 So hello everybody, welcome back to yet another episode of our series, Power People, which provides the resource of the music industry and today on this special episode, we have with us Mr. Vinod Bhamushali, who is an Indian film producer, entrepreneur and the founder of Bhamushali Studios Limited and its music. We welcome you here today, sir. Hi, good morning. So Vinod, sir, my first question to you is that can you share the inspiration behind your journey into the film industry and entrepreneurship leading to the establishment of the Bhamushali Studios Limited and its music? How it has been so far? The journey has been definitely one of a roller coaster journey for me because I never thought that someday I'll own my own studio or probably label owner and make films. However, it started in college days. If I start from those days, I was never into this business. I mean exposure to entertainment business was just going to cinemas and watching films or probably, you know, watching videos on that films on VHS kind of. Yeah. But however, Destiny, as you call, got me to know Gulshan Ji. I used to work with Sahara, Sahara India. They had a studio. I used to handle the studio part of theirs. And we have to make this setup, like, you know, edit setup and all the stuff you come with. I said, okay, you just put his hand on my shoulder. I was like about 19, 20 years old back. That hand on my shoulder and Gulshan Ji, you know, he put and then my interview happened on Sunday, like just two, three rounds in his office and he was there. And I thought to myself that if I don't see that, you know, something in my way that what I am, that probably you must have seen. And he's just telling that, okay, you just do this. I had my exposure. It's a name. We'll do it. And kind of confidence, which he showed me. Only a guru or a father probably, you know, would do that. And that was my start in the industry probably. I was there with him for, like, good four years, till 1994, the incident happened. And then for like good 27 years, we worked very closely, me, Gulshan Ji, and that team. And I think all my learnings and experience on the job, it happened on the job rather, you know, and that's how it's a wonderful journey. I will always chase from throughout my life. So yeah. So as the founder of Bhanushali Studios Emeritus, what vision do you have for the studio and how has it evolved since its inception? So when we started the studio, the idea was that what kind of films should we start with? I mean, you know, you have to have a mixed bag for good stories and then you create films. But the starting point was that we wanted the stories to be told, the Indian stories, you know, the stories which Indian would relate, Bharti and Lobo's stories should be told. And that's Janit Mejari started, then Banda Kaafi, and then Matt in recent times. We just released it. So it was very clear that I wanted the stories, one. And second, actors who could leave that character, who could exactly make us feel that, so that happened. And I think God was kind that the subject, what we choose and the kind of cinemas, the films which we made were very well appreciated, loved and got a lot of love for Banda as well as a lot of awards came in place. Getting that in two years was a very big boost for me and my team. Yeah. So you have a very notable venture also, hits music. So could you discuss the rule of music in films and how hits music contributes to the music industry? How it has been, then now, for this music label? See, music journey for me goes right from audio cassette to CDs and then the entire digitalization happened. YouTube came in place in 2006, five somewhere and we became the number one then in T-Series. So music is all about artists. Yeah. My learnings is that, you know, it's a music label is just a manager. Okay. I'm probably a manager and a person who knows that, okay, this song because of his knowledge or experience of people's taste and making sure that the song reaches through various modes and means to the potential buyers. This was all the learning there. And when we started hits music, it was simple that this label should be for for the artist, for composers, for laces, for singers. And that's how we made that. We just started like, you know, it's just been two years. And we are definitely wanting that there should be a lot of other genres of music. They should support it. Right now, we only have film music and indie music. But there's so much to do in the emotional. There's so much to do in the other genres of music. Which is there to explore. But I don't, I think they don't get probably some, I would not call as a mentor, but as a manager, I said that would get their potential out in the public by releasing their songs and making it available on all the platforms or the streaming sites. It's become very easy now. If you actually ask me, it's become easy to release once your music. Because earlier you had to have a planned manufacturing unit, a big studio, and then distribution network, making a cassette, that physical format and then publicity and stuff like that. It was an expensive and a luxury business to win. You record at home, if you like, there's so many samples which are available. The day we only put our songs to the reels and they are doing so well on reels that too. Nowadays, you don't need record labels to promote your song. You just want talent. And to choose what is right. A talent would make 10 songs. He can make 50 songs also. But as a label, your understanding says, okay, this is his best work. Let's pick up this out of the hole and invest time and some money to promote and make sure that this reaches to places because songs, I mean, there are thousands of songs which are uploaded every day onto YouTube or onto streaming sites, but all don't work. So they need a label or to manage that skills of you and pick up and tell you, this is your good work. This will go ahead. Let us now work together. Yeah, you're right. So with the radio and TV undergoing significant revamps to stay competitive, how do you see this influencing the music industry in today's time? See earlier, I mean, television was one audio visual medium, which used to promote everything. That was the only one medium which was very impactful. Radio again, the earlier days and then it again re-jumped and came back. But now everything is digital. People have a sort of, I would say, convenience and wanting to see on their own time. Like physical cassettes and CDs also, the sales are not happening or they are not being manufactured because earlier days and we used to buy music or when we wanted to hear music, we used to go to the cassette shop. So it was an effort that leaving your house, going to a place and then sample those songs and probably record in a blank cassette or buy a direct cassette CD and come home. This was all time and money. Yeah, now YouTube free music. You don't have to pay for that, right? So and plus it's convenient. You just want to hear the song, type it, keyword, no space required, nothing. You can easily watch it at your own time. And the same streaming now. Streaming, there are a lot of playlists and a lot of other genres of music plus world music has come now. Music is now the boundaries because of the digitization, there's no boundaries now. You can hear to any sort of music, which is anywhere in the world and follow that artist and so then you follow him on Instagram, see what is his new work, follow you, you get to know, okay, this is the kind of music. So it's good to learn also. When we make music, we also know what's going on right now. So in what ways can music labels benefit from the changes and innovations happening in traditional media firms? I mean, what marketing strategies do you know in today's time you prefer to choose? I think the reach of digital medium and community. So you develop your own community. I mean, an artist develops its own community. For example, if you go to Spotify, you see that, okay, there are certain numbers of playlists, but an artist has been heard, you know, like somebody is heard for 10 million a month, a million for a month, and so on and so forth. So and some followers and how much, so you actually get data and live feeds also that also how your song is working, who are the, what is the genre of people, a male, female, and which part of the country is been hearing your songs. So that allows you to basically go and promote that. And if you think this is a potential other customer which is coming and going, but if you push him for three, four times in way of other digital marketing, you convert him as your potential listener or a buyer. And so I think this way, the digital is more empowering to the artists and to the ease of marketing to the labels rather than television and the linear feed basically. Because linear, now this is all non-linear. So that's what you say. So one at one click of a button, you reach the entire group. So can you share some insight into your creative and business approach when collaborating with artists and filmmakers on various projects? What is the process to it? So I'll be very honest, it started with Vani Banu Shalini. She has over 7 billion views. Yeah, and it was trending on Reels too. Yeah, so and it was all over. So its song gets picked up or gets consumed on all the mediums. So you come to know that this is a great place. When she goes and performs in shows, you know that on this very song, 70% or 80% of the people who are there in the show are singing the song, lines with her and stuff like that. So there's a lot of learnings while this goes. And this all helps us to then create while creating other new songs or the same artists or someone else. This data helps us to basically work on the sound. And see this is all you have to be a little risk. If you say, my song should be the same like this one, it is a work. So by all this means we work out on the artist and their sound and tell the composers that you know guys, let's look at something. It's always an R&D which is there and the entire team works day in, day out to get sound or probably timing to release a song. And the same happens with films. You cannot forcefully put songs in the films without any band. The song was just just to take the story ahead. But like for example, I tell there was this song, Desh Pehle, which was trending on because of the timing of release 19 January plus Desh Pehle was the nation first, was the philosophy of Atalji and that's how you know. So you need to tell us about this movie more. It is a new launch. We made Atal when we made Atal there was films are made by some vision. I mean, what do you want tell about in that film? So our thing was that his story as a person, eight year old boy from a small town living in a joint family becomes the PM, Prime Minister of India, the largest community of 140 crore people. But what was more from our side, we said that this film is to be shown to the youth of India today, to the students and to the youth. One word which I take from his life, if you ask me one word that you know, I am depressed. Just imagine, Atalji after his all his hardship, he is becoming a Prime Minister of India, 13 days after that, his government falls. So if this word was in his life, if it was in his life, and if it was in his life, it is not a dream, it is a line of his, if a dream is broken, then another house. He said the journey must be on, you believe in yourself not, again attempt, which actually goes in this film, I saw 12th film. Just imagine the hardship of that hero in the real life, Mr. Manoj has definitely lived that life, but in the film, while we saw the film, we have so high respect for that person. Unless until you see his story, I mean films are the biggest influencer I would call. I mean, the real story of Mr. Manoj for 12th film, now people will know because of this film, with Vikrant Masi acted on his film. Same, the life of the heroes you talk about, as I said, there is no shortage of heroes in India because of, we have so many stories to tell. The fact that we have so many of us, it is a story. Now that story can go so well in the film, how many people will be inspired, how many people will be inspired, that is on you. At the studio, we choose the story, that this is the story what we want. And Atalji was one of that story, that the story of Atalji comes out, the students should know that don't think of hardship. I mean, hardship as in reward, you will get it, but if you at the right time, but if suppose if you don't get that much, if you can't come that way, if you don't reach that time, before that, if you have stopped your journey, that entire effort will go waste. Yeah. There are certain things which you take away from the film, yeah. So in your experience, what are the key challenges you have faced till now in the industry? You have been here for such a long time now. So what are the hardships in your life? Every business has its own part of hardships. Well definitely. So pre-Covid things were different and post-Covid things were different as far as the content consumption was concerned. You really need to be on ground, keep your eyes and ears open and be with people whom you want to make films for. Because it's very difficult to get him out of his house, that much money from his pocket, for ticket and for popcorns and all the stuff. And from theater and time, he has to have at least 5-5 hours. So you better have good story for him. Story, yeah. That is the biggest thing. Plus, I think, So many people need content right now. They need it a lot. You can give as much as you want for them. So it's become a 30 second. You install all this stuff, you don't like shak. It's that easy. Because there's so much of content which is available. Earlier days, if it was 15 years ago, there wasn't that much content available. So the more it was available, the more it would consume. But now, the more they want you making more. And so it's all on the clicker button. If you don't like, you're out. So your effort, again, the effort to ratio towards reward has become very miniscule. But however, OTT platforms and by coming in the new platforms, you at least have your places that okay, after theater, or if you are not going to theater, the story is still a buyer or a place where you can showcase your content and learn your money and name, fame, whatever you get. Tell us about what we can expect from music business in 2024. Music is here to stay for long. You just have to, I mean, the business, just see the business which is on ground also. I mean, the numbers are increasing day by day. The gigs and the gigs which used to happen three years or five years ago. People have started living out of homes and they want to enjoy. And that is the music is the only part, which I would say, which you consume every day in day out. You have your playlist, so much available. Languages are available, genres are available. So music is here to stay, it's just to churn out good songs, which when you say good song, as a label, I said, the A&R duties of the A&R department are very important. And that's how they have to keep on the learning that is to go on and on and create good music, good artists. It's also that good songs coming from Dhwani and other artists, we are doing a lot of collabs now. Next year, April, the new financial year, we shall come on soon. So we're also looking ahead. What are your future plans for Bhavishali studios and heads music? Are there any exciting projects or initiatives on the result? There are two, three very good stories which we are working on. Shooting starts as soon as like July to August and two, three films which are already ready, which I want to be releasing this year. There are three films which are already ready and now we're planning to release and bounce soon. One is Manoj Bajpre sir again after Bandha and there's Nava Zuddin. He's playing when it's my pick again. 1990s thrill, here a lot of stuff which is going to come now. And for hits music, what is all lined up? Music, hits music as I said, there will be new artists what we are going to do. We will go out to look for something. Global. Yeah, no, global here in India. I am saying that either as a label, you have been approached by singers. Do you believe you should be getting global artist for hits music? Do you have a work that is always there? But as of now, I think there's so much to do in India. So I want to give that whatever time we have that you know, focus do. International collabs are always there. But it comes on a way when you know you are an artist, both the artists follow to the same or appeal to the same kind of listeners. So it has to have a match when you say about it has to have a match of the viewers or listeners of those both artists. Very difficult to find. But yeah, we'll work in that also. Yeah. So I don't want to know what advice do you have for aspiring individuals? What you will say to them? As an entrepreneur, what advice do you have for aspiring individuals who are you know, entering the firm business and music business? What advice you will have for them? I think this business is all about experience. Yeah. So there are not really no books which will teach you, you know, MBA and all this stuff for accounts or for other businesses, banking, finance and all this stuff. You have certain kind of books or curriculums. Here we have very less in numbers. But this has to do with talent more. And all certain done, you'll have to understand that relationship in this industry is something what is the best. I mean, you have to have relationship with an artist, be it actor, be it a director, be it a... And that relationship will only be when they see that, you know, your consistency and integrity to work on them or work on the film which you're working on them, on the film. If you have your focus clear and if you have right people within your team and then right intention to make a good film, it will be shown. Your work has to be seen by the people who are working for you. And working with you. So a director when comes in as a producer, he has to see that this is the best producer I have for this film with me. An actor comes in, he has to see, okay, he's got me a good director and a good team for the director to make a good film for me. So I think that all adds as a producer and as an entrepreneur. You need to be available for your business for 24 hours. And do it right. And just make sure that you give that much time and grow every day. Over night success is very lucky in one day. But if you grow every day, you'll enjoy that success for a long time. So in your term, what is the future of Bollywood music and films? Superb. We enjoy Bollywood. Oh, tell me one person who says that I am... And the future of, you know, nowadays, remixes. We are putting, we are getting old songs to, you know, with new rap music in anthems. And they're doing so well. What do you think about that? That's the reason because those songs which have been remixed or recreated were a hit that time also. So the melody was good. That's the reason it was a super hit. Now, people are liking it because somewhere down the way, they have heard that from the parents, from elder guys and stuff. Oh, melody, the melody does not go away. See, the day the listener don't listen to remixes or recreated music, it will not be made. That's not what you're liking it. So it's been made. And the originals also have been made, which are coming, which are there available. People are dancing to it. People are listening to them. So I think as I said, music is part of our life. Music is a very integral part of our life. Definitely, definitely. That's going to be it. Thank you so much for your time. It was our pleasure to have you here. Thank you so much. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Bye. Thank you. Bye.