ITV

Tag: Sumeet H Mittal

  • Content IP ratio sharing depends on the risk appetites of the broadcaster and producer: Sumeet Hukamchand Mittal

    Content IP ratio sharing depends on the risk appetites of the broadcaster and producer: Sumeet Hukamchand Mittal

    MUMBAI: Two legendary creative talents from the Indian television and film industry, writer Shashi Mittal and writer and director Sumeet Hukamchand Mittal shared a vision to create content that leaves a lasting impact on the hearts and minds of their audience. Today their company, the Shashi Sumeet Group, is a leading name in the media and entertainment industry with Shashi Sumeet Productions Pvt. Ltd for creating content for television; Shashi Sumeet Motions Pictures Pvt. Ltd for films; Shashi Sumeet Innovations for television commercials; Qats Whiskers for brands; and online platforms.

    Started in 2009, Shashi Sumeet Productions is among the few production houses which have given some landmark shows to the television industry in India. With shows like Diya Aur Baati Hum, Punar Vivaah, Tumhari Paakhi and Tu Mera Hero the production house has set new benchmarks for content excellence in the industry.

    Shashi Sumeet Productions became the first production house to make the journey from ‘reel’ life to ‘real’ life in December 2015 at Pushkar by having a lane named ‘Hanuman Galli’ there. This was inspired by the lane of the same name in its television family drama Diya Aur Baati Hum. Further, the production house got recognition from the Limca Book of Records for having back -to – back shows on Indian general entertainment channels at prime time i.e. from 8pm – 10pm in the year 2015-2016.

    In conversation with Indiantelevision.com’s Sonam Saini, Sumeet Hukamchand Mittal founder director of Shashi Sumeet Group shares the journey of his production house and its plans of venturing into Hindi film making, intellectual property rights (IP) for content, among other things.

    Excerpts

    Q1. Shashi Sumeet Productions has produced 16 shows in 7 years. How has been the journey so far?

    Sumeet:  The journey has been wonderful. The production house is seven years old. So far the journey has been challenging and fulfilling as well. Whatever we have done until now has been done with passion and dedication. I believe that if one’s intentions are good, one will always be successful.  In todays’ scenario if we are touching hearts and not just ears and eyeballs then it’s a bog high point for us. 

    Q2. What according to you is the most challenging genre for television production?

    Sumeet: I would say there is no specific genre which is difficult for a producer. Rather it is holding the audience’s attention that is the most challenging thing. In today’s time there are so many options available, hence holding onto audience is the big thing. If an episode is weak then you might lose the audience. So quality content is necessary.  Every genre is working these days including adventure, horror, supernatural and comedy.  

    Q3, Diya Aur Baati Hum completed 1,300 episodes recently and now there are rumours that the show is going off air. Is there any truth in those rumours?

    Sumeet: I too have heard a lot about the show going off air.  But these are just rumours. Our story was very clear – it was about a girl Sandhya who wanted to become an IPS officer but was married into an orthodox family. But still she wanted to make her dreams come true.  In a way, the story line was very thin.

    So when Sandhya became an IPS officer, people thought now that her dream was over, the show would go off air. But Diya Aur Baati Hum is not going off air and I have confirmation from the channel’s side as well. May be the rumours were spread because the TRPs of the show had reduced.  We are working hard on script making new episodes.

    Q4. What was reason for pulling off shows like Tu Mera Hero and Badi Devrani?

    Sumeet: Badi Devrani was not doing well, Tu Mera Hero ended with high ratings in the range of about1.8. Today getting that number is very difficult for an average hit show.  

    Q4: After Balaji’s Naagin on Colors, it seems that the supernatural wave has hit television screens and is proving to be successful. Will we also see Shashi Sumeet Production producing such creative content?

    Sumeet: If any show or film works, duplication of its concept, ideas is bound to be there. We have seen that trend in the case of Diya Aur Baati and Punar Vivah. We have been talking about a supernatural show since quite a long time. Our drive is to create fantasy. Believe me, even we wrote a soap named Naagin which was on Zee TV.  We are still thinking on those lines and that is not just because Naagin is a hit show. We definitely have concepts that we are proposing to channels.

    Q5: We are seeing many production houses curating content for digital platforms. Will we see you also producing for them?

    Sumeet: Of course, we will produce content for the digital platforms!. We are working on it, but we are not in a hurry.

    Q6: What sets the Shashi Sumeet Group apart from the other content producers in the industry?

    Sumeet: The Shashi Sumeet Group by itself has an identity that sets it apart from other content production houses. We work with the one mantra that we want to create content for every platform. We didn’t want to restrict ourselves to daily soaps. We are making stories for brands. We might also do some fiction series with overseas partners. We are planning to go into movies. Quality content on different platforms is what we intend to create. At present we are working on two shows – one is a home grown show and other is a format show that we are producing here in India.

    Q7: What is your opinion on Intellectual Property staying with the channel? Do you think it should be remain with the production house?  

    Sumeet: I think it’s the biggest and the hottest topic of discussion in our country. Things are different here as compared to other countries. I doubt the scenario will change overnight, but I believe that IP can be shared between the channel and the production house on an immediate basis as they both share the risk. IP ratio can depend on the risk appetites of the broadcaster and producer.  We are looking at that very aggressively. We have signed one of our IP’s with a Brazilian producer, this is our own home grown IP, our own content.

    Q8: According to you, what is lacking in the television content production space in India? And how does Shashi Sumeet aim to fill that void?

    Sumeet: We always talk about differentiated content but we should genuinely try making different shows by putting an ‘x’ budget for a particular show.  We should be crisp and concise in storytelling.

    Q9: What are Shashi Sumeet Production’s plans going forward? What’s in store from your production house in 2016 in terms of fiction and non-fiction?

    Sumeet: We are focusing very much on content right now. One year down the line, our production house will come out with different shows. We have a few shows in the pipeline and we will soon announce our venture into Hindi movies. 

  • Content IP ratio sharing depends on the risk appetites of the broadcaster and producer: Sumeet Hukamchand Mittal

    Content IP ratio sharing depends on the risk appetites of the broadcaster and producer: Sumeet Hukamchand Mittal

    MUMBAI: Two legendary creative talents from the Indian television and film industry, writer Shashi Mittal and writer and director Sumeet Hukamchand Mittal shared a vision to create content that leaves a lasting impact on the hearts and minds of their audience. Today their company, the Shashi Sumeet Group, is a leading name in the media and entertainment industry with Shashi Sumeet Productions Pvt. Ltd for creating content for television; Shashi Sumeet Motions Pictures Pvt. Ltd for films; Shashi Sumeet Innovations for television commercials; Qats Whiskers for brands; and online platforms.

    Started in 2009, Shashi Sumeet Productions is among the few production houses which have given some landmark shows to the television industry in India. With shows like Diya Aur Baati Hum, Punar Vivaah, Tumhari Paakhi and Tu Mera Hero the production house has set new benchmarks for content excellence in the industry.

    Shashi Sumeet Productions became the first production house to make the journey from ‘reel’ life to ‘real’ life in December 2015 at Pushkar by having a lane named ‘Hanuman Galli’ there. This was inspired by the lane of the same name in its television family drama Diya Aur Baati Hum. Further, the production house got recognition from the Limca Book of Records for having back -to – back shows on Indian general entertainment channels at prime time i.e. from 8pm – 10pm in the year 2015-2016.

    In conversation with Indiantelevision.com’s Sonam Saini, Sumeet Hukamchand Mittal founder director of Shashi Sumeet Group shares the journey of his production house and its plans of venturing into Hindi film making, intellectual property rights (IP) for content, among other things.

    Excerpts

    Q1. Shashi Sumeet Productions has produced 16 shows in 7 years. How has been the journey so far?

    Sumeet:  The journey has been wonderful. The production house is seven years old. So far the journey has been challenging and fulfilling as well. Whatever we have done until now has been done with passion and dedication. I believe that if one’s intentions are good, one will always be successful.  In todays’ scenario if we are touching hearts and not just ears and eyeballs then it’s a bog high point for us. 

    Q2. What according to you is the most challenging genre for television production?

    Sumeet: I would say there is no specific genre which is difficult for a producer. Rather it is holding the audience’s attention that is the most challenging thing. In today’s time there are so many options available, hence holding onto audience is the big thing. If an episode is weak then you might lose the audience. So quality content is necessary.  Every genre is working these days including adventure, horror, supernatural and comedy.  

    Q3, Diya Aur Baati Hum completed 1,300 episodes recently and now there are rumours that the show is going off air. Is there any truth in those rumours?

    Sumeet: I too have heard a lot about the show going off air.  But these are just rumours. Our story was very clear – it was about a girl Sandhya who wanted to become an IPS officer but was married into an orthodox family. But still she wanted to make her dreams come true.  In a way, the story line was very thin.

    So when Sandhya became an IPS officer, people thought now that her dream was over, the show would go off air. But Diya Aur Baati Hum is not going off air and I have confirmation from the channel’s side as well. May be the rumours were spread because the TRPs of the show had reduced.  We are working hard on script making new episodes.

    Q4. What was reason for pulling off shows like Tu Mera Hero and Badi Devrani?

    Sumeet: Badi Devrani was not doing well, Tu Mera Hero ended with high ratings in the range of about1.8. Today getting that number is very difficult for an average hit show.  

    Q4: After Balaji’s Naagin on Colors, it seems that the supernatural wave has hit television screens and is proving to be successful. Will we also see Shashi Sumeet Production producing such creative content?

    Sumeet: If any show or film works, duplication of its concept, ideas is bound to be there. We have seen that trend in the case of Diya Aur Baati and Punar Vivah. We have been talking about a supernatural show since quite a long time. Our drive is to create fantasy. Believe me, even we wrote a soap named Naagin which was on Zee TV.  We are still thinking on those lines and that is not just because Naagin is a hit show. We definitely have concepts that we are proposing to channels.

    Q5: We are seeing many production houses curating content for digital platforms. Will we see you also producing for them?

    Sumeet: Of course, we will produce content for the digital platforms!. We are working on it, but we are not in a hurry.

    Q6: What sets the Shashi Sumeet Group apart from the other content producers in the industry?

    Sumeet: The Shashi Sumeet Group by itself has an identity that sets it apart from other content production houses. We work with the one mantra that we want to create content for every platform. We didn’t want to restrict ourselves to daily soaps. We are making stories for brands. We might also do some fiction series with overseas partners. We are planning to go into movies. Quality content on different platforms is what we intend to create. At present we are working on two shows – one is a home grown show and other is a format show that we are producing here in India.

    Q7: What is your opinion on Intellectual Property staying with the channel? Do you think it should be remain with the production house?  

    Sumeet: I think it’s the biggest and the hottest topic of discussion in our country. Things are different here as compared to other countries. I doubt the scenario will change overnight, but I believe that IP can be shared between the channel and the production house on an immediate basis as they both share the risk. IP ratio can depend on the risk appetites of the broadcaster and producer.  We are looking at that very aggressively. We have signed one of our IP’s with a Brazilian producer, this is our own home grown IP, our own content.

    Q8: According to you, what is lacking in the television content production space in India? And how does Shashi Sumeet aim to fill that void?

    Sumeet: We always talk about differentiated content but we should genuinely try making different shows by putting an ‘x’ budget for a particular show.  We should be crisp and concise in storytelling.

    Q9: What are Shashi Sumeet Production’s plans going forward? What’s in store from your production house in 2016 in terms of fiction and non-fiction?

    Sumeet: We are focusing very much on content right now. One year down the line, our production house will come out with different shows. We have a few shows in the pipeline and we will soon announce our venture into Hindi movies. 

  • Shashi Sumeet Productions launch marketing and creative agency

    Shashi Sumeet Productions launch marketing and creative agency

    MUMBAI: Shashi Sumeet Productions, the makers of Diya Aur Baati Hum, have launched Shashi Sumeet Innovations – a fully integrated marketing, activations and creative agency with a focus on creation of intellectual brands and breathing new life into old brands.

     

    The Shashi Sumeet Group will now provide innovative services for those corporates who desire differentiated brand launches, corporate events and experiential marketing creating close bond between the customer and their brand. 

     

    Shashi Sumeet Innovations co-founder Sumeet H Mittal said, “We are extremely proud to have diversified into Shashi Sumeet Innovations. Every brand has a story and we believe that through the combination of our vast experience and superior ability to narrate a story the way it deserves to be told we have the proficiency to deliver to the growing needs of brands and their customers.”

     

    With over 14 years of experience in strategy management, operations management, administration & sales management in the media sector, Pankaj Khanna has been appointed as the business head of Shashi Sumeet Innovations and will lead the team. Khanna has previously worked with industry big-wigs such as Indian Express, HT Media, RED FM, NDTV Media and Bloomberg TV to name a few. 

     

    Shashi Sumeet Innovations has already bagged mandates for corporates such as Kotak, Kissan, Closeup, Condé Nast, Moneygram, HP, Allana, Orra, Finlinea and Lava & Indear.

  • Are film promotions on TV losing novelty?

    Are film promotions on TV losing novelty?

    MUMBAI: Television has carved a niche for itself in India.  There are many different kinds of shows ranging from fictional, non-fictional, reality and seasonal programmes. While the film fraternity used to earlier view television as a subordinate to movies, today, it is hard for the fraternity to imagine its existence without television. Over the years, television shows have become the most sought after platform when it comes to film promotions. Films are being promoted radically on every show and by doing so, the audience gets a chance to formulate opinions about an upcoming movie. The films get noticed and it builds curiosity amongst the viewers. But is this trend wearing out?

     

    Speaking on how the promotion of films influences the audience, producer of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, Asit Kumar Modi says, “Film promotion on television shows is very common. These days, everybody needs media publicity. So, a film will definitely benefit by being on a popular show on TV. At the same time, the TV show will also have celebrities for an episode or two. It’s a win-win situation.”

     

    Having a similar opinion on the impact of film promotions on television, producer of Diya Aur Bati Hum, and Punar Vivah, Sumeet H Mittal opines, “I believe it works to the advantage of both the show as well as the film being promoted. For the television series, it gives the audience a twist to look forward to while in the case of the film being promoted, it helps to reach an assured mass audience.”

     

    With the stupendous success of ‘Happy New Year’ (HNY), one has to agree that marketing strategies are vital for a film to get the right kind of attention. The baadshah of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan promoted HNY on platforms like ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ (KBC), ‘Comedy Nights with Kapil’ and went a step ahead by even launching a reality show, ‘Dil Se Naachein Indiawaale’ on Zee TV.

    Founder of Director’s Kut Productions and director of many popular hit television shows, Rajan Shahi, expresses, “In terms of film promotions on television, I feel that the novelty has gone away. Few years back, it was a rarity to see a Bollywood celebrity on television. The audience used to look forward to it.  It was something new and generated lots of curiosity. These days, every film is being promoted on every show, on various channels. It is not as exciting as it used to be before. The audience has understood that these are all promotional tactics.”

     

    Well, the fact is – trends are temporary. The audience today is wise enough to understand that a celebrity appearing on a show is just part of the movie’s promotional campaign. Whether or not this promotional mechanism will be equally popular in the next few years would depend on what new marketing strategies film makers come up with.

  • “Seasonal shows can break the monotony”: Sumeet H Mittal

    “Seasonal shows can break the monotony”: Sumeet H Mittal

    MUMBAI: The television industry has grown by leaps and bounds, believes the co-founder and director of Shashi-Sumeet Mittal Productions, Sumeet H Mittal.

    As part of Content Hub, indiantelevision.com spoke to Mittal who, along with his wife Shashi Mittal, has produced many successful shows like Sajan Ghar Jaana Hai, Diya Aur Baati Hum and Punar Vivah amongst others, to find out his perspectives on the changed television content.

     “Up and until five years ago, our industry was at a nascent stage when compared to the television industry of other countries. However, things have changed. A lot of that has to do with the global exposure we receive in India today, which drives evolution of mindsets and hence, the demand for progress in concepts and ideas as well,” he says.

    Mittal highlights that today, the audience no longer accepts a basic plot as they want to be stimulated with depth and complexity. He feels that a script writer needs to be able to create that while keeping the interest of the audience.

    According to him, the content shown on television also needs to be in line with the viewer preferences and demands. “There is a need today for differentiated content and everyone is working towards providing just that. Our shows like Diya Aur Bati Hum and Punar Vivah are strong examples of shows that are different from the usual,” he says.

    Mittal feels that seasonal shows can break the monotony.  He adds, “We did two seasons of our cult hit – Punar Vivah, and both were received very well by the audiences. I strongly believe a story should only be told till it holds merit and not be stretched just for the sake of it. That is cheating your audiences.” He also stresses that unless a broadcaster and producer work hand-in-hand, a show will not be successful.

    When asked if Indian content has the potential of going international, Mittal says, “Some of the more popular television serials are already being sub-titled in different languages such as French, German and even English and are being broadcast around the world.”

    He states that today there are a lot more schools and institutions teaching the budding writers to develop the skill to create great original scripts. “Hear them out with an open mind. You never know who has a super idea with a potential to be turned into a great script,” he signs off.

  • Shashi Sumeet Productions’ Diya Aur Baati Hum completes 3 glorious years

    Shashi Sumeet Productions’ Diya Aur Baati Hum completes 3 glorious years

    MUMBAI: Its celebration time for the entire team of Shashi Sumeet Productions’ No 1 show Diya Aur Baati Hum on Star Plus as it completes 3 successful years. The show that has been maintained its leadership position continues to draw love & support from viewers across the country and the globe.

     

    The cast & crew celebrated this joyous occasion by cutting a cake on the sets and indulging in bonhomie and revelry amongst each other.

     

    Elated and overjoyed Producer Sumeet H. Mittal says, “Words cannot describe our happiness today, it’s been a beautiful journey to say the least. We would like to thank all the viewers, STAR network and the cast and crew of the show for showering their love and make the journey of Diya aur Baati Hum so worthwhile”.

     

    “I am so happy to be a part of such wonderful team and a very special thanks to Sumeetji and Shashiji for giving me this great opportunity to be a part of such a great show. I wish the show will rule on the heart of the viewers and their love keeps showering on us for many more years to come” quotes beautiful Sandhya (Deepika Singh)  

     

    “I am truly blessed and can’t stop thanking the audiences for their love and also special thanks to Shashiji and Sumeetji. It’s been a great experience to work with them. I hope we continue to entertain the audiences like we have done in the past 3 years”, says our Suraj (Anas Rashid)

     

    The show which is high on popularity is dubbed in Tamil known as En Kanavan En Thozhan and in Telugu known as Ee Tharam Illalu. The series is also remade in Malayalam as Parasparam on Asianet, in Bengali as Tomay Amay Mile on Star Jalsha and in Kannada as Akashadeepa on Asianet Suvarna. The show also airs on Pakistan’s Urdu channel Urdu 1. The serial drama is also dubbed in Sinhala in Sri Lanka on Sirasa TV channel using the name Swapna. It also airs in Romania on National TV as Destine Implinite. An Indian television dubbed in so many languages and in different countries shows the love and its immense popularity & impact among the audiences.