For over 30 years, the city of Detroit has been known for its grit, rebirth, and reinvention. It’s a place where industries have crumbled and rebuilt themselves—and where dreamers either fall short or rise into icons. Tel Ganesan chose the latter.
A former auto engineer turned cultural bridge-builder, Tel Ganesan is leading a bold new wave in independent cinema—one that fuses the vibrancy of Indian storytelling with the edge and urgency of American filmmaking. As the founder of Kyyba Films, Ganesan isn’t just producing films—he’s producing global narratives. And in doing so, he’s redefining what it means to be a creative entrepreneur in the 21st century.
From Assembly Lines to Movie Lines
Before he was rubbing shoulders with actors, producers, and investors, Ganesan spent years in Detroit’s automotive industry. An immigrant from India, he arrived in Michigan with a background in mechanical engineering and a mind wired for innovation. For decades, he thrived in the structured world of engineering—working with global automotive brands and eventually launching Kyyba, Inc., a tech and workforce solutions firm that serviced Fortune 500 companies.
But Tel was never content with the conventional. While Detroit restructured itself after the recession, Ganesan was restructuring himself—shifting from industrial work to intellectual property, and from tech to storytelling.
“I’ve always believed that creativity and business aren’t separate—they’re symbiotic,” Ganesan has said. “Storytelling is strategy.”
The Birth of Kyyba Films
In 2017, Ganesan founded Kyyba Films—a venture that quickly gained attention for producing bold, boundary-breaking films that explore themes of identity, power, and resilience. His vision was clear: to build a cinematic pipeline that would bridge the creative cultures of India and the United States. In a media landscape that often separates East from West, Ganesan saw opportunity in fusion.
One of Ganesan’s most talked-about projects to date is the film Trap City—a gritty, music-driven drama that blurs the lines between art, ambition, and survival. The film stars Brandon T. Jackson as a rising rapper torn between the pressures of the streets and the promise of stardom, with powerful supporting performances from Jeezy, Tray Chaney, Clifton Powell, Erica Pinkett, and Dennis LA White. Executive produced by Ganesan, Trap City doesn’t just entertain—it exposes the systemic traps that exist in both the music industry and underserved communities. With Detroit’s energy pulsing through the narrative, the film reflects Ganesan’s mission to tell stories that are raw, relevant, and culturally layered. It’s a bold testament to his belief that cinema can provoke thought while still moving the crowd.
Under Kyyba Films, Ganesan has continued to produce projects that bring South Asian voices into the mainstream and challenge Hollywood’s narrow representations. He’s made it his mission to amplify diverse storytelling—whether through cross-continental collaborations or spotlighting emerging talent from the Indian diaspora.
Detroit Roots, Global Reach
Detroit may seem like an unlikely home base for a global film disruptor. But for Ganesan, it’s the perfect symbol of rebirth. The Motor City’s entrepreneurial resurgence has paralleled his own. As he often says, “Detroit doesn’t just make things—it reinvents them.” That same reinvention is at the heart of his cinematic work.
Through film festivals, venture investment, and mentorship, Ganesan continues to uplift both his hometown and international creatives—offering a platform for stories that don’t fit the traditional Hollywood mold. And with every project, he’s widening the lens of what’s possible in cinema.
The Future of Fusion
Looking ahead, Tel Ganesan shows no signs of slowing down. His vision is as global as it is local—building bridges between Bollywood and Hollywood, but grounded in the cultural pulse of Detroit.
At a time when the world craves connection, authenticity, and inclusion, Tel Ganesan’s work sits at the intersection of where we’ve been and where we’re going.
Whether through a business pitch or a film script, he’s telling stories that stick—and proving that pressure doesn’t just build diamonds. Sometimes, it builds dynasties.
🎧 Listen to the Podcast
Your full conversation is now live on ATELIER Audio, where listeners can hear how you transitioned from engineer to entrepreneur, how Trap City became a cultural breakthrough, and why you’re committed to merging Indian and American creative influence in the film world.
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