What Benaras Media Works Pvt. Ltd does

Benaras Media Works Pvt. Ltd is an independent Indian film production house founded in 2012 and headquartered in Andheri West, Mumbai. The company is led by founder-director Anubhav Sinha and operates with a lean team of approximately 13 employees. Its core business is the development, production, and distribution of narrative-driven Hindi feature films and limited series with socially conscious themes — covering caste discrimination (Article 15, 2019), gender-based violence (Thappad, 2020), communal tensions (Mulk, 2018; Afwaah, 2023), religious extremism (Faraaz, 2023), the COVID-19 migrant crisis (Bheed, 2023), and political conflict in Northeast India (Anek, 2022). The portfolio includes twelve feature films and one Netflix limited series (IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, 2024).

The company makes money through three revenue streams: (i) theatrical box office collections from cinema releases, (ii) post-theatrical digital licensing to streaming platforms including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, ZEE5, and Eros Now, and (iii) separate music rights licensing for film soundtracks. Production financing is structured through co-producer relationships with established players such as Zee Studios (Thappad) and T-Series (Gulaab Gang, Assi), as well as individual producers (Deepak Mukut for Mulk; Sunil Lulla for Warning). This structure lets Benaras minimize solo balance-sheet exposure while retaining creative control and a share of downstream revenues. The company serves two distinct customer bases simultaneously: B2B (streaming platforms and co-producers acquiring distribution and financing rights) and B2C (theatrical and streaming audiences). Its marketing is concentrated on its owned website (benaras.co) and an active Instagram channel.

Across its operating history the company has accumulated industry recognition in the form of multiple Filmfare Awards, Star Screen Awards, Dadasaheb Phalke Film Foundation Awards, Critics Choice Film Awards, and Zee Cine Awards, positioning it as a credible purveyor of content-led rather than star-led cinema. Distribution is split between domestic theatrical windows and global OTT licensing, giving Benaras a diversified but still largely India-centered commercial footprint, with international reach only via streaming partners.

Name

Benaras Media Works Pvt. Ltd

Legal name

Benaras Media Works Pvt. Ltd

Website

https://benaras.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Benaras Media Works is a Mumbai-based independent Hindi film production house founded in 2012 by Anubhav Sinha, producing socially conscious feature films and the Netflix limited series IC 814, distributed via theatrical release and OTT licensing to Netflix, ZEE5, Amazon Prime Video, and Eros Now.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Motion Picture Production

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (512110), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512), Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Content Production (Video, Design, Copy, Studio) (BPAFAAAF)

Keywords

• Film production
• Feature films
• Theatrical distribution
• Streaming content
• Limited series

Headquarters

HQ city

Mumbai

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Theatrical Film Releases: Films are produced and released in cinemas, generating revenue through box office collections. Notable releases include Mulk (2018), Article 15 (2019), Thappad (2020), Bheed (2023), and Faraaz (2023).
2. Streaming Platform Licensing: After theatrical release, films are licensed to streaming platforms including Netflix, ZEE5, Amazon Prime Video, and Eros Now for digital distribution rights.
3. Music Rights: Film soundtracks and music rights are licensed separately, contributing to revenue streams.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Benaras Media Works is an Indian film production house that develops, produces, and finances feature films and limited series with socially relevant themes. The company monetizes its content through theatrical distribution partnerships and by licensing titles to leading streaming platforms including Netflix, ZEE5, Amazon Prime Video, and Eros Now.

Product overview

Benaras Media Works is a film production house established in 2012 by Anubhav Sinha. The company produces feature films and limited series across various genres including social dramas, political thrillers, and romantic comedies. Their portfolio includes critically acclaimed films such as Mulk (2018), Article 15 (2019), Thappad (2020), and more recent productions like Bheed (2023), Afwaah (2023), and Faraaz (2023). The company also produces the Netflix limited series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack (2024). Films are distributed through major streaming platforms including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and ZEE5, as well as theatrical releases. The company has won multiple awards including Filmfare Awards, Star Screen Awards, and Dadasaheb Phalke Film Foundation Awards for their socially relevant storytelling.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mulk Feature film dealing with communal prejudice and the personal costs of social bias, targeted at adult Indian theatrical audiences and later streaming viewers.
• Article 15 Feature film inspired by the Indian Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, dealing with caste-based discrimination for adult theatrical and streaming audiences.
• Thappad Feature film exploring domestic relationships, gender equity, and the impact of a single act of violence within a marriage, for adult theatrical and streaming audiences.
• Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar Feature film centered on two contrasting characters caught up in a crime, targeted at adult theatrical audiences.
• Bheed Feature film set during the 2020 India migrant labor crisis and national lockdown, for adult theatrical and streaming audiences.
• Anek Feature film addressing insurgency and political conflict in Northeast India, for adult theatrical and streaming audiences.
• Batti Gul Meter Chalu
• Tum Bin Romantic drama feature film produced and directed by company founder Anubhav Sinha, targeted at adult Indian theatrical audiences.
• Ra.One Bollywood science-fiction superhero feature film produced by the company and its founder, targeted at mass Indian theatrical audiences.
• Streaming-licensed limited series Limited series produced by the company and licensed to subscription video on demand platforms including Netflix, ZEE5, Amazon Prime Video, and Eros Now, targeted at platform subscribers.

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• NetflixcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetflix serves as the primary streaming platform for several Benaras Media Works films including IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, Bheed, Faraaz, Afwaah, and Article 15. Films are available globally on the Netflix platform for streaming.
• ZEE5coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorZEE5 is a major streaming partner for Benaras Media Works content, featuring films including Mulk, Tum Bin 2, Middle Class Love, and Assi on its platform.
• Zee StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZee Studios co-produced Thappad with Benaras Media Works. This is a significant co-production partnership for the production house.
• Amazon Prime VideomajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAmazon Prime Video serves as a streaming platform for Thappad and Tum Bin 2, distributing content to its global subscriber base.
• Eros NowminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEros Now streams Warning, a film produced by Benaras Media Works.
• Sudhir MishracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSudhir Mishra directed Afwaah, one of Benaras Media Works' films. He is one of three path-breaking directors (along with Hansal Mehta and Anubhav Sinha) working on an anthology film project.
• Hansal MehtacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHansal Mehta directed Faraaz for Benaras Media Works. He is collaborating on an anthology film project along with Sudhir Mishra and Anubhav Sinha.
• Zees StudiomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerZees Studio is partnered with Benaras Media Works for an upcoming coming of age film project.
• Bhushan Kumar, Krishan KumarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBhushan Kumar and Krishan Kumar co-produced Gulaab Gang and Assi with Benaras Media Works under the T-Series banner.
• Deepak MukutmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeepak Mukut co-produced Mulk (2018) with Benaras Media Works.
• Sunil LullamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSunil Lulla co-produced Warning with Benaras Media Works.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/p/Cqm1lFroHUR
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/benaras-media-works-pvt-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Benaras Media Works Pvt. Ltd