Arun Bose – Director of Luca
Meet the writer-director who began his filmmaking journey by self-shooting an entire Tamil feature film with a two-member crew — just himself, his Canon 60D camera, and his actor friend — while travelling on a Honda Activa scooter from Chennai to Rameswaram. That same actor, Nithin George, later went on to play the second lead in his debut blockbuster Luca, starring Tovino Thomas and Ahana Krishna.
From the quiet lanes of Muvattupuzha in Kerala to the bright lights of the film industry, Arun Bose has carved a name for himself as one of Malayalam cinema’s most promising new-age directors. Best known for his acclaimed film Luca, Arun’s journey to the director’s chair is a story of passion, perseverance, and self-discovery.
Growing up, Arun was drawn to the arts — painting and writing were his favorite pursuits. Yet, like many young dreamers, he initially took a different path, enrolling in a B.Sc. program in Computer Science in Hyderabad. It didn’t take long, however, for him to realize that coding was not his true calling. When he confided in his father about his desire to pursue something creative, his father encouraged him wholeheartedly.
A chance visit to a computer centre changed everything. When Arun asked the staff how he could make the rotating globe that appeared at the beginning of the Doordarshan news, they suggested studying multimedia — and soon, he found himself at Arena Multimedia in Hyderabad. There, he discovered his love for sound design and editing. After completing both his degree and the multimedia course, he applied to the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune but didn’t make the cut.
Unfazed, Arun moved to Chennai and joined Madras Christian College (MCC) for an MA in Mass Communication — a decision that would redefine his life. During his time at MCC, he made his first short documentary and forged friendships that would later prove invaluable in his career.
After graduation, he returned to Kochi and began assisting on several ad films. Later, he took up a job in the IT sector in Chennai, balancing a demanding day job with his passion for filmmaking. Using his own savings, he continued making short films and spent hours studying cinema. During those days, he would spend every evening after work watching films at festivals organised by the Indo Cine Appreciation Foundation (ICAF), Chennai.
A turning point came when he joined the National Folklore Support Centre (NFSC) in Nungambakkam, which allowed him to travel across India documenting tribal and rural life. During this period, he made a short film titled My Paper Boat and submitted it to an international short film competition organised by the British Council. Out of more than 600 entries, his film won first prize and was screened at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, for a week — a moment Arun describes as the true beginning of his filmmaking journey. Director Shekhar Kapur was one of the jury members, which Arun considers the biggest blessing he has ever received, as Kapur has been his role model since he began watching serious cinema.
The win opened new doors. Arun earned a scholarship to study abroad and completed his master’s degree in Film Studies in the UK. Upon returning to Chennai, he began scripting his first feature film. When that project didn’t take off, he shifted focus to another story — one that would eventually become Luca, starring Tovino Thomas. The romantic thriller not only marked Arun’s directorial debut but also established him as a distinctive new voice in Malayalam cinema. Interestingly, many of Luca’s crew members were friends who had worked with him on a secret independent feature film he had shot himself while travelling from Chennai to Rameswaram, titled Alaiyin Thisai: The Way of the Wave. The project was his brave attempt to prove to himself that he could make a film with nearly nothing.
Today, Arun is gearing up for the release of his next film, Mindiyum Paranjum, featuring Unni Mukundan and Aparna Balamurali. Known for his collaborative approach, Arun firmly believes that “It’s not the best people who make the right film; it’s the right people who make the best film.”
With his creative instincts, grounded vision, and relentless dedication, Arun Bose continues to emerge as one of the most exciting directors to watch in contemporary Indian cinema.
