Storied Indian production house Narang Films unveiled a genre-heavy slate of international projects at Mip London, positioning itself at the intersection of horror, crime, and thriller storytelling as it expands through its recently established London office.
The eight-decade-old company, which began its cinematic journey during the black and white film era, is looking to leverage its rich heritage while developing contemporary content for global audiences. Leading the charge is director Raveesh Narang, who brings a decade of industry experience in creative development and production.
“We believe that synergizing with the right talent and team always leads to success,” said Narang. “Our aim is to identify, develop and produce unique and compelling stories that can resonate with audiences globally.”
The company’s newly announced slate includes “Protector,” a thriller following Gwen, a burnt-out social worker pushed to extremes by the horrors she has witnessed over fifteen years in child protection. The project, which will begin as a film and will continue as a series, combines elements of crime and detective genres as the protagonist investigates cases to uncover hidden truths. Simon Fantauzzo pens the script with Steve M. Kelly attached to direct. Kelly is known for films including “The Bromley Boys,” “City Rats,” and BBC productions including “Father Brown.”
Fantauzzo’s credits include “City Rats,” “Estranged,” starring Amy Manson and James Cosmo and “Convenience” with Vicky McClure and Adeel Akhtar. In 2021, his ZEE5 original film “State of Siege: Akshardham” received acclaim in India. In 2023, his historical drama “Taj: Royal Blood” became the highest-streamed show on the ZEE5 platform.
“Carnage” is a horror anthology described as a “blood-soaked highway” collection where “every mile driven is a descent into terror.” Writer Fantauzzo and director Marco DeLuca helm this project, which can be developed as either a film or series. The anthology explores horror themes set on roadways, with interconnected stories featuring potential serial killers, criminals, victims and vengeful characters.
“The Dependence” is a gritty vampire series blending action, crime and western genres created by Fantauzzo and DeLuca. The story follows a vampire named Nathan who goes on the run with an Albanian immigrant after saving her from being killed by his own undead gang. The series examines moral complexity as Nathan confronts his past, including reconnecting with his estranged daughter Eva, an MMA fighter, while evading a vengeful vampire mob boss. The 10-episode series aims to provide a unique take on vampire lore while addressing real-life issues.
DeLuca joins the “Carnage” and “The Dependence” projects fresh from the Italian success of thriller feature “Buio come il Cuore.” The Italian-born filmmaker’s shorts “This is You” and “Park Life” were selected for the BFI Flare Festival and his vampire short “Forever” has screened at genre festivals including Hollyshorts and Outfest LA.
“The Green Web” is a crime thriller series set in northeast India. It explores the nexus between insurgent groups, drug smuggling, and arms trafficking in the Golden Triangle region. Written by Lakhinandan Boruah, the series follows a troubled cop, a drug kingpin, and a relentless journalist whose lives collide in what the company describes as a “breathtaking battle for revenge, survival, justice and truth.” The series aims to capture the aesthetic of acclaimed crime dramas like “The Wire,” “Narcos” and “Traffic.”
Narang Films has a pioneering history in Indian cinema, having produced “Chittagong Armoury Raid,” a feature film based on a revolution movement in the early 1950s, and “Anmol Moti” (1969), the first Indian movie shot completely underwater.
The company has indicated plans to explore IP expansion for its new projects across multiple formats including film, series, gaming, and graphic novels — a strategy Narang notes “not only increases the chances for the projects to be made but also potentially generates multiple revenue streams.”
