When a journalist friend from Hindustan Times called me to suggest him some case studies for the Independence Day special story on financial freedom, frankly speaking I had very many options to suggest. The newspaper had planned story on the young professionals who were dissatisfied with their day-to-day lives and hence took the initiative to foray into something meaningful and thus got their financial independence. A couple of clients, a few friends, even TRACK2MEDIA itself, it seemed to be a problem of plenty. Actually, this was going to be your story, my story and everybody story, so it seemed to be.
As professionals we all have come up in life like that only. In the given scenario my initial thought was that there is nothing extraordinary about any of them to be suggested. But on second thoughts I realized there is a difference among all of us who have been at the end of professional grinding before opting for this sort of financial freedom. And it is here that I vouched for Turtle Animations to be incorporated in the 15th August special story. I knew very well that I was doing it at the cost of annoying some clients and few friends who were overlooked. But then the professional in me vehemently argued in favour of Turtle Animations.
As a matter of fact, most of us have opted for entrepreneurship and financial independence out of the need, often compelling need. To be honest on professional grounds, had it not been forced by the destiny, TRACK2MEDIA was designed to take shape after another couple of years. It may have been conceptualized thorough professionally by me and some of my journalist friends, but chicken and egg syndrome was putting a brake on the execution. However, destiny has its own script that often takes us of our feet. The same goes true for many of other companies that I regularly deal with. An unpleasant experience, sudden flow of money from somewhere, family or peer pressure, growing expenses and need to survive, one or many such reasons have been the genesis of most of the start-ups and then they grew as a successful venture.
And it is here that Turtle is different from all of us since the promoter Sanjay Banerjee had no such compelling need. Turtle Animations is a case study of the urge, and not need, of a talented artist who preferred a career over taking over reigns of the family business of the largest pharmaceutical company in the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal. Coming out from a palatial bungalow to the dingy by lanes of South Delhi, he took up a job in one of the television production houses, worked overtime, and in between continued advance course in animation. How many of us have got courage and guts to do this?
Today Turtle Animation is a “Brand” in the true sense of the term with NASSCOM award in its kitty, Tata NEN nominating them as a hottest start-up and Hollywood Studio, Columbia, showing interest in their masterpiece conceptualization Angelina-joe-lee. No doubt, my conscience voted in favour of Turtle Animations to be figured in the Hindustan Times, even if it costs me a few annoyances. After all, we all work for some sort of satisfaction and a feeling of pride in whatever we do. I was not ready to sacrifice my “Creative Independence” on the day of country’s independence.
My lazy Saturday morning of the holiday on 15th August was cut short with a number of phone calls, mostly talking about the HT Business lead story even before I had actually opened up the newspaper. At least I had never received that many phone calls for one specific news item, neither as a journalist nor as a PR professional. Sanjay Banerjee called up to say that this coverage will remain as the best among whatever I have achieved so far for them. Though personally I don’t agree with this and feel that TV coverage on ET NOW has been the best of the lot. Others called up with appreciation and clubbed it up with their wish list too. With a profound sense of satisfaction I feel TRACK2MEDIA has a reason to feel proud. And an assurance to one and all, it is not bias towards Turtle Animations rather merit that works in their favour.
1:42 AM
Turtle Animations broadened my horizons
When a client from animation studios shared his wish to foray into education sector, at the first instance I just dismissed the idea. You should not distract focus from your core competence area, I said firmly. This was despite the fact that I could see the determination in the eyes of Sanjay Banerjee. I have known Sanjay Banerjee as a friend first and then as a client now who believes in certain level of perfection in whatever he does. During the course of our journey I have also realized that it is often his gut feeling that has brought Turtle Animations to where it is today.
From a mere another start-up venture a few years back, Turtle Animations has seen the professional heights to the extent that some Hollywood studios have now shown interest in their masterpiece work Angelina-joe-lie. Not that the recognition has came from oversees only. They have bagged the NASSCOM award for the said project and even the Tata Nen nominated them as a hottest start-up venture in its very first year of existence.
All that credentials added with the fact that I know the man and his mission in Sanjay was not enough for me to give my consent for the education foray. And TRACK2MEDIA being the strategic communication consultant to them, unlike other Indian PR agencies meant for mere press relations, it was imperative for Turtle to get the communication agency convinced. They reminded me of the fact that only a couple of months back another client from the real estate sector had ventured into education and TRACK2MEDIA went gaga for them.
Still not convinced I reminded them that there is a difference between an established realty player and a first-generation animation business. However, I was reluctantly dragged into the business venture meeting for the proposed institute. And now I will not shy to admit that my business world view had been a bit myopic. While I have always maintained that education is a recession proof business, the fact of the matter is that many existing institutes are just minting money today without offering anything substantial.
It may look from outside that the Animation business is cluttered in the market with biggies like Picasso, Big Animation, AAG, MAAC, and others getting the lions share, the fact of the matter is that they are just better positioned in the market be default. Turtle Animations is going to set the differentiator with its in-house facility functioning like a simulated production house complete with real world infrastructure and headed by a team of highly experienced industry experts.
Moreover, the new venture is also going to initiate Industry Academia Interface (IAI) under which it will sign with a few universities to give its students an exposure to the production environment and also an opportunity to interact with key industry players. The institute will also tie-up with one of the universities for accreditation of courses. The response of the companies offering JV partnership has overwhelmed me. It seems there is always scope in any given market provided you fill the vacuum in that given space. And I must say that Turtle Animations has taught me this lesson.
From a mere another start-up venture a few years back, Turtle Animations has seen the professional heights to the extent that some Hollywood studios have now shown interest in their masterpiece work Angelina-joe-lie. Not that the recognition has came from oversees only. They have bagged the NASSCOM award for the said project and even the Tata Nen nominated them as a hottest start-up venture in its very first year of existence.
All that credentials added with the fact that I know the man and his mission in Sanjay was not enough for me to give my consent for the education foray. And TRACK2MEDIA being the strategic communication consultant to them, unlike other Indian PR agencies meant for mere press relations, it was imperative for Turtle to get the communication agency convinced. They reminded me of the fact that only a couple of months back another client from the real estate sector had ventured into education and TRACK2MEDIA went gaga for them.
Still not convinced I reminded them that there is a difference between an established realty player and a first-generation animation business. However, I was reluctantly dragged into the business venture meeting for the proposed institute. And now I will not shy to admit that my business world view had been a bit myopic. While I have always maintained that education is a recession proof business, the fact of the matter is that many existing institutes are just minting money today without offering anything substantial.
It may look from outside that the Animation business is cluttered in the market with biggies like Picasso, Big Animation, AAG, MAAC, and others getting the lions share, the fact of the matter is that they are just better positioned in the market be default. Turtle Animations is going to set the differentiator with its in-house facility functioning like a simulated production house complete with real world infrastructure and headed by a team of highly experienced industry experts.
Moreover, the new venture is also going to initiate Industry Academia Interface (IAI) under which it will sign with a few universities to give its students an exposure to the production environment and also an opportunity to interact with key industry players. The institute will also tie-up with one of the universities for accreditation of courses. The response of the companies offering JV partnership has overwhelmed me. It seems there is always scope in any given market provided you fill the vacuum in that given space. And I must say that Turtle Animations has taught me this lesson.
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