U.K.-based film programmers Omar Ahmed and Ranjit S. Ruprai are set to debut The Cloud Door, a new boutique label dedicated to bringing South Asian cinema to global audiences, with Kamal Swaroop’s influential cult film “Om Dar-B-Dar” (1988) as its inaugural release.
The launch addresses a persistent void in the home video market, where South Asian cinema has been historically underserved by major distribution labels. Despite the continual growth of physical media and a dedicated fan base for Indian classics, many significant works from the region remain unavailable in high-quality home video formats. The Cloud Door’s initiative aims to remedy this gap, particularly focusing on cult classics and contemporary masterpieces that have long been sought after by collectors and cinephiles.
Named after a Mani Kaul short film, The Cloud Door aims to fill this significant gap in the home video market while also facilitating easier cinema exhibition through partnerships with film archives. The label plans to offer high-definition releases complete with exclusive bonus features, including commissioned artwork, booklets with new writing, filmmaker interviews, and archival materials.
The label will focus on both classic and contemporary South Asian cinema, with special attention paid to diasporic filmmakers from the U.K., U.S. and Canada. Each release will feature high-definition video and audio, emphasizing cultural context and historical significance.
The founders bring substantial credentials to the venture. Ahmed, a film scholar with a PhD from the University of Manchester, has curated major programs including the “Not Just Bollywood” season and recently organized Indian cinema showcases at London’s Barbican and the Leeds International Film Festival. Ruprai, known for founding Supakino, a film screening organization that shows movies on unusual themes, has established himself in London’s indie cinema scene with unique programming concepts like “Turbans Seen On Screen” and “Bombay Mix double-bills.”
A crowdfunding campaign for pre-orders of “Om Dar-B-Dar” is planned, with the label targeting an end-of-2025 ship date for its first release. Film clubs will have access to screening licenses at discounted rates, furthering the label’s mission of broader distribution for South Asian cinema.
“A boutique Blu-ray label and film licensing service dedicated to South Asian cinema is long overdue,” said Ruprai and Ahmed. “Film fans around the world will finally get a chance to own many of these films in high definition and loaded with extras. We are taking great care to deliver the high levels of curation and love for cinema that we see in the very best boutique home video labels out there.”
Omar Ahmed, Ranjit S. Ruprai
Nishant Shukla