Vamsi Bandaru

Vamsi Bandaru is an Entertainment Technologist, filmmaker, and educator bridging the worlds of traditional art and advanced media pipelines. An alumnus of Carnegie Mellon University’s Entertainment Technology Center and Anna University (Architecture), his career spans over a decade of cross-disciplinary innovation. As a film producer and founder of Guru Films, he has shaped major regional cinematic projects, including the box-office success Oh Baby!.  Driven by a passion for transmedia storytelling, Vamsi has authored children’s book series, illustrated graphic novels, and designed augmented reality experiences. His consulting work includes scaling real-time 3D animation and motion-capture pipelines internationally. Currently, he serves as an Adjunct Faculty member at Mahindra University’s School of Digital Media & Communication, where he teaches advanced VFX and guides doctoral research on emerging AI visual technologies.

• 2004 – 2006: Masters in Entertainment Technology, Entertainment Technology Center, Carnegie Mellon University, USA
• 1998 – 2003: Bachelor of Architecture, School of Architecture and Planning, Anna University, Chennai

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• 2012 – Present: Founder, Guru Films, Hyderabad
  • Produced Feature Films in Telugu and Tamil like Oh Baby!, Sakini Dakini, Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada, OTT series in Telugu like He is Psychometric, and
• Television series for Telugu TV channels like America Ammayi for Gemini TV. Involved in Script Development, Pre and Post Production.
• 2014 – Present: Founder, Guru Leela, Hyderabad
  • Illustrated a series of Books on Ayurveda for kids titled “Ayurveda Chronicles – Adventures of Vata, Pita, Kapha.” Leading the development of an Animated Feature and a Mobile Game based on the above IP. Developing a historical Animated series based on the city of Amaravati during the Satavahana period (2nd century BCE). The series explores Amaravati’s role as a vibrant inland capital connected to a vast network of east coast port cities linking India to maritime trade routes across the world fostering people-to-people contact, the exchange of ideas, languages, faiths, and art. Designed a series of Educational Workbooks based on sustainability for children aged 8-12 for Organo Education. Digital versions of the playbook are in development. Illustrated a Graphic Novel based on Indian temples of the Cauvery belt titled “Veda and the Secret of the Ganas.” Designed a series of card and board games for the IP. A Mobile Augmented Reality App based on Veda is in the early stages of development.
• 2024 – Present: Consultant, Comini Learning, Bangalore
  • Leading the design of a joyful learning experience by blending AI-powered personalization with playful, story-driven formats. The approach explores new forms of education including interactive media, adaptive feedback, and gamified content to foster curiosity, reduce learning anxiety, and support diverse learning styles.
• 2025 – Present: Founder, Batuka Comics, Hyderabad
  • Initiated a Comic Collective focused on creating affordable, vernacular comics to promote regional storytelling and advance the use of Indian languages in visual narratives with a strong focus on the evolution of vernacular languages.
• 2019 – 2023: Consultant, Mogo Studios, Srilanka
  • Set up a 3d animation studio making multi-lingual theatrical animation films, including a motion capture studio and a real-time render pipeline. The studio is currently in production of an animated feature film titled Secrets of the Moonstone.
  • Involved in Script Development, Storyboarding, Art Direction, Pipeline Development, and Technology Optimization.
  • Responsibilities included assembling the team, sourcing equipment and creating teaching modules for a team which went from 8 to 50 people over the course of a year.
• 2008 – 2009: Creative Head, Times Animation, Times Group, Mumbai
  • Responsible for Story and Visual Development for 3d animated full length feature Films and Television series.
• 2006 -2008: Designer, AIdentity Matrix, San Jose, USA
  • Worked with the Disney Imagineers in brainstorming sessions for the development and deployment of intelligent toys and interactive shows during rides, waiting lines and restaurants across the Disney theme parks.
  • Designed experiential play models for AI guided play for kids using physical toys for Aidentity Matrix educational toys. Responsible for play testing game play models across various target age groups.
• 2004 – 2006: Entertainment Technology Center – Semester Projects
  • Give Kids the World, Florida: Led a team of 5 artists, modelers and animators in creating a Telly award winning 4-D animated movie experience  ‘The Big Surprise’ for the charity organization ‘Give Kids the World’. Responsibilities included setting up pipelines and working with the technical team for effects integration.
  • Hazmat Hotzone, New York Fire Department: Responsibilities included level design, concept art, modeling, texture art and animation in the Unreal engine environment for a hazmat multiplayer training simulator set in the New York subway and highway systems for the NY Fire Dept.
  • U.S.S.Requin , Carnegie Children’s Museum: Managed an interdisciplinary team of 6 graduate students to create a self guided tour aboard the U.S.S.Requin for the Carnegie Science Center.
  • Responsibilities included communication with client and outside resources, client presentations, production meetings, administrative support, scope management, research, equipment orders, and managing project budget.

• His research focuses on the evolution of mixed-media edutainment, specifically exploring how gaming and immersive digital tools like AR and VR can be used to reconstruct historical narratives and simplify high-stakes global challenges. He strongly believes that development of original IP is critical in the evolution of Indian Entertainment Industry and is currently guiding the development of such original IP in the Animation, VFX, Games, Comics and XR sectors within the SDMC environment.