Praveka: A film company driven by the mission and vision of a young woman entrepreneur

By K.R. Nayar

Being an admirer of good cinema and acting, it is exciting to write about a unique and special happening in the film world. Praveka Film Company, which will be based in Dubai, was officially launched in Kochi, Kerala, on October 23, 2026  and inaugurated by megastar Mammootty. Founded by a family that breathes cinema, Praveka’s vision is to take cinema to audiences across the GCC and major international markets, connecting films with the right theatres, platforms and audiences.

Launch of Praveka Film Company by mega star Mammootty with top film personalities

Kavya Venu is the founder and CEO of the company, while Priya Venu is the Managing Partner. Backing their vision is Kavya’s father, Venu Kunnappilly, who is today one of the Malayalam film industry's most successful producers. His wife, Priya, who has been the strength behind several mega-hit movies, comes to the fore with her strong background in film distribution and market strategy. I have personally experienced their deep-rooted love for films, having acted in two of their super-hit movies – 2018, which was India’s official entry to the Oscars 2024, and Rekhachithram, a mystery thriller.

These movies were produced by Kavya Films, a production and distribution house named after Kavya, who founded Praveka and will be leading its strategy, partnerships and international expansion.

How is it that Praveka will give Indian cinema a bigger stage beyond borders? This company arrives at a time when Indian cinema is travelling faster and farther than ever before. This will be more than just a film distribution house. The intent of the company is also to ensure that a good story does not stop at a border. We have seen how a good film, for example, one made in Kerala, can have emotions that travel to every part of the world.

Priya Venu - Managing Partner 

This is what Priya Venu hopes to ensure – finding the right audience, the right screens and the right markets. And that makes Praveka an interesting and timely venture. Today, Indian cinema is no longer confined to the geographical boundaries of the country in which it is produced. Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Hindi films are now travelling across continents.

What Praveka will do is find audiences who may not speak the language of a film but understand its emotions. This is where Praveka can make a difference. The company aims to work closely with producers, rights holders and exhibitors in the right territories and at the right time.

Praveka Film Company team 

Praveka and its team know that distribution is no longer merely about putting a film into theatres. It is about understanding markets, audiences, release windows, exhibition patterns and the increasingly global appetite for Indian stories.

Mega star Mammootty arrives for the launch 

Kavya Films’ successful movies have been based on the philosophy that, for a film to be successful, it needs a great audience. But finding that audience is itself an art. Praveka, based in Dubai, will act as the bridge. Dubai is known not just as the City of Gold but also as a place where cultures meet, businesses cross borders and millions of people from the Indian subcontinent live, work, earn and dream. It has a reputation as one of the world’s most important meeting points between India and international markets. Hence, for Praveka, Dubai has become more than just a headquarters – it is a bridge between the Indian film industry and the world.

Film director Hariharan with Siddique during the launch 

A cinematic reunion led by Mammootty

Praveka’s official launch in Kochi on October 23, 2026 reflected the importance the industry attaches to the new venture. Many leading actors were present when the company was inaugurated by Mammootty in the presence of several prominent personalities, including Dileep, Vinayakan, Joju George, Indrans, Siddique, filmmaker Hariharan and even Tamil actor Sarathkumar. It looked like a beautiful cinematic reunion. All these personalities gave Praveka a vote of confidence.

Actors Vinayakan and Dileep at the launch

The fact that young Kavya is leading the company reveals that a new generation has stepped forward to take up the challenge. The venture will benefit from the experienced presence of Priya, who will play an important role in acquisitions, release planning and partner relations. Venu Kunnappilly, as a producer, has shown that the cinema of tomorrow will belong not only to those who make the best films but also to those who know how to take those films to the world.

Kavya Venu.. the founder and CEO with a dream

Kavya has understood that the modern distributor must understand cinema, commerce, technology, audiences and geography. A film released successfully in Dubai may require a different strategy in England, Australia or Canada.

Tale of Kavya’s mission and vision

Kavya explained Praveka’s mission and vision in detail: “Praveka’s main vision is based on my belief that producers are not just big corporate houses but also ordinary human beings. They are people who have invested years of effort, their feelings and their dreams in a film. I feel they have the right to know what is happening to their film and everything about it – how much revenue it can generate, how much the film is collecting, and when and how their final settlements will be made. They should not be in a situation where they have to keep following up endlessly on all these matters. I firmly believe that, through Praveka, my main vision is to create a space where producers feel valued and are kept informed about every single rupee they have invested in their movies.”

Praveka is also an inspiring tale of Kavya, who has pursued her dream since a young age. She narrated her journey: “This was not a plan that emerged suddenly but one that I had nurtured as a dream for many years. I studied in Dubai, and from a young age, I had developed a passion for marketing and strategy and focused on these areas for many years. I also learned a lot while working with Kavya Films and understood the effort that goes into making a film – from script narration and the hard work during shooting to editing, post-production, and, finally, bringing the film to audiences around the world. I understood the effort that goes into every stage and realised that the final product is the result of the hard work of many people. Based on the experience I gained while working with Kavya Films, I realised that distribution was the area that suited me best.”

“I am proud to enter the film industry as a young woman, and if any woman who wants to enter this industry is inspired by the work done by Praveka, even by one per cent, then I know that I would have done something right,” she said.

Kavya's brother Kashi with parents Venu Kunnappilly and Priya 

“I am thankful to my amazing parents. My father has taught me a big lesson: if you have a dream, believe in it wholeheartedly and then put in all the effort required to achieve it. My mother’s biggest piece of advice is that, however high you rise, you must never forget where you come from; never forget grace, kindness and respect. So, I thank my father and mother for bringing me up with such strong values and for giving me the confidence to take on such a venture. I am immensely thankful to my amazing brother, Kashi, who makes me a better human being every day, and to my grandparents, whose blessings are always with me, as well as my friends, who are my biggest support system.”

Breaking language barriers and crossing borders

Praveka has been created with the understanding that a movie sometimes takes months or even years to make. Hundreds of people contribute to its success. Actors give performances that define their careers. Writers may spend years developing a story, but all this ultimately leads to one question: who will see it? This is where Praveka takes charge. The distributor is the bridge between creation and consumption, between the filmmaker’s imagination and the audience’s experience. Praveka will carry the producer’s dream. A language may tell us where a film comes from, but Praveka can determine how far that film can travel.

Praveka will respond to your enquiries, whether you want to submit a film, book a theatre or explore a career opportunity. What Praveka will be looking for are compelling stories with strong content, unique perspectives and audience appeal, including feature films and documentaries. Write to info@pravekafilms.com or call +971 50 389 2492.