India's premier TV & Motion Picture Business Magazine
Future Studio
A Dream Realised By Women Entrepreneurs.
Sushma tracks the phenomenal growth of the Studio complex
Future Studio is the newest revolution in an industry where crores of rupees are spent in creating and packaging entertainment for the ever changing Film and TV industry. The motto of future studio speaks volumes about what it stands for ‘Simply Picture Perfect’.
The Background
Future Communication Ltd., the parent company of future studio was incorporated in the year 1991 by the dynamic couple Sattee Shourie and Gurdas Shourie. Main business of the company is to create and develop software to television channels and silver screen.
Foundation stone of the production house was aptly paved with multi starrer film Farishtay staring Rajnikant, Vinod Khanna, Dharmendra, Sridevi, Jaya Pradha etc directed by Anil Sharma. During the last 11 years company has successfully launched a number of television programs which have generated adequate revenues for the company.
Future Communications Ltd. was the pioneer entertainment company to conceptualize and telecast the first bhelpuri show ‘BPL OYE’ and start the advent of Star TV as household name in Hindi TV entertainment. This successful show was a top TRP rated, followed by Freedom Struggle soap ’YUG’ on Doordarshan, which starred the top most names of film industry - Hema Malini, Dara Singh, Neena Gupta, Late Priya Tendulkar, Ashwini Bhave, Pankaj Dheer, Mukesh Khanna etc. The success of Yug was repeated by Videocon Housefull, the first ever countdown of Hindi Films according to their Box Office collections. Such was the success and popularity of this show that it was amongst the first few to have co-branding in a television show.
Making people laugh was next agenda of Future Communication Ltd. Wilayatee Babu for Doordarshan and Hera Pheri on Star Plus were two immediate successful sitcoms staring the King of Comedy-Shekar Suman. The popularity of both of these programs elevated Future Communications Ltd. a company with a vision in the entertainment world. The creative geniuses at Future Communications Ltd. put up another very successful Muslim Daily social Kaise Kahoon for Zee TV which soared to heights of popularity in the afternoon belt of women TV viewers.
The Mission
The mission of Future Communications Ltd. has been to create wholesome entertainment for its family audiences. Getting exasperated by the lack of proper facilities for shooting and facing hurdles and speed breakers in a business where time is money, Future Communications was the early bird to understand that creating a conductive atmosphere having the state of the art look was the dire need of the hour.
A number of producers and directors encouraged Sattee Shourie as all of them realized that they will save on time, energy of building sets, delays due to recoordination of artistes and money spent on travel, boarding, lodging on out door shooting schedules. Thanks to their encouragement, the seed of Future Studio was sown in the ever enterprising mind of Sattee and Gurdas.
Future Communication believe that they are shaping a better future for our television and film industry with a commitment to creating new looks for packaging the TV shows visa-a-vis small budget films was the bottom line. Today Future Communications Ltd. is the proud owner of a vast software library comprising of Hindi films and television programs which it resells world wide and still generates a lot of revenue.
The People
Mrs. Sattee Shourie - MD She is a fiery women entrepreneur who with her vision for the future is a force to reckon within the film industry. Making it in a man’s world of her own merit, she has stood the toughest test of time and risen like a phoenix from the ashes time and again.
Major Gurdas Shourie - Director Administration
An Army officer who had walked shoulder to shoulder with Sattee Shourie in all the family business ventures and has been the management chief of the company. He has evolved sound management information systems and put the company on strong footings.
Mona Kapoor - CEO Been an active part of the film industry for the last 18 years and been a dynamic part of Future Communications Ltd. from its inception. Her creative contribution towards all the programs of the company- BPL OYE. Yug, Videocon Housefull, Wilaytee Babu,Hera Pheri and Kaise Kahoon speaks of the success of the company. She is the producer director of the company.
Archana Shourie - President Finance She handles the most complex ever challenging folio of the finance of the company. In her capacity of President Of Finance she handles and monitors the project finances with dexterity of a professional involving tight schedules of payments, strict controls on expenses, raising finances, an art od developing a unique good will and dependable credit line. It is formidable task creditability executed has become life line of the company. Her computer like memory with the figures has proved a great asset.
Concept and execution of Future Studio
In this venture Sattee Shourie was joined by Gurdas and her like minded daughters- Mona and Archana to give a practical shape to their dream project. Army back ground and related experience has imbibed requisite determination. Endeavors of Satte were further enforced by the creativity and good will of Mona and pragmatisim of Archana.
Thus a dynamic Trio Achiever family force team emerged.
A suburb of Mumbai Goregaon was identified as the location of future Studio which is within an easy access for technicians, actors and workers alike. Taking into consideration that a substantial portion of money was spent on shooting and traveling abroad causing a financial constraint for producers, the decision to make ready to shoot sets was struck upon. Further more shopping under one roof sounded the dire need of the most, especially for the television producers. These motivations proved a driving force to plan a complex of 8-10 shooting floors under one roof. These are created with a high degree of flexibility and a healthy variety to suit the needs of every producer producing a small or mega serial.
Unique Selling Points
Each shooting floor is self contained, sound proof, centrally air conditioned unit with individual character which houses attached makeup rooms and toilets for privacy of actors. Multiple creative requirements warrant the creation of houses with distinct Favor Of America, Canada and Europe.
American House is a 2500sq.Ft. styled in the distinct pattern of an American Studio apartment with befitting furniture, artifacts flown in from New York for the right ambience.
English House is 3000 sq.ft. comprising of bedrooms, family rooms, kitchen,alleys styled with wrought iron, wall papers and typical imported furniture representing true heritage of England.
Italian House is a spacious 5500 sq.ft. house lavishly designed with decorative stair cases,living room, fireplaces and wooden flooring, rich bedrooms which create the feeling of being in an Italian Villa.
Swiss House is 3500 sq.ft. with breath taking furniture, curios painting flown in from Zurich to create the befitting look of a Swiss Chalet.
Bollywood House the latest addition to the basket of Future Studio qualifies by far the most opputent shooting floor in the city of Mumbai. This magnificent floor has already been host to the biggest names of Bollywood - such as - David Dhawan, Subash Gahi, Raj Kanwar, Dev Anand, B Tarun Kuamr, Venus, T-Series, Vimal Kumar, K.C. Bokadia, Mehul Kumar, Man Singh amongst others.
The Business House is a sprawling office set which belies the concept that an office has to be attractive and elegant catering to the needs of all Corporate presentation on the silver screen. Special stress in this set is on the selection of color scheme, depth and the right look to make it eye catching.
The Terrace Garden is a sprawling 5500 sq.ft. area with a swimming pool, sky bar, bungalow exterior, restaurant look like has become the USP for all the television producers for the glamour its provides on the screen.
This initial basket, Future Studio has offered to the entertainment industry has met with tremendous support and appreciation. One of the major contributing factors towards this instant success story is the dedicated staff of the studio. Their ever smiling, hospitable disposition and ever eager helping nature brings in praises from all of our customers.
Future Plans
Future Studio has been a fore runner for 11 years and is committed as the pioneer in the business of Studios. Future Studio’s next ambition is the building of Multiplex accompanied by a state of the art Studio replicating Universal Studios with whom negotiations are on for the future expansion. With the ever gracious blessing of Almighty, the patronage and encouragement of esteemed clients, They are confident that in the days ahead Future Studio will be a force to reckon with.
Future Studio’s greatest endowments are determination, family team, hardwork and creativity. Their biggest achievement is the worthy appreciation of clients. Client satisfaction is an inspiration which enables them to practice the philosophy and culture to serve.
Daughter of an Army officer equipped with the cantonment liberal culture of get togethers, clubs and parties, is a pleasant combination of determination, courage, sociability and apt values of life. She has prolonged association with the entertainment industry for the last two decades which has proved an appropriative learning field. All the leading Hindi feature film producers are like family members to her.
She started her active participation in the production with film Farishtay . Her innovative ideas left even the veteran speech less. She is blessed with a tremendous creative potential.
She developed love for the finer arts from the childhood. Some of her school days oil paintings is the prize possession of few of the family friends. Over a period of time she became an ardent lover of English Literature and light reading and thus acquriring a mastery over the English language. Several world tours started at her early age provided her the international exposure and broader understanding.
Her initial schooling in Fort convent laid down a solid base for academic and HR college contributed to the intellect. A versatile sitar player, she had the distinction of a solo two hours spell bound ghazal concert.
Hibernation period
Responsibility of the upbringing of the children became her sole aim and priority of life and she abandoned all her favorable activities to be a devoted mother. This period of few years proved a boon to revive her passion of reading and thus further enriched her library with the addition of few hundred more books. This subsequently proved a great assets in the years to come.
MONA KAPOOR
Towering personality with immense talents
Daughter of an Army officer equipped with the cantonment liberal culture of get togethers, clubs and parties, is a pleasant combination of determination, courage, sociability and apt values of life. She has prolonged association with the entertainment industry for the last two decades which has proved an appropriative learning field. All the leading Hindi feature film producers are like family members to her.
She started her active participation in the production with film Farishtay . Her innovative ideas left even the veteran speech less. She is blessed with a tremendous creative potential.
She developed love for the finer arts from the childhood. Some of her school days oil paintings is the prize possession of few of the family friends. Over a period of time she became an ardent lover of English Literature and light reading and thus acquriring a mastery over the English language. Several world tours started at her early age provided her the international exposure and broader understanding.
Her initial schooling in Fort convent laid down a solid base for academic and HR college contributed to the intellect. A versatile sitar player, she had the distinction of a solo two hours spell bound ghazal concert.
Hibernation period
Responsibility of the upbringing of the children became her sole aim and priority of life and she abandoned all her favorable activities to be a devoted mother. This period of few years proved a boon to revive her passion of reading and thus further enriched her library with the addition of few hundred more books. This subsequently proved a great assets in the years to come.
Out of the Shell.
Mona’s creativity came in the forefront in full bloom at the time of the production of ’BPL Oye’ a program well conceived and excellently executed for Star TV Channel. An encouraging sense of achievement laid solid foundation to venture for a production House. The idea was materialized with the incorporation of Future Communication Ltd. wherein she is the founder Director.
Mona whole heartedly contributed to the next programs and ensured quality software- Videocon House Full, YUG, and Wilayatee BaBu.
Her decision to produce Hera Pheri independently proved a stupendous success. Her role in Kaise Kahoon was a solid support from the wings to her sister Archana.
Film family environments along with the experience of production of Hindi Feature films and successful TV serials gave tremendous experience to critically gauge the variable odds of production houses. She has undergone the hassles of location hunting inadequate facilities and carrying boxes for production every day. She was instrumental in narrowing down the requirements of a complex of dream which Sattee Shourie wanted to work upon. Dreams are realized with proper planning, optimum use of existing available resources, meticulous execution, untiring efforts of a dedicated team and innovative modern creative ideas of designers.
Mona sums up her role saying, “My role was to sow the seed in the fertile brain of my mother, it appeared, as if, she was waiting for the next generation to come forward. Sattee shourie, my mother with a conviction of possibility started serious planning to give it a physical shape. Sattee blessed with Army culture back ground, is full of determination and capable of harnessing the resources towards realization of results. Her goodwill is tremendous which comes very handy to us”.