Success in the creative world lies in your ability to capture
the simple, identifiable, everyday small things. In the words
of Albert Szent-Gyorgi, Genius is seeing what everyone has seen,
and thinking what no one has thought. This is how I would like
to define one of India's finest ad filmmaker Prahlad Kakkar. From
"Khatmal Niwas" to his own cigar brand PK, Kakkar's
journey has been one filled with infinite variety and innovation.
Besides a hectic work schedule Kakkar manages a teahouse in Mumbai,
runs a jazz club and trains people in scuba diving in his own
school located in Lakshwadeep. He has been inducted into the Indian
Ad Film Makers Hall of Fame.
A graduate from Fergusson College, Pune, he started work in 1972,
with filmmaker Shyam Benegal. His monthly income was Rs. 300,
which, he spend in setting up an office table at "Khatmal
Niwas''(the place was infested with mosquitoes, therefore the
name).
For six years, he assisted Benegal in making ad films and art
films, example Ankur, Manthan, and Bhumika. He later went on to
set up his own production house "Genesis". Initially
he accepted anything that came his way. The difference was in
the way he presented those ads. In his words they were special,
irreverent and over a period of time it became a style.
The one thing Kakkar detests is a "boring script''. However,
if he happens to come across one that can put a smile to his face,
he crafts it into a memorable film. According to Kakkar it's the
human element in ad film that makes all the difference. Being
able to pick up mannerisms and emotions are the key to a successful
film. The idea is to be able to relate to human emotions.
He is against the use of technology for the sake of technology.
Unless and until it is vital to the script, Kakkar avoids it,
since it has little or no value.
Presently, he directs TV commercials, trains assistants and sets
them up. He has no qualms about teaching youngsters his style.
That's the only way to stay young. For Kakkar, being young at
heart makes all the difference. Of all the ad filmmakers, Kakkar
works for the youngest brands in the market. Pepsi, Kit Kat, Nestle,
Maggie Sauces and many more. He believes to understand the young,
you have to be young yourself.
Prannoy Roy was born on October 15, 1949. He graduated from Doon
School and went on to Haileybury (UK) to get his A-levels. He
did a BSc with distinction from London University, after which
he qualified as a Chartered Accountant. He pursued a Ph.D from
the Delhi School of Economics where he also taught for a year.
In
1987 Prannay Roy shifted to the electronic media. He had people
glued to their television sets with The World this Week.
He is responsible for changing the face of news broadcasting almost
beyond recognition. He is aptly termed the brand-equity of New
Delhi Television (NDTV).
Sophisticated handsome
cerebral and a man of few words! Prannoy Roy is more than just
an anchor in Star News. He is an economist, a chartered accountant,
an author, a computer man owning a software company, a commentator
on current affairs and the owner of New Delhi Television.
He
is responsible for making political news interesting! It does
not matter which political party wins or loses during the elections,
one man wins: Prannoy Roy. He dominates the election scene more
than any political leader. His speech is soft, facts well researched,
and his predictions savvy. He has made Indian elections less mystical
and more mathematical, the one whose prime time all the time.
In 1989 in collaboration with the Marketing and Research Group
(MARG) he conducted an exit poll where he interviewed 77,000 voters
who were leaving the polling booths after exercising their vote.
He predicted the win of Congress, and when the results were declared
Roy had hit the nail on the head!!
He's
up at the crack of dawn to play golf and then dashes off to his
office for a series of meetings and edit conferences. At the end
of the day when most of us are ready to hit the sack Roy is saying,
almost in a tone of apology, "We'll be back after a short
commercial break. Stay with us."