MULTIFACETED PERSONALITY- AN EYE WITH A VISION- VENUGOPAL K THAKKER

MULTIFACETED PERSONALITY- AN EYE WITH A VISION- VENUGOPAL K THAKKER!

He is the man behind the corporate entity PROVIDEO and has many accomplishments to his name. We sit across him in a restobar in the suburbs for an impromptu chat. Here is  how it went.

Tell us something about yourself.

I have a Diploma in cinematography from FTII  in Pune and started by making serials for DD, DD1 and Sahyadri channel. They were very successful and I made commercials too. Then I started renting out film equipment like cameras etc. I am a  qualified film maker from, the Film and Television Institute of India- Pune, with initial experience in commercial films under the guidance of stalwarts like cameramen, Fali Mistry, Subroto Mitra and International director Ismail Merchant, and  has been on the Video Production scene right from the day of the advent of video technology in our country. Gained practical and professional experience by working in the highly advanced studios in US, UK & Japan.

Has experimented with various  formats of production as and when required by the subject matter of films. A journey of more than THREE decades with varied experience in technology, presentation formats and thematic expositions, has won laurels for him from National and International Institutions.

I have produced over 150 TV commercials and corporate films, documentaries . When television became commercial I produced over 2500 half hour episodes in fiction and non fiction won awards national and INTERNATIONAL.

Among your works what are you really proud of?

Amravati Ki Kathayein is an Indian anthology TV series, based on the Telugu short story collection "Amaravati Kathalu" by Satyam Sankaramanchi. It was produced by me and directed by Shyam Benegal and aired on the main channel of Indian National Broadcaster Doordarshan and this is my work I am really proud of.

What changes have you witnessed in the new age of cinema?

The cameras have changed. There are no more Mitchell or Arriflex or Panavision or UMATIC cameras. They have been replaced by Red, Viper,  and Digibeta cameras.

What is your present venture?

I am making a big budget Bhojpuri film which will release soon.  It stars Yash Kumar.

By Sandeep Hattangadi