Profile of Chilkuri Sushil Rao, Journalist

Profile of  Chilkuri Sushil Rao, Journalist. 

Overview

Chilkuri Sushil Rao from Hyderabad has been a journalist since 1988.  He has been with The Times of India, Hyderabad since its launch in Hyderabad from the year 2000. He is Editor-Special Reports and focuses on covering Defence, Indian diaspora across the world, the Telugu film industry, socially relevant subjects and Telangana state. He has covered several elections during his career as a journalist, including interviewing national leaders and doing investigative reports.

He began his journalism career at the age of 20 and has completed 37 years in journalism in 2025. He is a gold medalist in bachelor’s in Communication and Journalism from the Department of Communication and Journalism, Arts College, Osmania University, Hyderabad. He also did his Master’s in journalism from the same department.

In the socially relevant stories that he has written, Chilkuri Sushil Rao wrote reports highlighting the plight of women trafficked to various countries. Through the intervention of the then Union external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, many could return home to Hyderabad. His writings on the abduction of Indian seafarers by pirates in Nigeria and stranded sailors on ships in various parts of the globe have had a positive impact. The Government of India took measures to rescue them.

Through his writings, Chilkuri Sushil Rao highlights the heroic deeds of common people and highlights their achievements. His focus is also on the under privileged and the helpless highlighting their difficulties so that they receive help. He also does video reports and podcasts for The Times of India where he is currently working.

Chilkuri Sushil Rao on social media

Email: sushilrao1@gmail.com

Twitter: @sushilrTOI

Facebook: Ch Sushil Rao

Linkedin: Sushil Rao Chilkuri

Youtube: Sushil Rao Chilkuri (@chsushilrao)

Podcasts on:  Spotify, Apple, Anchor, 

Professional journey:

Staff reporter at Citizen’s Evening, Hyderabad - 1988-89

Staff reporter at Deccan Chronicle, Secunderabad - 1990-1995

Senior reporter and chief reporter at The Guardian, Secunderabad - 1996

Senior reporter and chief reporter at AP Times, Hyderabad - 1997-1998

Contributed to Rediff-on-the-net, Andhraonline website, was part of a business programme on Gemini TV as anchor, Involved in election results coverage for Doordarshan - 1999

Principal correspondent and chief reporter at Deccan Chronicle, Secunderabad - 1999-2000

Principal correspondent and chief reporter at The Times of India, Hyderabad - 2000-2002

Special Correspondent 

Assistant Editor 

Senior Assistant Editor - Political coverage

Editor-Special Reports/Defence, Indian diaspora across the world, Telugu film industry, Telangana state, politics/ podcasts/Video reports (present 2025)

Education: 

St Patrick’s High School, Secunderabad: Class LKG to Class V11, 

Wesley Boys’ High School, Secunderabad: Class X111 to Class 10 (SSC), 1983

Wesley Boys’ Junior College, Secunderabad: Intermediate (MPC), 1985

Badruka College of Commerce, Kachiguda, Hyderabad: B Com, 1988

University College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Communication and Journalism, Arts College, Osmania University: Bachelor of Communication and Journalism, 1989-90

University College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Communication and Journalism, Arts College, Osmania University: Master of Communication and Journalism, 1990-91

University College of Arts and Sciences, Arts College, Osmania University: M A (English) (Previous), 1991-92

University College of Arts and Sciences, Arts College, Department of Communication and Journalism, Arts College, Osmania University: M Phil (Part 1)

NPTEL courses pursued:

IIT Bombay: Understanding Incubation and Entrepreneurship, Jan-April 2023

IIT Madras: Appreciating Hindustani Music, Feb-April 2023

IIT Kanpur: Moral Thinking: An Introduction To Values And Ethics, , Aug-Sept 2023 (topper in the course)

IIT Madras: Appreciating Carnatic Music, July-Sept 2022

IIT Kanpur: Indian Art: Materials, Techniques And Artistic Practices, July-Oct 2023

IIT Madras: Introduction to Film Studies, July-Oct 2022

Savitribai Phule Pune University:  Indian Classical Dance - Kathak,  Dec 2023 (Swayam course)

Central university of Kerala: Film Studies, Feb 2022 (Swayam course)

Media and Entertainment School (MeeSchool), Hyderabad and T-Hub: Cinepreneur course, Jan-March 2023

IIT Madras: Nptel + workshop on AI-Powered Content Creation and Film Making: From imagination to execution Batch-2, by Shaswat Mookherjee, IIT Madras Research Park

Additional courses:

Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) and Instructional Media Centre (IMC), Moulana Azad National Urdu University and Indian Documentary Producers Association (IDPA), Mumbai:  Workshop on ‘Documentary Filmmaking’  March 2023 at IMC, MANUU, Gachibowli, Hyderabad.

Film and Television Institute of India and IMC, MANUU at MANUU, Gachibowli, Hyderabad: Certificate course in introduction to films,  2019

Also studied: 

Course in Philosophy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, US. (online)

Completed a study in “The Threat of Nuclear Terror” from Stanford University, California, US. 

Did a Stanford University Lead Preview course on “Neuroscience and the Connection to Exemplary Leadership.” (online)

Pursued a four-week certificate course in ‘Discover acting’ offered by the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London, securing 90 per cent marks. (online)

Completed online course on mobile film making offered by Sundance Collab, Sundance Institute, California.

Enrolled for PG Diploma in International Humanitarian Laws, (2019-20) from Directorate of Distance Education, Nalsar University of Law, Hyderabad. 

TEDx talks:

TEDxOakridgeIntlSchoolGachibowli 2024, held on April 20, 2024. (Oakridge International School, Gachibowli, Hyderabad)

TEDxGRIET on Jan 18, 2025 (Gokaraju Rangaraju Institute of Engineering and Technology, Hyderabad)

TEDxCMRITHyderabad on April 11, 2025. (CMR Institute of Technology, Hyderabad)

Also spoke at

LeadTalksHyderabad 2018

Delivered guest lectures at:

Department of Communication and Journalism, Osmania University

St Ann’s Women’s Degree College, Mehdipatnam, 

St Joseph’s Degree College, Koti

Loyola Degree and PG College, Alwal

Badruka College of Commerce, Kachiguda

Teach for India school programme

Television appearances: 

Interviewed by Mirror TV, IDream News, KC Talks Career, Hit Talks, Aadhan TV. All on Youtube. 

Documentaries screenings and participation in film festivals:

Cannes World Film Festival, Cannes, France - Documentary “Oscar Challgariga” (winner) December 2023.

Indo-French Film Festival, Puducherry, India - Documentary “When global kites met local culture” (winner) Feb 2024

India International Film Festival, Kolkata, India - Documentary “Let the mother bird go” (winner) April 2024

All Living Things Environmental Film Festival (ALT EFF) Panchgani, Maharashtra, India - Documentary “Let the mother bird go” (Honorable mention)

Hollywood Bestie Indie Film Awards - Documentary “Captain’s knock” May 2024 (Selected)

Los Angeles Movie and Music Film Awards - Music video “May you be victorious” July 2024 (selected) (Picturised in  Hollywood, London, Pennsylvania, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Wangamarthy village in Telangana. 

Red Fox International Film Festival - Documentary “Captain’s knock” July 2024 (Selected)

London Lift-Off Film Festival - Music video “May you be victorious” Nov 2024 (Selected)

Paris Lift-Off Film Festival - Documentary “Human feelings in Robot wars” August 2024 (Selected)

Los Angeles Lift-Off Film Festival - Documentary “When global kites met local culture” July 2024 (Selected)

Toronto Lift-Off Film Festival - Music video “Samson and Delilah” May 2024 (Selected)

New York Lift-Off Film Festival - Documentary “Hero of the sea” June 2024 (Selected)

Film Haus - Documentary “Oscar Challagariga” Oct 2024 (Semi finalist)

Indo-Dubai International Film Festival: Documentary “Oscar Challagariga” Feb 2024 (Selected)

Belgrade International Film Festival: Documentary “Oscar Challagariga” October 2024 (Selected)

Berlin Lift-Off Film Festival: Documentary “Oscar Challagariga” Feb 2024 (Selected)

8th International Folklore Film Festival, Kerala, India: Documentary “The Great Indian Tamarind Tree” (Selected)

Global Independent Film Festival of India: Documentary “May you be victorious!” Nov 2023 (Selected)

Cannes World Film Festival: Documentary “The Great Indian Tamarind Tree” March 2023 (Semi finalist)

7th Indian World Film Festival, Hyderabad: Documentary “Swapnika” March 2023 (Certificate of excellence - Special festival mention)

7th Indian World Film Festival, Hyderabad: Documentary “Nostalgia” March 2023 (Selected)

Cannes World Film Festival, Cannes, France: Documentary “India’s GreenHeart Dusharla Satyanayana” April 2023 (Semi-finalist)

4th Nadi Utsav Delhi: Documentary “India’s GreenHeart Dusharla Satyanarayana) at Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts, Ministry of Culture, New Delhi,  September 2023 (Special screening)

Telangana International Film Festival, Hyderabad: Documentary “India’s GreenHeart Dusharla Satyanarayana” December 2022 (Special jury award)

Department of Culture, Govt of Telangana, Paidi Jairaj Preview Theatre: Documentary “Kafeel Mujhe India Jaane Do: (Hindi/English) screening, May 2019

Tokyo International Film Festival, Ecovision Global Film Festival, Sydney, Indian International Film Festival, Kolkata: “Let the Mother Bird Go” 2024 (Selected)

Books authored:

*Blood Money: A dramatic narrative of Iscariot Judas' betrayal of Jesus

*Dinah

*The Gospel Truth Newspaper: Newspaper style reportage of the life of Jesus Christ.

*King David's God On Call 24/7

*The 11:59 God of King David

*Breaking News - The Messiah is born! Reporting Live from Bethlehem (TV reporting script)

As a Burrakatha folk artiste: 

Gave performances since 1978. 

Performed at World Music Day organised by L&T Metro, George Hull Collective, Alliance Francaise  Hyderabad, Goethe Zentrum  at MGBS metro station and Kukatpally metro station in 2024.

Performance at Ameerpet metro station in 2025.

Countries visited: 

Singapore, Bangladesh and the UK. 

Awards: 

*Lifetime Achievement Award: 

Presented at Ravindra Bharathi, Hyderabad, by former assembly speaker S Madhusudhana Chary  April 20, 2023 instituted by Sruthilaya Arts Academy and Sealwel.

*International Legend Award

Presented by home minister Mahmood Ali at Taj Deccan, Hyderabad on March 18,  2023 instituted by NSI Global Council, NSI Foundation.  

Prizes won: 

Photography contest organised by Telangana Forest department at Kasu Brahmananda Reddy national Park, Hyderabad. 

Featured in newspapers and websites

Deccan Chronicle, Telangana Today, SouthFirst, HinduDayashankar, Eenadu, Sakshi, Siasat, Munsif, BreakingNow, MetroTV, The Hindu, NewsTap, HashtagU, The Hans India, Rspn network, PTI and other newspapers.