Arun Kumar
Multi-award-winning Director / Writer + Producer Arun Kumar was born and brought up in London. He studied Economics at the University of Essex graduating with honours in 1988. He studied film and video at Goldsmiths College, University of London and at Thames Valley University, London. He studied martial-arts (Wing-Tsun Kung-Fu), Yoga and is a recognised Reiki Master.
After working as a News Producer for the BBC he made his first documentary The Bielski Brothers which was independently financed and sold for broad-cast in Austria, France, Australia and Israel. His next film, the critic-ally acclaimed and controversial Executions was Europe’s biggest selling video in 1995. This success led to him being commissioned by Channel 4 to direct Bengali Backlash in 1996. With this commission he set up his own production company Soma Films now Soma Entertainment. His next commission was The Search for Kurtz which he made for Channel 4 and the History Chan-nel in 1998.
In 1995 along with three partners from film and music Arun took over the legendary Gainsborough studios in North London which had been derelict for a number of years. He built up the business before the landlords decided to change direction and build a luxury apartment complex.
In 1997 he won an Arts Council award to direct a pilot for a comedy drama series Fly on the Wall which began his career in drama. His first screen-play written in 1999 Taxi Driver & the Star-Caged Venus was optioned by legendary Hollywood producer Robert Watts who called it “truly visionary entertainment”.
After several award-winning short films shown around the world, Arun dir-ected his first feature film The Truck of Dreams from his own screenplay for Sahara Motion Pictures in August 2005. This won the World Cinema Best Feature Film Award in the 2006 Washington International Film Festival. In September 2008 Arun took over as Director on The Big I Am starring Leo Gregory, Vincent Regan, Michael Madsen, Paul Kaye, Michael Harvey, Steven Berkoff & Beatrice Rosen. He brought his own team on board after financiers halted the original production, which went considerably over budget. Arun brought the film in on time and in budget.
Arun has directed commercial work for Motorola, Sony, Kvearner and St John Ambulance. Arun has directed music promos for Sophie Barker (HoHum records), Laughing Buddha (EMI) and The Countess.
Feature films in development include Patient Soldier, Far Out Far In, Macalla, Mafeking, Padma Sambhava Calling and Danube Deception.
Arun is developing the scripted series Gatekeepers, Joba Jela, TruthHack, The First Asset, Ghost, The Raven Master and Backbone.
Arun is the consultant for Ars Nova Capital advising them on their global Studio-campus-programme, content-financing and acquisition.
Between 2021-24 Arun wrote the screenplays for Patient Soldier, The Red Throne and Macalla.
He is currently working with legendary British artist Paul Freud on a feature film adaptation of his life Painters Muse.
Arun has spoken on panels in Cannes, London & Mumbai. He has lectured in film, business English and taught Yoga to select private clients.
After working as a News Producer for the BBC he made his first documentary The Bielski Brothers which was independently financed and sold for broad-cast in Austria, France, Australia and Israel. His next film, the critic-ally acclaimed and controversial Executions was Europe’s biggest selling video in 1995. This success led to him being commissioned by Channel 4 to direct Bengali Backlash in 1996. With this commission he set up his own production company Soma Films now Soma Entertainment. His next commission was The Search for Kurtz which he made for Channel 4 and the History Chan-nel in 1998.
In 1995 along with three partners from film and music Arun took over the legendary Gainsborough studios in North London which had been derelict for a number of years. He built up the business before the landlords decided to change direction and build a luxury apartment complex.
In 1997 he won an Arts Council award to direct a pilot for a comedy drama series Fly on the Wall which began his career in drama. His first screen-play written in 1999 Taxi Driver & the Star-Caged Venus was optioned by legendary Hollywood producer Robert Watts who called it “truly visionary entertainment”.
After several award-winning short films shown around the world, Arun dir-ected his first feature film The Truck of Dreams from his own screenplay for Sahara Motion Pictures in August 2005. This won the World Cinema Best Feature Film Award in the 2006 Washington International Film Festival. In September 2008 Arun took over as Director on The Big I Am starring Leo Gregory, Vincent Regan, Michael Madsen, Paul Kaye, Michael Harvey, Steven Berkoff & Beatrice Rosen. He brought his own team on board after financiers halted the original production, which went considerably over budget. Arun brought the film in on time and in budget.
Arun has directed commercial work for Motorola, Sony, Kvearner and St John Ambulance. Arun has directed music promos for Sophie Barker (HoHum records), Laughing Buddha (EMI) and The Countess.
Feature films in development include Patient Soldier, Far Out Far In, Macalla, Mafeking, Padma Sambhava Calling and Danube Deception.
Arun is developing the scripted series Gatekeepers, Joba Jela, TruthHack, The First Asset, Ghost, The Raven Master and Backbone.
Arun is the consultant for Ars Nova Capital advising them on their global Studio-campus-programme, content-financing and acquisition.
Between 2021-24 Arun wrote the screenplays for Patient Soldier, The Red Throne and Macalla.
He is currently working with legendary British artist Paul Freud on a feature film adaptation of his life Painters Muse.
Arun has spoken on panels in Cannes, London & Mumbai. He has lectured in film, business English and taught Yoga to select private clients.