From MASAAN To MAASAI

After transforming Indian independent cinema with films like 'Masaan' and 'Newton', National Award-winning producer Manish Mundra turns photographer with his new book, 'Wild Africa: Through My Lens'. He speaks to MARWAR India about his creative awakening, the meditative pull of the wild, and the art of storytelling through stillness.

- Sonakshi Kurbah

Born in Deoghar, Jharkhand, to a Marwari family originally from Jodhpur, Manish Mundra's story is one of resilience and reinvention. His father had moved to Jharkhand in the 1960s to establish a business, but by the time Manish was in his early teens, the family's fortunes had begun to decline. Growing up with financial struggles left a lasting impression on him, and he tells us it taught him the hard truth that survival demands both grit and self-reliance. Determined to change his circumstances, he moved to Jodhpur to pursue further studies, knowing education was his best investment.

His professional journey took him from a trainee position in India to international roles in Indonesia and eventually Nigeria, where he rose to become CEO (Africa) and Managing Director at Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals. Alongside his corporate success, he focused on rebuilding his family's financial foundation, repaying debts, and contributing to social causes such as establishing schools. Yet even amid the pragmatic world of business, his creative side never dimmed. He enjoyed poetry, painting, and nurtured a love for storytelling.

As our conversation unfolds, he reflects on nature and his enduring belief in the power of stories.

Q. Do you remember your first brush with cinema — a film, a moment, or an experience that made you fall in love with storytelling? What made you take the leap and start Drishyam Films?