Virupaksha is a 2023 Indian Telugu-language horror thriller film directed by Karthik Varma Dandu, who co-wrote the script with Sukumar. Produced by B. V. S. N. Prasad and Sukumar under their respective banners, the film stars Sai Dharam Tej and Samyuktha Menon alongside Rajeev Kanakala, Sunil, Brahmaji, Ajay, and Ravi Krishna in supporting roles. The film follows Surya as he visits his ancestral village, Rudravanam, where a series of unexplained deaths uncovers a deadly curse tied to dark rituals, pushing him to solve the mystery before the village faces doom.

Karthik Varma was inspired to create Virupaksha after reading about a Gujarati woman accused of black magic. Initially, he struggled to secure producers for the film. In 2018, Sukumar joined the project, refining the script and helping bring in producer B. V. S. N. Prasad and actor Sai Dharam Tej. Filming took place in Araku and Paderu, with sets built in Hyderabad. Production was briefly halted when Sai Dharam Tej was injured in a bike accident in 2021 but resumed after his recovery.

Released on 21 April 2023, Virupaksha received positive reviews for its engaging story, direction, and performances, with particular praise for the lead actors and technical aspects like cinematography and editing. The film was a commercial success and ranked among the highest-grossing Telugu films of the year.