Like father, like son

Venkat does not have professional training in film making. He has directed five short films so far, including Pani Ke Rang , Polish, E Dhareyu, Save Earth and School Fees , which was nominated for the Woodpecker Film Festival.

He learnt the basics — scripting, shots, camera angles — while watching his father C.V. Shivashankar, a veteran film maker, at work. Five decades ago, Shivashankar wrote the song Beledide Noda Bengaluru Nagara for his film Mane Katti Nodu , which speaks about glory of yesteryear Bangalore.