The Hindu : New Delhi News : As the market courts ideas, creativity has a future now

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 24, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

As the market courts ideas, creativity has a future now

Bindu Shajan Perappadan

Eight Delhiites set to join Creative Future School

RARING TO GO: Nitin Das, Tarun Rawat, Vishwajyoti Ghosh and Arjun Pandey are all set to go to Bangalore.

NEW DELHI: They believe that an idea can change the world, especially if it is creative and economically viable. And that is exactly what these eight "creative" Delhiites, who have made it to the finalist list of the British Council's Creative Future Programme 2007, are planning to brush up on now.

All packed and set to head for the Creative Future School at IIM Bangalore, they have made it to the coveted list from a total of 1,084 applicants. The 20 selected will go to Bangalore to learn how to structure their business propositions, develop their networking skills, understand what an investor is looking for and hear from successful creative entrepreneurs how they have built their businesses.

The faculty that will teach the 20 finalists the tricks of the trade will include senior academics, leading figures from creative businesses in India and the United Kingdom, and other experts.

Some of the young Delhiites who have made it to the programme include independent filmmaker Nitin Das, author and comic illustrator Vishwajyoti Ghosh, graphic designer Tarun Rawat and filmmaker Arjun Pandey.

Speaking about this unique programme, a British Council official said: "We are basically saying that the future of India lies in the creative industries and hence we need to promote our creative sector. To encourage the same, we have instituted this programme that is aimed at identifying the Creative Future of 2007 -- a person with a unique creative idea backed by a strong business proposition.''

"What I hope to learn from the programme is how to make a brilliant idea viable. I am also looking forward to interacting with the best in the industry; it is an exciting programme to be associated with,'' says Tarun.

Arjun, who set up "Ishwar Media" that allows any person across the world who has made a film which is either fiction or documentary to be able to sell it online as well as through a network of retail shops, too is hoping to broaden his horizon "and come back making the most of the programme''.

Vishwajyoti, who specialises in editorial and children's illustrations, says: "We know we are creative, but what will give us that extra something is the ability to lace the idea with a strong business edge.''

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