EXCLUSIVE: Bhuvan and Akshay Lall have launched an arthouse label, Lall Brothers Filmworks, to produce and distribute a slate of high-quality Indian films.

The label’s first pick-up is Bedabrato Pain’s action drama Chittagong starring Manoj Bajpai, Barry John and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Oscar-winning sound mixer Resul Pookutty (Slumdog Millionaire) worked on the film along with US DoP Eric Zimmerman, award-winning lyricist Prasoon Joshi and music directors Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy.

Set in 1930s British-occupied India, the film is based on the true story of group of schoolboys and young women who launched a rebellion against the British. The film was shot using Red One cameras on locations in North Bengal and Kolkatta.

Lall Brothers is also developing a slate of story-driven films, each budgeted around $1m, with a select group of Indian filmmakers and plans to announce the first projects at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.

“We are focused on strategic investments in arthouse content and world-class intellectual properties in Hindi and English language in India,” said Bhuvan Lall who also executive produced Chittagong.

The company is also representing renowned Indian actor Deepa Sahi’s debut feature as director, romantic comedy Tere Mere Phere.

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