Recent Conversations

Interviewer: Name two of your strengths and two of your weaknesses. 

Deepak Menon: I'd start from my strengths. My greatest strength is my family and friends. 

Interviewer: That's not your strength. Please state your personal strength. 

Deepak Menon: I stand with my views. My family and friends are my greatest strength. It takes a lot of hard work and years to build relationships. Who we often hang out with and our upbringing reflects our character and attitude towards life. I'm grateful for my awesome friends, my parents, my siblings and my wife. They have stood by me sharing my life crisis and good times. They are my source of inspiration and motivation. 

Deepak Menon: My second strength is my talents. I'm grateful to GOD for the blessings. My talent has given me the strength to be very resilient during challenging times. I take pride in my work and have the courage to be. 

Deepak Menon: My biggest weakness is Trust. In the past, I have trust and accepted people very easily. Life has taught me that some people we encounter can be very judgmental and lack honor. However, I'm a perpetual student and acknowledge that there are more good-willed people around us.   

Deepak Menon: My second weakness is my education. I hold a BSc. Media Arts & Science (Film & Animation) and Master of Business Administration (General Management) from MMU, Cyberjaya, Malaysia. I was neither intelligent to earn a scholarship nor financially capable to afford a Harvard MBA. It would have made a very big difference to my life and career. However, I'm grateful to be educated by some great teachers from MMU. I hope to pursue my PhD in the areas of Economics and Social Sciences. The PhD study fees from a reputable university is very costly. I have a thirst for knowledge and hope to receive  some kind of scholarship. 


Interviewer: You have 11 years in the education industry and experiences producing award winning works. Don't they contribute more than a Harvard MBA?

Deepak Menon: It took me 11 years to pursue and complete my masters. There is a saying, "If you think education is expensive, try ignorance."

Q&A With Deepak Menon On Cross-Over Cinema

Q&A With Deepak Menon On Cross-Over Cinema 

Email conversation dated: 15th March 2012
 

"Bollywood film as geo-regional and geo-cultural product in Malaysian media market" 

by Rohini Sreekumar, Research Scholar, Monash University

Rohini: Do you think that the Bollywood films are influencing the Malay film industry? How?

Deepak: Yes, during P Ramlee’s era, at a certain extent.
The current Malay film industry gains reference from many industries including the US, India, Indonesia, Korea, Thai, Hong Kong, Japan, Europe.

Rohini: There is a huge inflow of DVDs (pirated and original) of Bollywood films now in Malaysia even though Box office report says that Bollywood films capture huge revenue from Malaysian theatres.  What is your opinion regarding this?

Deepak: The current (2011) box-office data as follows:

1.     Largest Hollywood movie released in Malaysia, Transformers 3 USD10mill.
2.     Largest Malay movie released in Malaysia, KL Gangster USD4mill.
3.     Largest Kollywood movie released in Malaysia, Endhiran USD3mill.

There is opportunity for a thriving Bollywood scene none the less.


Rohini: What are the concerns that Bollywood films place when considering the cultural, social and religious aspect?

Deepak: Bollywood movies are more concerned about their homeland Indian audience.

Rohini: Who do you think are the audiences of these Bollywood movies?(since Malaysia is a multi-ethnic country)why?

Deepak: All walks of audience. Leisure and entertainment activity.

Rohini: With the popularity of Bollywood films (or Indian films) in Malaysia, do you believe that there are wider chances of forming cross-over films in Malaysia?

Deepak: Yes. There is always great opportunity for cross-over films at any part of the world.

Rohini: Inspired from the Indian films, some Malaysian directors are venturing into making Tamil movies based on local themes.  How do you appraise these cross-over ventures?

Deepak: Directors are inspired by many films from many parts of the world. In fact, many Indian directors are inspired by US films and vice-versa. Inspiration for producers boils down to two significant reasoning; box office success or award winning story.

Rohini: Do you find that these kinds of film ventures pose huge challenge considering the Malaysian film laws and regulations (like the use of national language)?  

Deepak: Absolutely humongous challenge. It is more likely for a Malay language movie cross-over venture with content producers from India. eg, The movie Cinta by Kabir Bhatia.

END. 

Foreword

Moving Forward with Hope, Dreams, Anticipation, and Continuous Self Improvement

A brand new blog!

What's great about a new year is that it looks backward and forward, and we are truly blessed to have so much to look back on and so much excitement to anticipate.

Another year passes filled with memories, experiences, falling downs, getting back ups and the strength to move along.

The past years has given the gift of many shared memories to last a lifetime, a timely call for contemplation and reflections. The past years brought many hopes.

Hope for continued support and exposure for our humble film works, namely Chemman Chaalai (The Gravel Road), and Chalanggai (Dancing Bells). Both Malaysian Indian community films have brought us tremendous exposure and support - home and abroad. It has shown us that humility, sincerity, and hard work never goes unnoticed.

Hope for research journal publications for further global integration, cultural value sharing, and knowledge sharing.

Hope for a renewed and progressive development in achieving excellence in the field of photo journalism. We have now grown to a team of eight consisting of photographers and designers to offer our commitment and personalized consultation for our growing demands from clients.

All these success could have only been possible with the support from all the beautiful souls who has showered us with blessings and encouragement to further our voyage in the amazing world of Academics, Filmmaking, and Photo Journalism.

I have come to accept what you are able to do and not able to do. Accept the past as past, without denying it or discarding it. Learn to forgive yourself and forgive others. Not to assume that it’s too late to get involved.

I’ve decided I’m going to live – or at least try to live - the way I want, with dignity, with courage, with humor, with composure.

I wish to extend my very sincere best wishes and hope to receive continuous support from our valued clients, dearest community members, loving family, and awesome friends towards our on going effort to achieve our new year's resolution.

May the year two thousand and twelve bring loads of cheer, buckets of love and peace through out the year and beyond.

Speak soon!

Contact
DEEPAK KUMARAN MENON
Email: deepak.kumaran.menon@gmail.com
Blog: deepakmenon888.blogspot.com