# S. S. Kanchi
**S. S. Kanchi** (also known as Siva Sri Kanchi or Koduri Siva Shakthi Datta Kanchi) is an Indian writer, actor, and director who works in [Telugu cinema](https://www.edgepedia.org/telugu-cinema) and television. He is known for his writing and acting on the Telugu sitcom *Amrutham*, for story and writing work on films including *Maryada Ramanna* (2010) and *Eega* (2012), and, most recently, for a story credit on [S. S. Rajamouli](https://www.edgepedia.org/s-s-rajamouli)'s film *Varanasi*.[1](https://www.filmnoir.app/links/tmdb/person/151081)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Professions | Writer, dialogue and screenplay writer, actor, director, script coordinator[1](https://www.filmnoir.app/links/tmdb/person/151081) • [2](https://filmyfocus.com/celebs/ss-kanchi) |
| Signature television work | The Telugu sitcom *Amrutham* (2001): wrote the initial 50 episodes, directed 40, and acted through the 80th, playing the character Ambhujam[2](https://filmyfocus.com/celebs/ss-kanchi) |
| Best-known film writing | Story for *Maryada Ramanna* (2010); writer credit on *Eega* (2012); story credit on *Son of Sardaar* (2012)[1](https://www.filmnoir.app/links/tmdb/person/151081) • [3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ss-kanchi/credits/3000242370/) |
| Directing | Directed the Telugu film *Show Time* (2016), which did not receive a release[4](https://english.teatimetelugu.com/movies/the-hidden-hand-of-ss-kanchi-behind-varanasi) • [5](https://www.moviebuff.com/ss-kanchi) |
| Current project | Full story writer, alongside K. V. Vijayendra Prasad, on *Varanasi*, Rajamouli's film with Mahesh Babu in the lead[4](https://english.teatimetelugu.com/movies/the-hidden-hand-of-ss-kanchi-behind-varanasi) |
| Family | Listed as son of writer V. Vijayendra Prasad and Raja Nandini; described in reporting as Rajamouli's brother or cousin[2](https://filmyfocus.com/celebs/ss-kanchi) • [4](https://english.teatimetelugu.com/movies/the-hidden-hand-of-ss-kanchi-behind-varanasi) • [6](https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/exclusive-mahesh-rajamouli-film-based-on-kanchi-story-idea-1814412) |
## Background
Film database listings give his place of birth as Raichur, Karnataka, India,[1](https://www.filmnoir.app/links/tmdb/person/151081) while the Telugu film portal Filmy Focus lists [Andhra Pradesh](https://www.edgepedia.org/andhra-pradesh) and a birth date of 1960.[2](https://filmyfocus.com/celebs/ss-kanchi) According to Filmy Focus, he completed his formal education in Chennai and began his career as an assistant director to [K. Raghavendra Rao](https://www.edgepedia.org/k-raghavendra-rao), working on the films *Sundarakanda*, *Allari Priyudu*, *Major Chandrakanth*, and *Muddula Priyudu*.[2](https://filmyfocus.com/celebs/ss-kanchi)
He then joined Gunnam Ganga Raju at Just Yellow Media, where he helped shape the sitcom *Amrutham*, described by Filmy Focus as a blockbuster series in Telugu television history. On that show he wrote the first 50 episodes, directed 40, and acted up to the 80th; his character Ambhujam brought him wide recognition.[2](https://filmyfocus.com/celebs/ss-kanchi) The FilmNoir database credits him as Ambujanabham in the 2001 series.[1](https://www.filmnoir.app/links/tmdb/person/151081)
## Film writing
Kanchi moved into film writing by assisting the screenwriter K. [V. Vijayendra Prasad](https://www.edgepedia.org/v-vijayendra-prasad) on stories and screenplays, with credits running from *[Sye](https://www.edgepedia.org/sye-2004-film)* (2004) through *Chatrapathi*, *Vikramarkudu*, *Yamadonga*, and *Magadheera*; he also wrote the screenplay for *Sri Krishna 2006*.[2](https://filmyfocus.com/celebs/ss-kanchi) [TV Guide](https://www.edgepedia.org/tv-guide) lists his story credits as *Maryada Ramanna* and *Son of Sardaar*, dialogue credits on *Maryada Ramanna* and *Emo Gurram Egaravachu*, a writer credit on *Eega*, an associate writer credit on *Dheera: The Warrior*, and a screenplay credit on *Sri Krishna 2006*.[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ss-kanchi/credits/3000242370/) Rotten Tomatoes additionally lists him as writer on the Tamil film *Vallavanukku Pullum Aayudham* (2014) and the Malayalam remake *Ivan Maryadaraman* (2015).[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/ss_kanchi)
*Maryada Ramanna*, directed by S. S. Rajamouli and released on 23 July 2010, is the film most consistently tied to his name; Deccan [Chronicle](https://www.edgepedia.org/chronicle) describes it as a blockbuster whose story he penned.[6](https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/exclusive-mahesh-rajamouli-film-based-on-kanchi-story-idea-1814412)
## Acting
As a supporting actor, Kanchi has appeared in films including *Venky* (2004, as a train passenger), *Sye* (2004), *Maryada Ramanna* (2010), *Mathu Vadalara* (2019, as Boss), *Dear Comrade* (2019), *Mr. King* (2023), *Narakasura* (2023), *[Operation Raavan](https://www.edgepedia.org/operation-raavan)* (2024), *Drinker Sai* (2024), and *[Little Hearts](https://www.edgepedia.org/little-hearts-2025-film)* (2025, as Dr. Krishnakanth Aakula).[1](https://www.filmnoir.app/links/tmdb/person/151081) • [3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ss-kanchi/credits/3000242370/) TV Guide also lists acting credits on *Ante Sundaraniki*, *Vijetha*, *Chatrapathi*, and *Simhadri*, and a self-appearance in the documentary *Modern Masters: S.S. Rajamouli*.[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ss-kanchi/credits/3000242370/)
## Directing and Varanasi
Kanchi directed the Telugu film *Show Time*, which Moviebuff lists as a 2016 project; Tea Time Telugu reports that the film did not release and that he paused his directorial work afterward.[5](https://www.moviebuff.com/ss-kanchi) • [4](https://english.teatimetelugu.com/movies/the-hidden-hand-of-ss-kanchi-behind-varanasi)
In 2024, Deccan Chronicle reported that Kanchi had pitched a story idea, a forest adventure and globe-trotting hero-driven saga, to Rajamouli for the director's first film with [Mahesh Babu](https://www.edgepedia.org/mahesh-babu), and that Vijayendra Prasad and the team were refining the plot.[6](https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/exclusive-mahesh-rajamouli-film-based-on-kanchi-story-idea-1814412) When Rajamouli unveiled the film as *Varanasi* in November 2025, a time-travel adventure drawing on [Hindu mythology](https://www.edgepedia.org/hindu-mythology), Kanchi appeared alongside Vijayendra Prasad in the story credit of the video glimpse; Tea Time Telugu reports that his command of mythology reportedly shaped the story, and notes that Vijayendra Prasad is normally the sole credited story writer on Rajamouli's films.[4](https://english.teatimetelugu.com/movies/the-hidden-hand-of-ss-kanchi-behind-varanasi) The Associated Press reports that *Varanasi* stars Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and [Prithviraj Sukumaran](https://www.edgepedia.org/prithviraj-sukumaran), will be presented in IMAX, and is expected in 2027.[8](https://apnews.com/article/17b96848fbd8a5551ca7066d75c227af)
## Family
Filmy Focus lists Kanchi's father as the writer V. Vijayendra Prasad, his mother as Raja Nandini, his spouse as Seetha Lakshmi, and his daughter as SamayaLekha.[2](https://filmyfocus.com/celebs/ss-kanchi) Reporting on his relationship to S. S. Rajamouli differs: Deccan Chronicle calls him Rajamouli's cousin brother,[6](https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/exclusive-mahesh-rajamouli-film-based-on-kanchi-story-idea-1814412) while Tea Time Telugu describes him as another brother in the Rajamouli family, alongside music composers [M. M. Keeravani](https://www.edgepedia.org/m-m-keeravani) and Kalyani Malik.[4](https://english.teatimetelugu.com/movies/the-hidden-hand-of-ss-kanchi-behind-varanasi)
## References
1. [S. S. Kanchi, FilmNoir App (TMDB person 151081)](https://www.filmnoir.app/links/tmdb/person/151081)
2. [SS Kanchi: Biography, Age, Movies, Family, Filmy Focus](https://filmyfocus.com/celebs/ss-kanchi)
3. [S.S. Kanchi List of Movies and TV Shows, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ss-kanchi/credits/3000242370/)
4. [The Hidden Hand of S.S. Kanchi Behind "Varanasi", Tea Time Telugu (17 November 2025)](https://english.teatimetelugu.com/movies/the-hidden-hand-of-ss-kanchi-behind-varanasi)
5. [SS Kanchi, Moviebuff](https://www.moviebuff.com/ss-kanchi)
6. [Exclusive: Mahesh-Rajamouli film based on Kanchi story idea?, Deccan Chronicle (5 August 2024)](https://www.deccanchronicle.com/entertainment/exclusive-mahesh-rajamouli-film-based-on-kanchi-story-idea-1814412)
7. [SS Kanchi, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/ss_kanchi)
8. [SS Rajamouli unveils time-travel adventure film 'Varanasi,' with elements of Hindu mythology, Associated Press (15 November 2025)](https://apnews.com/article/17b96848fbd8a5551ca7066d75c227af)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screenwriters and television writers › Television writers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 20, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 19, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license