Private Project

EGWA

In the deep jungle, untouched by the modern world, a tribe lives in harmony with nature. At the heart of their village stands Egwa, a majestic ancient tree they worship as a deity. To them, Egwa is more than a tree—it is the resting place of their ancestors’ souls, a divine guardian that protects and guides their people.
But their peace is shattered when a powerful corporate company sets its eyes on their sacred land. To secure government approval for a new project, they must first remove Egwa. For this, they enlist the ruthless mafia leader John Tree Cutter, infamous in the timber underworld. Armed with forged documents, John arrives in the village claiming he has legally purchased the tree. The villagers are devastated. They beg him to spare their god, even offering their most precious ancestral stone—only for John to mock it as worthless.
Desperate, the tribe strikes a final plea: they will repay the full value of the tree. Amused and greedy, John grants them a cruel bargain—raise the money by the next new moon day, or watch Egwa fall.
Now, a tribe that has never seen money nor crossed their mountain borders must attempt the impossible. With no choice, they send Akulu—the village fool, laughed at for his clumsiness—on a perilous mission to the city. He must return before the new moon, carrying the tribe’s only hope.
Will Akulu bring back the money to save Egwa—or will he return with something far greater to protect their sacred god?

  • V K Raju
    Director
  • V K Raju
    Writer
  • Poorna Battu
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 46 minutes 7 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 11, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    45,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    India
  • Language:
    Telugu
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - V K Raju

My name is V. Kodanda Raju, and I go by the screen name V.K Raju. I am from Hyderabad, India. By profession, I am a dentist, but my deepest passion has always been storytelling and cinema. I was fortunate to get the opportunity to direct my first film, Egwa (The Sacred Tree), a story that reflects on environmental respect, our connection with nature, and the challenges of corporate exploitation. Through my films, I hope to create meaningful narratives that leave both an emotional and thoughtful impact on the audience.

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Director Statement

As a storyteller, I have always been fascinated by the delicate bond between humanity and nature. Growing up, I witnessed how traditions, stories, and simple ways of life were deeply tied to respecting the environment. At the same time, I also saw how rapidly modern development and corporate exploitation threatened that connection.

Egwa (The Sacred Tree) was born out of this conflict. For me, the sacred tree in the film is not just a symbol of nature but also of identity, culture, and survival. Through this story, I wanted to reflect on how progress often comes at the cost of values we should never lose.

Though I am a dentist by profession, cinema has always been my true passion and my way of reaching people’s hearts. With Egwa, my hope is not only to entertain but also to spark conversations about respect—for the environment, for traditions, and for the bond that ties us all to the natural world.