ajay honed his craft as an Assistant Director on several short films, including Abelia, Deeshan, I Still F**ing Love You*, and The Bohemian. He worked on the Dhirubhai Ambani International School safety video, edited the Mahindra Carnot ad film, and served as Creative Director on the 2019 music video Igiri Nandini. That same year, he was a set assistant on the feature film Akkadokaduntadu. These projects gave him a comprehensive understanding of filmmaking, from script to screen, and a deep respect for every craft that makes cinema possible.
Today, Ajay leads Verse Studios, a production and design hub in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad. Equipped with a 7.1 Dolby surround sound setup, edit lab, dubbing and music recording rooms, a photo-shoot zone, and a screening space, Verse Studios is both a creative playground and a professional powerhouse. “Verse was born out of a desire to break the cycle and build a system where artists don’t have to constantly choose between survival and satisfaction,” Ajay explains. The studio collaborates on music videos, ad films, branded content, and short-form storytelling while nurturing a strong in-house writer’s room.
Ajay Reddy Koppula
Looking beyond Chingam
Ajay’s ambitions don’t stop with one successful festival premiere. He is currently working on a script for a psychological thriller and developing a series that promises to be more ambitious in scale but equally grounded in strong storytelling. He is also preparing to release a pair of music videos in collaboration with two brands, one of them UK-based, which he finds especially promising.
For Ajay, Indian cinema is a land of endless possibility. “Our filmmaking scene is extraordinary, vibrant, diverse, and full of untapped potential,” he says. “Technically, India is a global powerhouse—half of the world’s VFX work is done here—but too often, commerce chases art rather than the other way around.” His dream is of a cinema where stories are rooted in culture, human emotion, and fearless imagination.
A cricketer’s heart, a filmmaker’s vision
Despite his success in film, Ajay hasn’t left his first love behind. A trained scuba diver, he still plays cricket for leisure, carrying the same discipline and joy that first shaped him.
From the cricket fields of Telangana to the buzzing energy of a Chicago theater, Ajay Reddy Koppula’s journey proves that the sweetness of a dream may fade, but the pursuit of it can create something enduring. Like the chewing gum of his film’s title, the memory lingers—sticky, persistent, and powerful enough to travel across oceans.
- Follow Ajay Reddy Koppula on Instagram
