Anirudhya Mitra

Seeks new directions in production

I needed more empowerment to improve further. I wasn’t given the decisive powers and there was constant interference which started affecting my personal growth. As an executive producer I was always in the shadows of my bosses

He’s been a journalist, business development manager, exexutive producer,   and a writer. Now Anirudhya Mitra hopes to prove himself as an independent producer with Do Dishayen and Black Thunder

He is a man on the move. Starting his career as a journalist and after working for more than a decade with reputed newspapers and a newsmagazine, he quit journalism because he wanted to be a player in the audio-visual media (read television). Having worked as a business development manager and later as executive producer in a well-known television software company, he quit his job because writing, producing and directing fiction became his first priority.

Thus six months ago, he set up his own software company and drew its business plan. Having dealt with channels earlier and quite well-versed in their requirements, he didn’t find it difficult to get his projects approved. Starting with a stand-alone story of X Zone, for Zee, which is ready for telecast next month, Anirudhya Mitra is launching two serials besides having been commissioned by Zee and STAR Plus to make Saturday Suspense and Bestsellers episodes respectively.

But first his bio-capsule. Mitra says since the age of ten he has been an avid Hindi films fan and had a strong desire to get into filmmaking. But journalism happened to him first. After 12 years into the print medium, he started seeking an avenue in the television medium and joined Observer Channel and worked on non-fictional programmes like Fiscal Fitness, The Pritish Nandy Show, Greener Pastures and Asian Highways. He didn’t enjoy his job much because his prime interest was in writing fiction.

Thus, he came to Mumbai in search of an opening. There were offers from the Hindujas and BiTV, but he settled down for an opening in United Television (UTV) as general manager. Since his job was to expand UTV’s television division, he was he was required to create and develop shows and market the same to satelite channels and Doordarshan. He was also required to create talent and a concept bank and set the business plan of the television division and show profitability.

“It was a big break for me and it happened at the right time because UTV was shifting its focus from non-fiction to fictional programmes,” remembers Mitra, adding, “and moreover, UTV was on the threshold of a major expansion.” Thus in his two-year stint as business development manager, he created shows like Gharonda, Satya, House of Fear, Bogey No.13, Sea Hawks and also played a crucial role in reviving Parivartan.

But when Sea Hawks was about to come on air, he was required to devote more time to the serial which was based on the life and adventures of Coast Guards. Since looking after the production of Sea Hawks took most of his time, he switched from business development to full time production and became the executive producer of the serial. “My job was not just to ensure slick production but also generate decent profit for my company,” he states. “And I handled both to the best of my abilities. In fact, I gave everything to Sea Hawks.”

But the decision to quit UTV was not entirely dictated by his desire to write and produce shows on his own. He says he quit UTV because there was no scope for further growth as a professional. He explains, “Since I was the creator of the show I needed more empowerment to improve it further. But I wasn’t given the decisive powers and there was constant interference which started affecting my personal growth. Also as an executive producer I was always in the shadows of my bosses.”

Once he came out of the shadows, Mitra decided to use his experience in producing his own shows and set up AM Production. He had two concepts ready with him which he carried with him from UTV. And both were immediately approved by STAR Plus. One is Black Thunder which is set against the backdrop of the Army Aviation Corps and tells the story of the dare devil fliers and the women in their lives. “It is a saga of the heroics, romance, intrigue and a passion for glory,” educates Mitra, who has already got the permission from the Army to shoot on locations in Apang Valley, Jaisalmer, Deolali and Nashik. He says the serial’s pilot would have been ready by now but for the Kargil conflict and now he is planning to shoot it by September-end.

But Do Dishayen is all set to go on the sets in the next two weeks. It revolves around an IAS couple and their internal conflict over issues, principles and compromises. “It’s a soap with real-life characters and will have a very different feel and look,” he promises. Meanwhile, he has already got into the production act with X Zone, Saturday Suspense and Bestsellers. Moreover, he has also been commissioned by the Adhikaris to make a serial on counter espionage called Spy Vs. Spy which is based on true espionage cases which Mitra had investigated when was a correspondent with India Today. Obviously he is writing the serial.

He admits that as an independent producer he is yet to prove himself. But he says he needs just one hit show to prove the kind of software he is planning to make. And he hopes to set an example with Do Dishayen which is expected to come on air in December.