Anurag Minus Verma

Anurag Minus Verma is an Indian writer, filmmaker, and podcast host working across literature, film, and digital culture. He is best known for the book The Great Indian Brain Rot (2025) and for his socio-political podcast. His work focuses on internet culture, media, and contemporary Indian society.

Anurag Minus Verma is based in India and lives in New Delhi. He studied Art and Aesthetics at Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi. He later trained in film editing at the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune. These academic years shaped his interest in visual form, politics, and urban life.

Verma began his career as a filmmaker and editor. He directed and edited short films and documentaries. Several of these works received awards and were shown at major festivals. His films screened at global venues, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Alongside filmmaking, he developed a writing practice focused on essays, scripts, and poetry.

Verma also built a career in journalism and commentary. He wrote for Indian publications including The Print, Newslaundry, and The Wire. His work was covered by outlets such as The Indian Express, Scroll, The Hindu, Mid Day, and Vice World. He later launched the Anurag Minus Verma Podcast.

The podcast examines politics, culture, and media. Universities have used episodes as research material. This led to speaking invitations from institutions including Harvard University, the University of Michigan, and Brandeis University.

In an interview, Verma described his motivation for writing. He said, “Writing gives meaning to my existence.” He stated that smell and music help him focus while writing, and noted that he often listens to the same song repeatedly to maintain his mood.

The author cited Charles Bukowski as a major influence. He also named Fyodor Dostoevsky, John Fante, Alberto Moravia, and Rajkamal Choudhary.

Verma is the author of a children’s book titled Moon Pizza. In 2025, he published The Great Indian Brain Rot with Bloomsbury. The book is a collection of essays on Indian internet culture. It examines memes, influencer labour, online hate, and digital fame. The book addresses dating apps, fake followers, and viral economics. It also explores caste and class dynamics online.

Photo credit: www.anuragminusverma.com