In an industry increasingly captivated by technological spectacle, actor-producer Rana Daggubati is placing a significant bet on the timeless power of a good story. Through his production house, Spirit Media, the 'Baahubali' fame star is launching a concerted push to support independent, story-driven Indian cinema that transcends regional and linguistic boundaries.
A Vision for Unique Storytelling
Daggubati's philosophy is straightforward: the story is king. He asserts that a film's budget, whether a modest Rs 5 crore or a substantial Rs 50 crore, is irrelevant if the creator possesses a unique and compelling vision. This principle extends to the talent he collaborates with, highlighting actors like Dulquer Salmaan in 'Kaantha' and Manoj Bajpayee in the upcoming 'Last Man in Tower' as fellow champions of independent storytelling.
This vision is already taking concrete shape. The studio's first home production, the Tamil period-noir thriller 'Kaantha' directed by Selvamani Selvaraj, was released on November 14, 2025. Spirit Media has also generated considerable buzz with the announcement of its first Hindi project, an adaptation of Aravind Adiga's acclaimed novel 'Last Man in Tower', to be directed by Ben Rekhi.
Blurring Regional Barriers and Building an Ecosystem
While Daggubati produced his first independent Telugu film, 'Bommalata', back in 2004, his current approach is more structured and ambitious. He is not just backing individual projects but is intent on building an organization that can systematically support cinema with an independent spirit. His goal is to create a collective of producers who can propel diverse stories forward, moving away from a model reliant on a single individual.
A key part of this strategy is to blur the divisions between regional audiences. Daggubati points out that Telugu and Tamil films now enjoy a pan-Indian viewership, a barrier that was rarely crossed consistently in the past despite the success of pioneers like Mani Ratnam and Ram Gopal Varma. He credits the monumental success of 'Baahubali' with sending a clear message that certain stories can captivate the entire nation.
Global Ambitions for Indian Stories
Spirit Media's slate reflects this diverse and ambitious outlook. Beyond 'Kaantha' and 'Last Man in Tower', the studio has a lineup of Telugu films including the pulpy dark comedy 'Dark Chocolate', 'Psych Siddhartha', and the romantic thriller 'Premante'. Daggubati has also supported indie darlings like Payal Kapadia’s 'All We Imagine As Light' (2024) and Rohan Kanawade’s 'Sabar Bonda' (2025), both of which gained recognition at international festivals before their Indian theatrical releases.
This global reach for independent Indian cinema excites Daggubati. He draws a parallel to the worldwide consumption of Korean films, seeing a similar potential for Indian stories. While big spectacles like 'RRR' will find their audience, he finds it heartening that smaller, nuanced films can also travel across borders. For Daggubati, who learned about life through cinema, the big screen experience remains paramount, but he believes the Indian film industry can now create stories that resonate both at home and with a global audience, offering the variety that modern viewers crave.
