Universal
Music India has today announced that Vinit Thakkar has been promoted to Senior
Vice President, Universal Music India.Currently
Head of Digital, Licensing and New Business in India, Thakkar’s new position
will see him take a greater role in the operations of Universal Music Group’s
Indian and South Asian business across Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and
Bangladesh. Reporting to Devraj Sanyal, Managing Director and CEO, Universal
Music Group South Asia, Thakkar will be based in Mumbai.The new
role will see Thakkar head up iconic label EMI Records India, a sub label of
Universal Music Group in association with leading Bollywood film director Mohit
Suri. The label acts as a platform for discovering, nurturing and breaking
talent into the world of Bollywood film music.Of the
promotion, Sanyal said: “I am thrilled to be promoting an executive of Vinit
Thakkar’s stature and ability, his contribution over the last four years on
both strategic and operational fronts has been extraordinary”.Thakkar
comments: “I am delighted to be working alongside Devraj, whose vision for our
region has no bounds and we look forward to further developing strategies with
our brilliant team. India ranks highly amongst the world’s most creative and
musically vibrant markets and with UMG’s global support, the coming years will
be a thrilling ride.”Prior to
joining UMG, Thakkar was Senior General Manager at Sony Music, handling P&L
responsibility across Digital, Licensing and Publishing businesses. He
previously worked with Titan and Citibank within their Sales and Marketing
divisions.
After crossing the 100
million milestone, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s “Zaroori Tha” has broken all barriers
and crossed 200 million views on YouTube/ VEVO. This is truly a momentous
achievement for Universal Music Group as this is the first original non-film
music video to hit 200 million views.
Ever since it released in
June 2014, the single which is a love ballad from the album Back 2 Love has
gained attention with the video starring the then- real life couple &
Ex-Bigg Boss contestants Gauahar Khan and Kushal Tandon. Directed by Rahul Sud,
the video has been shot in the picturesque city of Dubai. The two protagonists
beautifully tell the tale of a heart wrenching love story that brought out the
true meaning of the song’s lyrics.
Watch the VIDEO here:
In a territory dominated
by Bollywood films & it’s music videos, it is an outstanding achievement
that a Non-film music video has received such admiration from viewers across
the globe & Universal Music has sustained the popularity ever since it’s
release three years ago making it the first of its kind.
Speaking on this
significant accomplishment Rahul Sud, Director of the video shared, “Working
with Ustaad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was a dream that came to reality with Zaroori
Tha and its stupendous success of 200 million views and still counting speaks
for itself.... Thanks to Universal Music
and the team for setting the new benchmark in Non-Film Music and Music Videos
in India”
Gauahar Khan commented,
“It's an honour to be affiliated with legends, but more humbling for it to be
received with so much love!! I thank Allah, Rahul Sud our director for casting
us, cause Kushal and I loved being in that video and Rahat Sahab for this
magical piece of love!!”
Kushal Tandon added, “It
was an amazing experience to be a part of this music video. I’m extremely happy
for Rahat Sir, Rahul and the entire Universal Music team & proud to be part
of a project that has reached such a momentous milestone with 200 million
views”
An act that is certainly
difficult to replicate, Universal Music has truly conquered the Non-film music
category with a song by a leading Musical talent whose work has set him apart
from any other.
About Universal Music
India:
Universal Music India
Pvt. Ltd. (UMIPL) is a 100% subsidiary of the Universal Music Group (UMG) and
is home to record labels such as A&M Records, Blue Note Records, Capitol
Records, Capitol Records Nashville, Caroline, Decca, Def Jam Recordings,
Deutsche Grammophon, Emarcy, Geffen Records, Interscope Records, Island
Records, Machete Music, MCA Nashville, Mercury Records, Motown Records, Polydor
Records, Republic Records, Universal Music Latino, Verve Music Group, Virgin
Records, Virgin EMI Records.
UMIPL has an extremely
rich Indian catalogue comprising songs from classic Hindi and Regional Films,
IndiPop, Bhangra, Ghazals and Devotional. It’s enviable catalogue includes
artistes such as Asha Bhosle, Anup Jalota, Bombay Vikings, Jagjit Singh, JoSh,
Malkit Singh, Pankaj Udhas, Panjabi MC, Raghav, Mohit Chouhan, Euphoria, Adnan
Sami, Rabbi Shergill, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan to name a few. UMIPL’s `film’
catalogue (the 2nd largest in India) spans music from blockbusters such as
Sholay, Qurbani, Amar Akbar Anthony, Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, Devdas and
Munnabhai MBBS amongst the numerous jewels which symbolize the musical journey
from the 70’s to date. On the International music front, UMIPL are the clear
market leaders with artistes such as ABBA, Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams, Enrique
Iglesias, Eminem, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, The
Beatles, UB40, Deep Purple, Enigma, Norah Jones, Deadmau5, The Chemical
Brothers, amongst host of others, popular music icons and household names in
India
ऐसा लगता है कि सुपरस्टार रजनीकांत राजनीति में आने को लेकर गंभीर है। उनकी अगली फिल्म के ऐलान के बाद यह पुख्ता खबर लगती है। रजनीकांत की अगली फिल्म का निर्माण रजनीकांत के दामाद धनुष राजा कर रहे हैं। इस फिल्म का टाइटल काला रखा गया है । वंडर फिल्म्स के बैनर तले बनाई जा रही इस फिल्म का निर्देशन पीए रंजित कर रहे हैं। पीए रंजित ने २०१२ में रिलीज़ पॉलिटिकल ड्रामा फिल्म 'मद्रास' से माध्यम पर अपनी पकड़ साबित की थी। रजनीकांत की पिछली हिट फिल्म कबाली का निर्देशन भी रंजित ने ही किया था। नई फिल्म का टाइटल 'काला' उत्तर भारतीयों द्वारा दक्षिण भारतीयों को उनके रंग के आधार पर अपमानित करने के लिए काला कह कर बुलाने से प्रेरित है। ख़ास बात यह है कि इस टाइटल के साथ कारिकालन शब्द भी जुड़ा है। कारिकालन एक चोल राजा था, जो अपने साहस और बुद्धिमानी के लिए मशहूर था। इससे साफ़ है कि फिल्म में रजनीकांत काले रंग के बावजूद अपनी श्रेष्ठता साबित करने जा रहे हैं। इस फिल्म की कहानी मुंबई की पृष्ठभूमि पर एक तमिल गैंगस्टर की है। मुंबई में रंग के आधार पर भेदभाव की इस कहानी में रजनीकांत तमाम बाधाओं और अपमान के बावजूद खुद के लिए सम्मान हासिल करते हैं। उल्लेखनीय है कि रजनीकांत ने कबाली फिल्म में भी मलेशिया के एक गैंगस्टर का किरदार किया था। रजनीकांत की २०१० की हिट फिल्म एंधिरन (हिंदी में रोबोट) की सीक्वल फिल्म २.० अगले साल रिलीज़ होगी। फिल्म काला का निर्माण तमिल और हिंदी में किया जायेगा। इस फिल्म को अन्य भारतीय भाषाओं में डब कर भी रिलीज़ किया जायेगा। दक्षिण के मशहूर फिल्म एडिटर श्रीकर प्रसाद पहली बार रजनीकांत की किसी फिल्म का संपादन करेंगे। आज इस फिल्म के हिंदी, इंग्लिश, तमिल, आदि भाषाओँ में पोस्टर रिलीज़ किये गए। क्या दक्षिण के लोगों के साथ उत्तर के भेदभाव को उजागर कर रजनीकांत तमिल राजनीति में अपनी पैंठ जमा पाएंगे ?
