Anil C.S. Rao
Anil C.S. Rao is an American writer, artist, and comic book creator. He is the author of several novels and a graphic novel, most notably Bright Lights Big Buddha, which has appeared in multiple editions since 2014. His work and artistic influences have been profiled in the Baltimore Post-Examiner, India Abroad, The Hindu Metro Plus, and the Telugu journal Visalandhra,.
Biography
Rao earned a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from National University in 2014.He is also the grandson of Indian historian and writer C.V.H. Rao, author of Civil Disobedience Movements in India.
Career
Rao began his career in 1981 as an apprentice at BR Films in Mumbai, working on the production of the feature film Nikaah.He later developed a body of fiction, graphic novels, and digital art. His novels and artwork have been noted in the press for their blending of South Asian cultural themes with contemporary Western settings.
According to a 2023 article in the Baltimore Post-Examiner, Rao described how viewing Jean-Jacques Beineix’s Diva at the Charles Theater in Baltimore was a major influence in his artistic development.