India’s First Ray Films Sets Six-Picture Slate for Cannes Film Market

First Ray Films, the Mumbai-based production company founded by actor-filmmaker Anshuman Jha, has set six films covering 2026 to 2028 as the banner heads into its second decade, with the slate set to be presented at the Cannes Film Market this May.

Two titles are scheduled for Indian theatrical release this year. “Om Ka Hari,” directed by Harish Vyas and starring Jha alongside Raghubir Yadav, Soni Razdan and Ayesha Kapur, is set for June. Jha himself directs “Lakadbaggha 2: The Monkey Business,” expanding the vigilante franchise he launched in 2023, with Adil Hussain and Sarah Jane Dias also on board; it is due in November.

The 2027 pipeline comprises “Bajrangi,” directed by Parth Saurabh and now in post-production, and “Bhadyaa,” helmed by Pramod Parashar and currently shooting. Two further titles are slated for 2028: “But First, The Burning,” directed by Devashish Makhija as an international co-production alongside Roh Films and Lamas Productions; and “Dhoori,” directed by Rumana Molla.

First Ray was founded in 2016 with Shashi Sudigala’s “mona_darling,” a social media thriller that sat well outside the mainstream. Over the decade since, it has cultivated a reputation for championing distinct filmmaking voices while simultaneously building distribution muscle; the company says its marketing partnerships have outscaled those of any other Indian independent. Its most recent release, “Lord Curzon Ki Haveli,” presented by marketing firm Max, is set to premiere on streamer JioHotstar next month.

“The first decade was about discovering our voice. The next decade is about amplifying it, backing stories that matter, filmmakers who take risks, and cinema that can travel across borders without losing its soul. We’re not chasing trends, we’re building a space where authenticity leads. At the heart of this is also the aim to create an ecosystem for young filmmakers – one that empowers and educates them on the importance of marketing and distribution so that great stories don’t just get made, but truly reach audiences. Backing actors like Abhinav Jha and Samta Sudiksha, who bring honesty to their craft, is as important as backing the stories themselves,” Jha said.

Makhija, whose “But First, The Burning” represents the banner’s most ambitious international play to date, added, “What First Ray stands for in today’s scene is rare – a producer who doesn’t just pull out all stops to protect the filmmaker’s voice, but constructs wings to push it higher and further. Something increasingly difficult to find. Our collaboration is about telling a story that is stubbornly rooted, yet globally resonant.”

“There’s a certain fearlessness in how First Ray approaches storytelling. It’s not about fitting into a mould, but about building something original. That trust empowers filmmakers to take creative leaps,” said Vyas.

The Cannes showcase marks the company’s most prominent market push to date, as Indian independents increasingly seek co-production partners and theatrical footholds beyond the subcontinent.