Jaman.com, the California-based online community for world cinema, has signed a 30-film distribution deal with India's National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).

Under the agreement, the films of some of India's most acclaimed directors will be available for download for the first time, said Jaman. The films will be delivered in high-definition directly to viewers around the world.

The collection includes three films from Satyajit Ray as well as works by Kundan Shah, Shyam Benegal and Sudhir Mishra.

Gaurav Dhillon, founder and CEO of Jaman, said: 'These films clearly show that alongside a prolific Bollywood film industry, India has a deep and rich history of cinematic excellence.'