By:
Screen
Weekly,
IndiaFM
Thursday,
September
06,
2007
He
inherited
one
of
the
biggest
empires
in
Indian
entertainment.
But
today
Bhushan
Kumar
has
made
T-Series
grow
manifold
in
turnover
and
also
expand
by
venturing
into
new
horizons.
Screen
chats
up
the
chief
of
India's
numero
uno
music
label
T-Series
has
progressed
under
your
stewardship.
How
did
you
take
your
company
further
from
the
base
that
your
father
had
already
consolidated?
In
my
father's
time
T-Series
was
into
film
soundtracks,
devotionals
and
a
few
romantic
albums
in
our
small
non-film
repertoire.
We
decided
that
we
had
to
do
other
music
also
-
so
we
went
into
pop
music
like
Sonu
Nigam's
Deewana
and
into
segments
like
ghazals,
Punjabi
pop
and
so
on
with
names
like
Jagjit
Singh,
Pankaj
Udhas,
Harbhajan
Singh
Mann,
Hansraj
Hans
and
others.
We
also
increased
our
range
of
pop
albums
by
signing
up
Adnan
Sami.
We
maintained
our
areas
of
strength
like
film
soundtracks
-
we
have
had
more
film
soundtracks
than
anyone
else
for
several
years
now
-
and
we
are
signed
with
the
biggest
names
from
Rakesh
Roshanji
and
Vinod
Chopraji
to
Shahrukh
Khan's
home
production,
Sajid
(Nadiadwala)bhai,
Ravi
Chopraji
and
Farhan
Akhtar.
We
have
also
stepped
up
film
production
-
earlier
we
would
do
few
films,
and
mostly
modest-budgeted
ones.
In
2007,
we
will
have
two
releases,
Darling
directed
by
Ram
Gopal
Varma,
his
first
outside
film,
and
Bhool
Bhulaiya
directed
by
Priyadarshan.
What
else?
We
have
just
tied
up
with
Percept
Picture
Company
in
a
big
way:
we
will
co-produce
five
films
with
them,
beginning
with
Nagesh
Kukunoor's
Ashayein,
which
is
almost
complete.
The
next
two
will
be
an
Akshay
Kumar
film
with
Nagesh
and
another
film
with
Priyadarshanji.
All
these
should
hopefully
release
this
year.
In
2008,
we
will
have
Malamaal
Weekly
II
and
a
Tamil
film
that
will
be
our
first
venture
into
South
Indian
cinema.
Individually,
we
will
also
be
co-producing
Bela
Segal's
directorial
debut
along
with
her
brother
Sanjay
Leela
Bhansali.
We
have
just
announced
a
remake
of
Karz
for
which
we
have
purchased
the
rights
from
Subhash
(Ghai)ji.
It
will
be
directed
by
Satish
Kaushik
and
will
star
Himesh
Reshammiya
in
Rishi
Kapooor's
role.
Why
Karz?
It
was
Himeshji's
idea
and
we
liked
it
-
it
is
a
musical
film
and
is
perfect
for
Himesh's
next
film.
Will
you
be
using
remix
versions
of
any
of
the
hit
music?
No,
Himeshji
has
decided
not
to
do
that.
In
fact,
the
three
original
tracks
that
he
has
already
composed
are
mind-blowing.
We
will
be
making
some
basic
changes
though
the
story
will
remain
the
same,
like
we
will
base
the
story
abroad.
Is
T-Series
planning
to
enter
any
new
terrain?
We
have
already
entered
the
Home
Video
market
in
a
big
way
last
year,
and
our
catalogue
includes
films
like
Dil
Chahta
Hai,
Sarkar,
Maine
Pyar
Kyun
Kiya,
Aashiq
Banaya
Aapne,
Aksar
and
other
films.
We
have
also
stepped
into
international
films
and
have
purchased
the
DVD
rights
of
Basic
Instinct
II
among
others.
Yet
another
new
enterprise
is
YBR
Records.
But
you
are
using
the
T-Series
repertoire
mostly
in
its
releases,
so
why
have
a
different
label?
The
psychology
of
the
buyer
is
that
T-Series
products
have
the
lowest
prices.
But
we
needed
to
package
and
sell
some
products
as
high-priced
ones.
On
YBR
Records,
we
also
market
classical
music
and
other
niche
music.
On
the
other
hand,
we
can
sell
compilations
with
exquisite
and
expensive
packing.
We
have
just
released
an
exotic
6-CD
pack
at
Rs
250.
That's
not
high
for
the
value
but
an
expensive
tag
for
a
T-Series
release.
Where
does
the
name
YBR
originate?
There
is
no
significance
as
such.
In
USA,
there
is
a
road
named
Yellow
Brick
Road.
I
liked
the
name
and
the
sound
of
the
first
letters
together
-
YBR.
Arising
from
that,
no
one
knows
why
your
company's
label
is
T-Series.
My
father
was
a
great
devotee
of
Lord
Shiva
apart
from
Mata.
The
“T"
actually
comes
from
the
word
trishul
or
the
trident,
the
weapon
of
the
gods.
Yet
another
new
enterprise
could
be
television.
Have
you
thought
about
that?
Yes,
I
am
planning
something
in
that
direction,
but
it
needs
a
lot
of
homework
for
that
and
that's
on
right
now.
T-Series
is
especially
backing
Himesh
Reshammiya
today,
including
his
acting
debut
in
Aap
Kaa
Surroor
and
now
Karz.
You
also
get
additional
songs
by
him
in
Humko
Deewana
Kar
Gaye
and
now
Darling
at
the
risk
of
antagonizing
the
original
composers
of
the
film.
The
relationship
has
been
mutually
beneficial
right
from
Tere
Naam,
which
is
one
of
our
biggest-ever
albums
sales-wise
to
Aashiq
Banaya
Aapne,
Aksar,
Tom
Dick
And
Harry,
his
record
smashing
album
Aap
Ka
Surroor
and
finally
Aap
Kaa
Surroor
the
film,
which
gave
way
at
the
charts
only
after
10
or
12
weeks
to
our
own
Partner.
Himesh
has
a
very
huge
fan
base
in
India
and
overseas
and
he
has
been
responsible
for
reviving
music
sales
in
physical
(that
is
audio
CDs
and
cassettes)
besides
being
in
demand
at
pubs
with
urban
youngsters.
His
songs
strike
an
instant
rapport
with
every
listener
and
the
demand
has
increased
now
that
he
has
stopped
doing
new
assignments
as
just
a
composer.
The
song
'Tadap' from
Darling
is
his
last
song
for
an
outside
film.
You
took
over
the
reins
of
your
father's
business
after
the
terrible
tragedy.
What
was
your
mindset
then?
I
was
studying
in
college
when
my
father
passed
away.
I
had
to
take
over
the
business.
I
completed
my
education
by
correspondence
and
shifted
here.
Luckily
the
roots
were
strong.
We
had
a
great
catalogue
and
we
were
already
No.1.
I
only
had
to
continue
the
hard
work
and
make
sure
that
the
brand-name
continued
to
maintain
and
also
enhance
its
reputation.
I
am
also
very
lucky
in
another
aspect
-
even
today,
nine
years
after
I
took
over,
my
father's
loyalists
are
still
with
me
like
pillars
of
support
like
Ved
Channa,
Mukesh
Desai,
Vinod
Bhanushali
and
Ajay
Kapoor.
This
makes
me
confident
that
I
have
teams
in
place
to
look
after
all
our
new
ventures.
Where
do
you
see
music
heading?
A
major
point
today
is
that
film
soundtracks
do
well
only
if
the
movie
works.
Melody
remains
as
strong
as
ever.
Our
observation
is
that
melody-based
albums
like
Deewana,
Tera
Chehra,
Bewafaai
and
now
its
ever-higher
selling
sequel
Phir
Bewafaai
sell
in
physical
format,
while
the
trendy
beats-
or
Western-oriented
music
sells
more
in
downloads
like
ring-tones
and
caller-tones.
Both
will
continue
to
co-exist.
The
albums
like
Bewafaai
and
Phir
Bewafaai
are
not
considered
trendy
toppers
in
urban
areas.
Yes,
and
they
are
not
made
welcome
by
certain
music
channels.
But
you
must
know
that
the
so-called
hyped
hits
of
several
other
artistes
sell
only
about
10-15%
of
a
Phir
Bewafaai.
Arising
from
that,
how
do
your
old
film
soundtracks
sell?
They
are
in
demand,
but
as
time
passes,
they
are
more
in
demand
in
compilations
where
they
hear
the
cream.
But
there
are
entire
music
albums
that
sell
even
today,
like
Tezaab
and
our
production
Aashiqui.
You
have
encouraged
your
wife
Divya
and
sister
Tulsi
Kumar
to
make
careers.
Yes,
but
with
the
clear
understanding
that
their
work
must
meet
the
necessary
standard.
Tulsi
has
learnt
music
in
Delhi.
Divya
is
passionate
about
a
career
behind
the
camera.
She
got
herself
qualified
by
doing
courses
in
her
arena
and
the
video
that
she
made
on
piracy
was
only
the
beginning.
Even
there,
I
had
told
Divya
that
it
would
be
used
only
if
we
were
satisfied
with
it.
Today
she
has
proved
herself,
so
what
is
wrong
if
she
pursues
her
passion?
Her
video
of
Phir
Bewafaai
has
been
loved
and
appreciated
and
now
she
is
directing
the
new
Aap
Kaa
Surroor
video
with
Hannsikaa
Motwani.
Will
she
direct
a
film?
Not
right
now.
But
if
she
is
able
to
do
it
well
later,
why
not?
Was
yours
a
love
marriage,
considering
that
her
only
film
as
actor
Ab
Tumhare
Hawale
Watan
Sathiyo
had
its
music
on
T-Series?
We
did
meet
a
couple
of
times
during
the
making
of
the
film,
but
it
was
an
arranged
marriage
as
she
too
hails
from
Delhi.
A
question
that
has
long
puzzled
everyone.
Why
has
T-Series
never
joined
the
Indian
Music
Industry
(IMI)
and
Indian
Performing
Rights
Society
(IPRS),
the
associations
of
the
Indian
music
companies?
My
father
did
not
agree
to
certain
conditions
that
were
needed
to
be
a
part
of
IMI.
We
were
a
part
of
IPRS
but
we
realized
that
we
were
losing
huge
money
because
of
their
PPL
(Phonographic
Performance
Limited)
wing.
After
forming
our
own
wings
for
this,
the
royalty
we
get
is
an
astounding
400
times
more.
From
lakhs
we
have
moved
on
to
crores.
We
did
not
want
to
be
a
part
of
some
package
deal
when
our
catalogue
was
so
large
but
we
were
getting
peanuts.