Drishyam Films
Drishyam Films is an Indian motion-picture studio founded in 2014 by Manish Mundra, a former corporate executive who transitioned into film production to support independent cinema.[1][2] The company, headquartered in Mumbai, focuses on nurturing unique voices in Indian storytelling while aiming to produce content with international appeal.[1] Mundra's entry into filmmaking began with financing the 2014 film Ankhon Dekhi, directed by Rajat Kapoor, marking Drishyam Films' debut and setting the tone for its commitment to content-driven narratives over commercial formulas.[1][3] Subsequent productions have included critically acclaimed works such as Masaan (2015), which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and won multiple awards, and Newton (2017), India's official entry for the Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film.[4][5] Other notable films under its banner encompass Umrika (2015), Kadvi Hawa (2017), Kaamyaab (2020), and Siya (2022), emphasizing themes of social realism, human resilience, and cultural introspection.[4][6] Drishyam Films has distinguished itself in an industry often dominated by high-budget spectacles by prioritizing artistic integrity and emerging filmmakers, contributing to a renaissance in Hindi independent cinema.[5][7] Its portfolio extends to short films and international collaborations, such as the anthology Tryst with Destiny, underscoring a strategy to blend local authenticity with global storytelling potential.[4]Overview
Company Profile
Drishyam Films is an independent motion picture production company based in Mumbai, India, specializing in content-driven Hindi and regional films. Founded by producer Manish Mundra, the studio focuses on nurturing innovative storytelling and providing a platform for unique voices in Indian independent cinema.[2][8] Established in 2014, the company originated from Mundra's financing of the film Ankhon Dekhi after a 2013 online interaction with director Rajat Kapoor, which propelled its early recognition in the industry. Drishyam Films operates as a private limited entity, incorporated on April 21, 2015, with its headquarters at 701 Midas Chambers, Andheri West, Mumbai.[3][9] The studio's approach prioritizes films with rich narratives and social relevance, aiming to produce global content that challenges conventional commercial cinema structures. It has backed projects emphasizing artistic integrity, often collaborating with emerging directors and talents to foster diverse cinematic expressions.[8][5]Mission and Philosophy
Drishyam Films was founded with the core mission of offering a platform for unique voices within independent cinema while producing global content enriched by authentic narratives.[1] The company, established by Manish Mundra in 2014, prioritizes content-driven filmmaking that emphasizes story integrity, realistic portrayals of Indian life, and narratives capable of resonating internationally without reliance on formulaic commercial tropes.[1] This approach stems from Mundra's intent to nurture scripts and filmmakers focused on substantive, grounded tales rather than star vehicles or escapist entertainment.[10] Central to the company's philosophy is the demonstration of indie cinema's commercial viability through rigorous, low-budget productions that deliver high artistic and audience value.[11] Mundra has articulated a commitment to creating "a system to help nurture content-driven stories," enabling directors to explore societal realities—such as family dynamics, electoral processes, and cultural conflicts—via unvarnished, evidence-based depictions drawn from everyday experiences.[10] This entails financing films that prioritize narrative depth and longevity, aiming for works that "age well" and challenge mainstream Bollywood's dominance by proving profitability without compromising creative autonomy.[12] The philosophy extends to fostering sustainability in independent production, including international co-productions to broaden reach while maintaining a focus on culturally rooted yet universally appealing content.[13] Mundra's strategy involves modest budgets, script development support, and selective partnerships, reflecting a first-principles evaluation of market potential based on audience response to prior successes like Ankhon Dekhi (2014) and Masaan (2015), which collectively earned critical acclaim and box-office returns validating the model.[14] This evidence-based iteration avoids speculative risks, underscoring a causal link between authentic storytelling and enduring impact over transient trends.[15]History
Founding in 2014
Drishyam Films was established in 2014 by Manish Mundra, a corporate executive who had previously served as CEO (Africa) and managing director of Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals in Nigeria, where he oversaw operations in the petrochemical sector after relocating from India in 2005.[16] Mundra, originally from Jharkhand and educated in accounting and business administration in Rajasthan, drew from his global travels and exposure to international cinema to enter film production, seeking to support narratives centered on ordinary Indian lives amid a perceived shift in Hindi cinema toward formulaic content.[16] [17] The company's inception followed Mundra's 2013 Twitter interaction with director Rajat Kapoor, leading him to finance Kapoor's project Ankhon Dekhi, which became Drishyam's inaugural production and was released in March 2014 to critical acclaim, earning three National Film Awards including Best Feature Film in Hindi.[3] [18] Drishyam Films was structured as a self-financed entity, with Mundra personally funding productions budgeted at ₹4-7 crore each, emphasizing cost-effective independent filmmaking without reliance on external investors or traditional studio distributions.[16] This approach allowed rapid output, positioning the studio to champion underrepresented voices in Indian cinema from its outset.[1]Expansion and Milestones Post-2014
In the years following its founding, Drishyam Films rapidly expanded its production slate, releasing multiple critically acclaimed independent Hindi films in 2015, including Masaan, Umrika, Waiting, and Dhanak.[1] Masaan, directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, premiered at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the FIPRESCI Prize and the Promising Future Prize in the Un Certain Regard section, marking a significant international milestone for the company.[1] The film also earned Ghaywan the National Film Award for Best Debut Director at the 63rd National Film Awards in 2016.[1] By 2017, Drishyam had produced eight films at an accelerated pace, establishing itself as a key supporter of content-driven independent cinema in India.[16] That year, Newton, directed by Amit V. Masurkar, became the company's biggest commercial success, grossing over ₹23 crore worldwide and serving as India's official submission for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 90th Academy Awards, though it did not receive a nomination.[1] Dhanak (2015), directed by Kundan Shah, won the National Film Award for Best Children's Film in 2017, further highlighting Drishyam's role in nurturing diverse storytelling.[19] Drishyam broadened its partnerships in December 2017 through a collaboration with Eros International to co-produce four upcoming films, aiming to blend independent narratives with wider distribution reach.[20] Subsequent productions included Kadvi Hawa (2017), addressing climate change, and Kaamyaab (2020), a sports drama that premiered on streaming platforms amid the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] A notable evolution occurred in 2022 when founder Manish Mundra made his directorial debut with Siya, a drama inspired by a real-life incident involving child trafficking; the film won Best Director and Best Film awards at the 2023 Jagran Film Festival.[1] This shift underscored Drishyam's maturation from a production house backing external directors to one engaging in in-house creative leadership, while maintaining its focus on socially relevant themes without venturing into mainstream commercial formulas.[5]Leadership
Manish Mundra as Founder
Manish Mundra, previously an executive in the petrochemical sector heading Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals in Nigeria, founded Drishyam Films in 2014 to support independent Indian cinema emphasizing content-driven and socially relevant narratives over commercial formulas.[16][21] His transition to filmmaking was catalyzed by a 2013 Twitter exchange with director Rajat Kapoor, prompting him to finance the independent film Ankhon Dekhi, which became the company's inaugural production and critical success upon its March 2014 release.[22] This venture highlighted Mundra's intent to back emerging filmmakers with scripts rooted in authentic, regional stories, diverging from mainstream Bollywood's emphasis on star-driven spectacles.[10] As founder, Mundra established Drishyam Films with a structured approach to nurture scripts from inception, providing development support, funding, and distribution facilitation to enable low-budget productions—often under ₹5 crore—while maintaining creative autonomy for directors.[10] He has personally overseen the production of over a dozen films, including Masaan (2015) and Newton (2017), which garnered international awards and demonstrated the viability of indie models in India's market dominated by high-budget enterprises.[16] Mundra's philosophy prioritizes long-term sustainability through selective investments in quality content, drawing from his corporate experience in risk assessment and resource allocation, rather than chasing immediate box-office returns.[23] Mundra continues to balance his founding role with hands-on involvement, occasionally directing projects like Siya (2022) and expanding the banner's scope to include television and digital content, while advocating for policy reforms to bolster independent production ecosystems in India.[5] His efforts have positioned Drishyam Films as a key player in elevating non-mainstream Hindi cinema, with a track record of films achieving critical acclaim at festivals such as Cannes and Berlin, though commercial success remains variable due to limited theatrical reach.[24]Key Team Members and Collaborators
Drishyam Films' executive team comprises founder Manish Mundra, who oversees production and strategic direction; Gaurav Jain, serving as Chief Financial Officer responsible for financial operations; Sreemoyee Bhattacharya, the Business Head managing overall business development; and Ritika Bhatia, Executive Producer handling project execution and coordination.[25] These members form the core internal leadership, supporting the company's focus on independent content-driven films since its inception in 2014.[1] The company has collaborated extensively with independent directors on a project-by-project basis, prioritizing creative autonomy. Key collaborators include Rajat Kapoor, whose Twitter interaction with Mundra in 2013 led to financing and producing Ankhon Dekhi (2014), marking Drishyam's debut release.[1] Other notable directors encompass Neeraj Ghaywan for Masaan (2015), which earned critical acclaim and Cannes awards; Amit V. Masurkar for Newton (2017), a National Film Award winner, and later Kaamyaab (2020); and Manish Mundra himself directing Siya (2022).[5] These partnerships emphasize undiluted storytelling over commercial formulas, with Mundra often providing seed funding and production support to nurture scripts from emerging filmmakers.[10] In 2015, Shiladitya Bora joined as CEO to scale operations, though subsequent leadership shifts have centered on Mundra's vision.[26]Productions
Core Filmography
Drishyam Films specializes in producing independent Hindi films that emphasize authentic storytelling, often tackling social issues, human resilience, and everyday realities in India. Founded in 2014, the company debuted with Ankhon Dekhi, directed by Rajat Kapoor and released on March 21, 2014, which follows a Delhi shopkeeper who vows to trust only what he witnesses personally after a family scandal, garnering critical acclaim for its philosophical depth and box-office success relative to its modest budget.[27][28] The 2015 release Masaan, directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, interweaves two narratives of grief and forbidden love amid Varanasi's ghats and caste dynamics, premiering at Cannes where it won the FIPRESCI Prize and Promising Future Prize, while Ghaywan received the Best Debut Director at the 63rd National Film Awards.[1] Umrika (2016), helmed by Prashant Nair, depicts a village boy's fabricated tales of America inspiring his brother's migration, securing the World Cinema Audience Award at Sundance 2015 for its poignant satire on aspiration and disillusionment.[29] Newton (2017), directed by Amit V. Masurkar and released on April 21, 2017, centers on a government clerk upholding democracy during Maoist-threatened elections in Chhattisgarh, earning India's official submission to the 90th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film and the Best Hindi Film at the 65th National Film Awards.[30] Later entries include Kadvi Hawa (2017), Nila Madhab Panda's examination of farmer debt and climate-induced migration in coal-dependent villages; Kaamyaab (March 6, 2020), Hardik Mehta's tale of a veteran actor chasing Bollywood stardom in the OTT era; Ram Prasad Ki Tehrvi (January 1, 2021), Tejpal Singh's dramedy about a family's chaotic post-funeral gathering exposing generational tensions; and Siya (September 16, 2022), addressing child trafficking through a mother's quest for justice.[31][27]| Film | Release Year | Director | Key Theme/Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ankhon Dekhi | 2014 | Rajat Kapoor | Skepticism and personal truth |
| Masaan | 2015 | Neeraj Ghaywan | Caste, love, and loss in Varanasi |
| Umrika | 2016 | Prashant Nair | Migration dreams and rural India |
| Newton | 2017 | Amit V. Masurkar | Electoral integrity in conflict zones |
| Kaamyaab | 2020 | Hardik Mehta | Bollywood's underbelly and reinvention |
| Ram Prasad Ki Tehrvi | 2021 | Tejpal Singh | Family dynamics during mourning |