IN THE VALLEY 18. Creating movie sensations for India and Nigeria
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Disclaimer : This episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only, no content of the conversation should be considered as investment advice.
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Today, Ibrahim Sagna welcomes in the valley Hamisha Daryani Ahuja whose movie Namaste Wahala reach Netflix Top 10 after being released on Valentine's Day 2021.
5 BIG IDEAS DISCUSSED IN THE VALLEY WITH HAMISHA DARYANI AJUHA
1. "I went for my second calling, which was hospitality and it benefited me eventually"
In this episode, Hamisha spells out how her business education and first venture in the hospitality business were fundamental for her success in the film industry. She explains that although she's always wanted to work in film, her entourage convinced her to pick a steadier path at first. She opened several successful restaurants in Lagos (Bistrot7) and was acquired by the music label Chocolate City : in doing that, she earned her financial freedom to pursue her life long dream and invaluable business and financial lessons for her next venture.
2. "I noticed that my Nigerian friends loved Bollywood and some of its actors. I knew there was something there."
Hamisha illustrates the perfect example of what happens when a business mindset meets a creative spirit. In the episode, she explains what led her to look into the connection between Bollywood and Nollywood. Many of us growing on the African continent witnessed the popularity of Bollywood films first hand : Hamisha saw this as an opportunity to do business and bring something that the Indian and Nigerian audiences had never seen. The popularity of her film, which became a Top10 Netflix sensation after its release on Valentine's Day in 2020, confirmed her hunch.
3. "I was conducting a workshop on the pursuit of happiness and took my own advice."
Hamisha began hosting workshops to encourage people to find their path to happiness in the back of her Bistrot 7 restaurant. A few years later, her workshop has grown into a sensational experience : some of you may have caught her recently on TV on Big Brother Nigeria. She was inspired to follow the advice of her own workshop by Nigerian rapper and Chocolate City's former CEO, M.I. and as she says in the episode she has not looked back since.
4."The process of being a film producer and a film director was difficult"
She further explains the dichotomy between being a film director (the person behind the camera) and being a film producer (the person in charge of the budget). She was able to find a balance between the two sides of the coin but never compromised on the quality of the images shot. In doing so she proved how valuable it can be for creative entrepreneurs to have a business background.
5.The next step is bringing Nollywood to India"
In the episode, Hamisha reveals her next big plans including a TV series that will see some of Nollywood's most famous actors get in the action in Mumbai. This time, she explains that her next project Postcards focuses much more on the plot and the blend of the two cultures in the background. She also reveals that she is currently working on a reality show. By tailoring her content to the Indian and Nigerian audiences, Hamisha has found a very large niche market to serve and we, at Silverbacks Holdings, are proud fans of hers !