"Meet Manoj Punjabi, Owner of Rs 21,000 Crore Film Company, Not from India or Hollywood"

While Indian, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean cinema have long dominated the Asian entertainment scene, an Indonesian film has recently made a significant impact on the global stage. The 2022 horror movie KKN di Desa Penari (Dancing Village: The Curse Begins), produced by Manoj Punjabi, is shifting the dynamics of Southeast Asian cinema.

This film's massive success has brought the spotlight to Manoj Punjabi, the co-founder and CEO of PT MD Pictures, Indonesia's leading film production company. His ambition? To build a “new Hollywood” in Southeast Asia and position Indonesia as a dominant force in global cinema.

KKN di Desa Penari: A Phenomenon

KKN di Desa Penari has become a cultural milestone in Indonesia. With over 10 million tickets sold, it is the highest-grossing Indonesian film of all time, breaking records that no other local film has come close to achieving. In fact, the film’s earnings even surpassed those of Hollywood’s Avengers: Infinity War in Indonesia.

The success of the film gave a significant boost to PT MD Pictures' stock prices, which in turn has dramatically increased Manoj Punjabi’s personal wealth.

Manoj Punjabi's Growing Fortune

Reports suggest that Manoj’s stake in PT MD Pictures has helped elevate his net worth to an estimated $1.8 billion (around Rs 15,614 crore), making him one of the wealthiest filmmakers in the world. With PT MD Pictures now valued at approximately Rs 21,000 crore, the company stands as Indonesia’s largest film production house, playing a key role in the country’s rapidly expanding entertainment industry.

A Legacy of Filmmaking Excellence

Manoj Punjabi's success is deeply rooted in his family’s filmmaking legacy. Alongside his father Dhamoo Punjabi and his uncle Raam Punjabi, Manoj has been a major influence on Indonesia's film industry. Together, the Punjabi family is often referred to as ‘Indonesia’s Hollywood’ by local media, underscoring their immense influence and contributions to the industry.

International Recognition on the Horizon

According to Jeffrey Bahar, Chief Operating Officer at Spire Research and Consulting, Manoj Punjabi’s achievements are beginning to gain significant international recognition. With KKN di Desa Penari’s success and PT MD Pictures’ growing prominence, Manoj is helping Indonesian cinema make a mark on the global stage, signaling a bright future for the industry.