AgTalk | Story of hard work and conviction: Sphereorigins' Sunjoy Waddhwa

A multitude of television channels and digitization to boost further growth of the industry also augers well for the content production companies, to experiment with varied programmes that matches the taste of the discerned viewers. In the field of television software and with shows like ‘Saat Phere, Balika Vadhu, Jyoti, Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon, Gulal and Saraswati Chandra,’ Sphereorigins Multivision Pvt Ltd need not prove its credentials any further. This company promoted by Sunjoy Waddhwa, Chairman & MD has built a strong body of work. Although new to the industry when he started out, Waddhwa due to his business background has led Sphereorigins remarkably well and it is today geared well to fiddle and leverage on the future growth opportunities.

Adgully spoke with Sunjoy Waddhwa to find out more and dissect the spirit behind the success. The following is the excerpt of the conversation.

Adgully (AG): Please tell us something about the company’s journey so far, since its inception in the year 2002?

Sunjoy Waddhwa (SW): The journey has been a wonderful learning experience. We’ve grown from a three people to a creative and talented team of 110 members. This journey involved a lot of hard work and conviction, as I was not even remotely connected to the entertainment industry. During the initial period I intently and intensely learned the skills on the job as I did not have a media background. Nevertheless, I learnt from the basics and carefully absorbed the working of each and every department of production. The media industry has a different method of functionality. Hence, being from a business background, I streamlined a lot of things and built an infrastructure from scratch.
Today Sphereorigins proudly boasts of having six sets of 10,000 sq.ft. each,  a lakh and half sq.ft. of open area for exterior sets, a well equipped in house edit suite and a professionally enhanced  casting department. Sphereorigins has worked on different genres, like family drama, thriller, horror, fantasy,  kids programming, telefilms etc…It has  been God's grace and blessings that our hard work has borne fruit and has brought us this far.

AG: Sphereorigins started off with production of television software and with time diversified in other areas too. So currently which are the key areas that the company manages?

SW: We handle regional shows - Bengali, Bhojpuri, telefilms for Pogo in kids space, telefilms based on 26/11. We are currently diversifying in non-fiction and also working on a few feature film scripts.

AG: The company is known as one of India's leading content development & production house and has also won awards for popular shows on Hindi GEC’s. To what would you attribute your success to?

SW: I think quality of content, high production value, ethical functionality and hard work. Success is a team work and we believe there are creative partnerships with actors, story/ screen writers, technicians. A very strong and able team has been a part of the company since its inception and we have a lot of talented people on board who together make a fabulous show.

AG: How do you see production houses in India growing and how would you rate the growth of Sphereorigins last year?

SW: Today if we see there are new channels coming up and the production houses have lot of work to look forward to. With an expanding bouquet of channels, new content would be required, thus we do foresee a good future for producers. One of the key functions in production is multi-tasking and changing with the times. In other words, adapting to different fields, giving high value of production and good content. Sphereorigins has grown in various fields of different content production with ‘A Capability to Adapt’, being its key strength. Transforming your ideas to the screen is a challenge where it could be made responsibly and still is a fantastic spectacle.

AG: What are the major challenges faced by production houses and what major challenges did you face in the recent past?

SW: One of the challenges that we face is to retain creative people. A major challenge that Sphereorigins has faced in the recent past, is taking over of the existing project /show- ‘Saraswatichandra’, midway and delivering without any hiccups with better quality production.

AG: How strong is Sphereorigins in terms of delivering content for countries overseas?

SW: With a capability of a strong production house of 110 people our strengths lies in various aspects of production, post-production and creative, we are fully geared up for delivering content.

AG: What is your edge over competition and what makes Sphereorigins stand different amongst other production houses of India?

SW: I feel the capability to adapt with the changing times in the entertainment field and delivering path breaking content is our aim. We are a determined production & creative team. Sphereorigins is a one window outfit - from concept / idea creation to final product  delivery. Ethical Thought Process & Fair Play is our motto.

AG: What are the current trends that you have observed and how are they helping production houses to strengthen their position in the industry?

SW:  Today audience's are willing to see a story of different relationships also  an acceptability of shows in Seasons (26 12, 26 13). Different content ideas in non-fiction shows are being observed and channels are experimenting with different kinds of programming. Channels are catering to a brand of new audience in the age group of 15-25yrs.which in effect helps them expand their bandwidth and in turn contributes to growth. Thus, new viewers will bring more work for various production houses.

AG: How is your production house bracing ahead to tap the growing potential?

SW: Our idea is to create properties which are larger and concentrate on great scripts and talent;   focus on ideas and scripts that have life beyond.

AG: Please share some of the projects that you are currently working on?

SW: We are working on couple of concepts for fiction shows, film scripts, non-fiction ideas. With a passion for making good content in either shows/ movies , a drive to excel in the entertainment industry and the tenacity to face adversity, Sphereorigins is positive to continue making bigger and better products in the future.