Oil Kahaadi Paan Vs. Gel Denim Wrigley | Omar Qureshi at SIMClairvoyance 2011

A boy in jeans, with gelled hair, chewing wrigleys entered a world of khaadi, paan and oil to write about new actors, actresses and films! A south Bombay boy with good marks in English, Omar Qureshi (Managing Director, Omar Qureshi Entertainment Networks, Editor in Chief, Zoom TV) went to work at Stardust and interviewed Sunjay Dutt in his first week there. At the onset he underscores that in this industry whatever you do, most importantly, BE DIFFERENT!

 His session was focused on the 3Cs of television programming – Content, Context and Creativity. Mr Qureshi, refuting his own claims of being a shy public speaker, took on the subject with a zest only one with boundless passion could. He captivated the entire audience of media aspirants with mantras that have sustained him through years in the media industry, first as a film journalist and then a television anchor. “Believe you are the best!” commanded Mr. Qureshi while urging the youngsters to identify their strengths and dared then to dream.  Dedication, humility and ethics, he recommended should be the basis of your approach to achieving your dream. He cited several examples from his own life like his move to the online space and then television and his project with Amir Khan; to emphasize that re-invention, originality and keeping in time with technology was essential for any media professional. Reminding us about the human element of glamour he insisted that avoiding bias is extremely essential.

 When the focus shifted firmly to the visual medium, Omar Qureshi rationalized it as the strongest and the most popular medium by saying, “I was a by-line, a name. Then I got a voice. Now look Ma! I have a face.” The film journalist in him then burst out as he spoke enthusiastically of Bollywood and recounting incidents with many film personalities who are now his friends. In his opinion “Bollywood God’s stay strong…From Pariah’s to a religion and from Madhuri to Katrina! It transforms our loves, gives us style and bonds us as Indians!” He shared a few tips on movie reviews with the aspiring film journalists. Omar Qureshi concluded the session with a quote that puts any and every industry in context, “Creativity is a magic wand… You can be a magician too!”

(with inputs from Sneha Padmanabhan, MBA 2013)