Category: Career Guidance

Tanujj Garg and his career path in the entertainment business epitomize a fresh new wave in the Indian film industry. The Indian audiences are decidedly treating content as King, and a new generation of producers has its finger on the pulse.

After completing his education, Tanuj worked with Disney UTV and Viacom 18 before joining Balaji Motion Pictures in 2010 as their CEO. In 2016, he partnered with Atul Kasbekar to launch his own production company, Ellipsis Entertainment. With over 17 years of experience in the entertainment industry, we thought Tanuj would be a perfect resource for an inside view on the actual ‘business’ of entertainment, and he was kind enough to oblige us by answering a few questions.

Q1. Growing up in Mumbai, the film industry is all pervasive. Did you ever imagine in your student years that your business would be ‘show business’?

A1. Well, honestly, I had never imagined that I’d eventually be in the Indian media and entertainment business. Having said that, I was always inclined towards this sector; I felt myself organically drawn towards it even though my parents wanted me to pursue a chartered accountancy degree, which I tried to pursue but was miserable at. Then I decided to pursue my passion and one thing led to another. My passion started turning into my profession, which, I think, is the best position for any individual to be in.

Q2. What kind of education do you think would be advantageous for someone looking to make a career in the movie production business?

A2. I didn’t really go through any formal education in the movie production process. There’s absolutely nothing better than learning on the job, which is what I did. I learnt things the hard way by actually getting my hands dirty, being on the ground and learning the ropes of the business whilst actually working in the thick of things. There’s no better education than that. Having said that, I pursued my MBA in the UK, with a double specialization in marketing and strategy, which has been a huge advantage. The MBA gives you a generalist business perspective; it provides a holistic view of how to conduct and run a business, which, sub-consciously, has come handy in the organizations I’ve helmed, and now of course, in my own entrepreneurial outfit (Ellipsis Entertainment).

Q3. Which personality traits would you say are essential for success in this line of work?

A3. I’d like to believe that this should be true of most other businesses as well but I can speak for the business I am in. What is crucial to our line of work is, first things first, you need to be progressive and sociable, you need to have great people skills, interpersonal skills and communication skills. Like I said earlier, these are crucial to any business today. I can’t think of any business that does not require these skills. I think these are on the softer side. On the more functional side it’s important to have great organizational and coordination skills.

Q4. What are your thoughts on ‘expectations versus reality’ in terms of the glamour aspect of the movie business?

A4. Fortunately or unfortunately, as an outsider, one has a very different perception of the industry. One obviously sees just the glamorous side. For people like us who are on the inside, and who are involved in the day-to-day business behind the scenes, it’s like any other business. I can speak for myself. We like to have our heads firmly planted on our shoulders, put our heads down and work hard. But I can see and understand why the industry is so enchanting and mesmerising for the audience, because it’s sexy, larger than life and aspirational! 

Q5. In your opinion, what is the most prominent factor that differentiates the business of movies from other businesses?

A5. I don’t think the business of movies is different from any other business. I think the laws and the principles that apply to any other business are as applicable to the movie business. Whether it is horizon planning, financial planning, human resource management, marketing or forecasting; it’s all the same. Of course, ours is a creative business; but I’m sure other businesses are creative in their own way. Deep beneath the veneer of creativity, is the business side. However, it also depends on which side of the camera you are on. If you are behind the scenes (like I am), it is like any other business.

Q6. How have digital streaming platforms impacted the entertainment industry?

A6. The recent arrival of the digital OTT wave in our industry has had mixed views, but to my mind it has been a huge blessing for various reasons. For one, it has radically altered the consumption habits of our audience. It has exposed them to a variety of multi-genre content, thereby altering their tastes, attitudes and preferences to a large extent. In any case, I have felt in the last couple of years the Indian audience has hugely evolved, evidenced by the kind of films that have been working at the box office. A lot of rules have changed, a lot of myths have been busted. It is no longer about a ‘star cast’; it is about the story and the narrative. For young, progressive filmmakers/producers like us, this is great news. Ellipsis aims to work towards content that is commercial, yet unconventional. Secondly, from a business perspective, OTT is great because suddenly our options increase; we are no longer dependent on the theatrical route. We have access to the straight-to-digital route too. With this in mind, I think the OTT wave has been hugely welcome. I will, however, qualify this by saying that theatrical is never going to go out of vogue. The theatrical business is going to remain alive and flourishing. It is not an experience you can ever substitute, because the theatrical experience in India is about community watching and about family outings.

Q7. What do you see as the most exciting aspect of the future of entertainment?

A7. With regard to films and series, we have already seen a massive explosion in the last couple of years. Especially with the OTT platforms coming in, there is a flood of content making the consumers spoilt for choice. Every other person is literally hooked on to some series or the other, and these are hugely exciting times for content creators and content consumers alike. As content creators we are now creating content not just for the theatrical audiences but also for the digital platforms and audiences. The quantum of content available for the average Indian consumer is massive. Hopefully this is only going to grow over the coming years with more OTT platforms and more technologies coming in. I think the demand for content is going to grow unabated.

Q8. What has been the most rewarding project for you in your career so far?

A8. Well, that’s like asking a parent which is his/her favorite child! That’s an unfair question! In some shape or capacity I have been associated with more than 37 films so far. Each of them has created a unique memory. It’s like 37 chapters in my life. It’s a long journey that you live with every film. Of course, in some films I was acting in the capacity of a distributor, in some films a co-producer, and in several others a producer; but the fact remains that there is a huge emotional attachment with every baby that I have had the privilege to release. While it would be unfair of me to single out one or two, I will say “Tumhari Sulu”, “Rang De Basanti”, “Neerja”, “Ek Villain”, “Lootera” and “The Dirty Picture” have been my favs.

• The interview was originally published in Career Ahead October 2020 issue.

A healthy lifestyle is nothing but a management system, just like the one at your office or your home. You must have a similar system for your life as well. To boost immunity and improve your overall wellbeing, I highly recommend Indian classical performing arts. It is a lifestyle essential to remain healthy and well.

Eventually the ultimate goal of human existence, according to Indian philosophy, is Moksha – the liberation of the soul from the life-cycle, or spiritual enlightenment. Worship of sound – Nadopasana, is taught as an essential means to reach Moksha. The deeper you go, the higher the ‘ananda’, or joy, you experience. This sacred approach to sound is a notable feature of Indian culture.

Indian classical dance and music is one of the oldest unbroken musical traditions in the world. Music is inextricably interwoven not only with the ritualistic and devotional side of religious lives, but it is also influential in day-to-day life experiences. From birth until death, music accompanies a person. Indian classical dance and music do not just engage your five senses and take you through meditative experiences; they are extremely helpful in balancing your mind, body and energies.

I have personally experienced immense possibilities in my life which inspired me to promote the Indian classical dance form Kathak – to redefine it, beyond just a hobby or a lifestyle, and introduce it to the masses as a wellbeing mantra through ‘Natya Yoga’ training programs. Over the last 21 years my experience of training men and women of different professions and from different parts of the world has reinforced my belief that classical dance and music calms the mind and reinvigorates individuals. It also alleviates health problems; people suffering from lifestyle-related diseases find my program immensely helpful. 

Following a pattern, a system, brings out the best in us. Nature itself follows a series of patterns, in the form of the Fibonacci series. Our system is designed to learn and grow in a pattern, and when you arrange a set of patterned series, it works naturally to bring out the best in you! While learning a classical format, you are tapping on a certain Taal, on systematic beats; your body is moving in sync with your feet, and so is your mind. These recurring patterns create a union of mind, body and energies. This union has a powerful impact on your life, often far beyond what we can imagine!

Be it stress reduction, insomnia prevention, emotion control, high blood pressure, or diabetes; I have experienced magical results in my students when they become accustomed to this art form and make it a part of their everyday life. Students have experienced improved attention in sports and studies, and it has helped the middle-aged in conditioning their muscles, bones and ligaments. It can help people with a history of depression by merely releasing good hormones and sending happy signals to the brain. By indulging in this one art, you can achieve all these benefits, all in one go.

While learning and practicing an art form one is able to express their emotions and share their deepest thoughts without being judged. This relieves stress from the mind, which is the root cause of most diseases. Through Kathak, one also learns and masters the art of imagination and expression, which attracts positive and constructive thoughts and gives positive signals to your subconscious mind. The subconscious mind has the power to change your life!

Emotional scars are more severe than physical wounds. We should not ignore them just because they cannot be seen. We tend to neglect these and move on. We believe in the common phrase, ‘seeing is believing’, and so ignore emotional scars, which causes those scars to be buried deep inside us. This leads to emotional illness, and many other psychological disorders. So, act in the present, attend to those wounds in the present, before you take them along with you to the future, where they may evolve into something that is beyond your control. To see your life change in a positive direction you need to let things change on the inside, because this is what will reflect outside; and art indeed is the best way to induce such changes. When you commit to the positive things in life – such as a useful hobby, a healthy habit and lifestyle – try it out, give it time and settle into it at your own pace. Fall in love with music and motion, and it will love you back, unconditionally – filling you with health and happiness!

• The article was originally published in Career Ahead October 2020 issue.

One memory from my childhood that stands out clearly above all else, is of me sitting at the dining table, sketching. My mother would save all sorts of paper, pencils and pens for me to use when I returned from school. Such freedom gave me a foundation of curiosity to explore art of all kinds.

Through school, college and beyond, I seemed anchored in creating my own world in different hues. It never occurred to me to study art formally, and I pursued my education in psychology instead, which was another subject that I enjoyed intensely. I went on to get a degree in Education followed by a Diploma in Counselling.

It was while working at SAARTHAK – an NGO active in the field of mental health – that I realized, first hand, the calming and soothing effect art had on most people. I started working out art-related activities for small groups of children and adults. These were not art-therapy based as much as they were therapeutic in nature. 

The art room soon became a safe and encouraging environment for members to be in. It was insightful to see how people across age groups responded to color, line, space and materials.

It was around this time that my focus shifted to my own creative journey and I decided to give it my full attention by exploring mediums and subjects that excited me. I spent more time learning, reading, painting and sketching than I had ever done before. It was challenging yet highly rewarding. This culminated in my first solo show in 2005 at the India Habitat Center.

With time, my interest in art and psychology were integrated and for the past eleven years I have had the opportunity to work at AADI (Action for Ability Development and Inclusion) as an Art Facilitator for people with disabilities. Everyone is encouraged to discover their own comfort level and understand that there is no right or wrong way in art. To accept and appreciate differences and celebrate them is the norm. Innovative and exciting use of everyday items such as earbuds, shaving brushes, plastic forks, candle wax, cotton wool, toothbrushes, and so forth, created unconventional textures and gave rise to new ideas that could be explored further. We have explored flash-cards, coffee-table books, social stories and social media to keep us inspired.

The longitudinal nature of my work at AADI has given me some interesting opportunities to see members take their art from tentative mark-making to creating full-fledged and confident artworks. We have had five exhibitions at the AADI Art Gallery over this period. These have been enthusiastically visualized and executed by the art club members and attended by an ever-growing and diverse group of viewers. These opportunities have taken learning into a different realm of development of life, experiential and organizational skills.

In February, 2018, we were invited by the Department of Education, Delhi University, to make a presentation at the International Symposium on ‘Redefining Disability through Art’ and again in March, 2019, to speak on ‘Disabilities and Arts, Prospects and Possibilities’.  When the lockdown happened, we went online with our art sessions at AADI and continue to explore new topics that keep the club members active and involved in art and current affairs.

Meanwhile, my own art exploration takes me down varied paths. I have had the amazing opportunity to illustrate for Mr. Ruskin Bond’s book, ‘While the Birds Still Sing’, and am presently working on a set of illustrations for a children’s book. All this happens alongside regular hours of painting at my studio and teaching a diverse group of talented individuals through workshops and classes. Most of what I do now is something I couldn’t have imagined doing when I took the first tentative steps to follow my passion instead of my education.  Enthusiasm and perseverance have helped me along the surprise-filled journey most artists follow. But I realize that my training had started years earlier, and unbeknown to me, the seeds of what I now reap were sown at the dining table of my childhood home.

• The article was originally published in Career Ahead October 2020 issue.