MAYA - AN AVI'S CUT
"MAYA" is a psychological drama that follows four passionate friends—AVI, YASH, VARUN, and SURYA—united by their love for music and dreams of stardom. After a triumphant audition for a major music competition, they seem to be on the cusp of success. But a careless argument, a fractured friendship, and a mysterious accident trigger a disturbing chain of events.
As tension brews, the friends are drawn into a strange series of incidents—haunting voices, terrifying visions, and moments of blackout. YASH becomes the first to fall, found dead under mysterious circumstances. As grief sets in, AVI begins to experience eerie delusions, unable to distinguish between reality and nightmare.
One by one, tragedy strikes. VARUN is hit by a car. AVI, increasingly unstable, foresees SURYA’s impending death and tries to intervene—but fate seems unchangeable. In a chilling twist, SURYA dies in a freak accident, despite AVI's desperate efforts to save him.
In the film’s emotional climax, AVI confronts his own illusion of control and the crushing weight of loss. Overwhelmed by guilt and confusion, he takes his own life—only for the final twist to reveal that AVI had been in a coma since the original car accident... and never woke up.
-
AVINASH POTNURUDirector
-
AVINASH POTNURUWriter
-
TUSHAR KWriter
-
AVINASH POTNURUKey Cast"AVI"
-
YASHWANTH PANDRANKIKey Cast"YASH"
-
SURYA TEJAKey Cast"SURYA"
-
VARUN THEEGELAKey Cast"VARUN"
-
ANIRUDH POTTIKey Cast
-
NAVDEEPKey Cast
-
SRAVANI BKey Cast
-
TUSHAR VARMAKey Cast
-
Project Title (Original Language):మాయ
-
Project Type:Short
-
Runtime:23 minutes 50 seconds
-
Completion Date:May 9, 2025
-
Production Budget:12,000 INR
-
Country of Origin:India
-
Country of Filming:India
-
Language:Telugu
-
Shooting Format:DIGITAL , 26 MM , IPHONE 14 PRO
-
Aspect Ratio:16:9
-
Film Color:Color
-
First-time Filmmaker:Yes
-
Student Project:No
-
Egyptian American Film FestivalBrooklyn, New York
United States
November 3, 2025
North America Premiere
Official Selection
I’m Avinash, a passionate filmmaker currently studying B.Tech at GITAM University, Vizag. I’m 21 years old and this is my first short film as a director. Before this, I acted in a few short films, which helped me understand storytelling from different perspectives.
I’m also deeply involved in theatre as a member of the FACES Theatre Club and Kalakrithi at GITAM Vizag. Theatre has been a big part of my life and has shaped how I approach acting and filmmaking.
I come from Srikakulam, and my mother tongue is Telugu. I feel proud to bring my culture and experiences into my work. Recently, I was selected for Round Two of the Monoact Theatre Performance Competition at IIT Kharagpur, which was a big honor and encouragement for me.
Making films and performing on stage are my passions, and I’m excited to continue learning and sharing stories that matter.
MAYA is a deeply personal story about friendship, loss, and the fragile nature of time. I was inspired by the intense bonds we share with our close friends and how unexpected events can change everything in a moment.
Through this film, I wanted to explore the emotional turmoil of grief and the struggle to accept fate. Using a mix of psychological thriller elements and surreal visuals, I aimed to immerse the audience in the protagonist’s confusion and desperation.
Stylistically, I drew inspiration from the works of Quentin Tarantino, David Fincher, and Ram Gopal Varma (RGV), whose storytelling and visual techniques influenced how I approached the film’s mood and tension.
As this is my first short film as a director, it was both a challenging and rewarding experience to bring this story to life using an iPhone and creative storytelling techniques. I wanted to present my work to the audience as a visual treat, engaging them not only through the story but also through powerful imagery and atmosphere.
I hope the film encourages viewers to reflect on their own relationships and the moments that define us.