Producer of Generation Kplus title Rainbow [pictured] sets up company to finance content-driven Indian cinema.

Manish Mundra, producer of Generation Kplus title Rainbow (Dhanak), has set up Mumbai-based Drishyam Films to finance content-driven Indian cinema, including Neeraj Ghaywan’s Masan, a co-production with Pathe and Arte in France. 

India’s Phantom Films and Paris-based producer Melita Toscan du Plantier are also co-producing the drama, featuring three interweaving stories based on different relationships. Pathe is handling international sales on the film, which is currently in post-production. 

“I believe quality films with strong content can connect with audiences in India and overseas, especially now we have social media to help us,” said Mundra, who also produced Sundance audience award-winner Umrika. 

He plans to produce two or three story-driven Indian films a year and is also looking to invest in English and French-language projects. Drishyam is also assembling a team to handle Indian distribution of its films.

The CEO of Nigeria-based oil company Indorama Eleme, Mundra was drawn into the film business a year ago via Twitter. His first film was Rajat Kapoor’s critically-acclaimed Ankhon Dekhi, which he backed after reading Kapoor’s Tweets. 

Drishyam’s upcoming projects also include Anu Menon’s drama Waiting, revolving about whose wife is in a coma. Naseeruddin Shah, Rajat Kapoor and Kalki Koechlin star in the film, also currently in post. 

Nagesh Kukunoor’s Rainbow, which screens today [Feb 8], is about a blind boy and his older sister who is convinced Shah Rukh Khan can help him. 

Topics