The Marathi film industry is the oldest and a pioneer film industry in India. The industry has witnessed its ups and downs over decades. In past few years, the Marathi cinema industry has produced several films that are critically acclaimed and commercially successful as well.

The major reason of the success of the industry is writers, directors and technical expertise that brought fresh ideas, untouched subjects and deeper human sensitivity. This has given a new direction to Marathi films for the future.

Today one such personality who gave over two decades to such a dynamic industry is Mr Sooresh Pai. Started with his career in Banking & Finance, he proved his abilities by obtaining accounts of established film personalities like Rakesh Roshan, Mithun Chakraborthy, Rishi Kapoor, Kader Khan, Anand Milind, Dheeraj Kumar, Madhuri Dixit, Rakesh Nath, Vikas Mohan as a Banker.

Later, the interest towards film industry generated because of his childhood friend Ajinkya Deo, instigated Mr Pai to learn more for which he entered for a Diploma in Advance Production Technique in Films from a London Institute. The journey started from there and continues for over 25 years now. During this journey Mr Pai learned the art of Planning & Strategizing, Management, Creative, Production, Direction, etc. in the entertainment industry.

Today Mr Sooresh Pai has produced feature films, documentaries, ad films, short films & Television serials in Hindi, Marathi & Urdu. His one of the major achievements was as a Consultant & Co producer with Balaji Telefilms Ltd as Head of the Marathi Vertical and Chief Operating Officer at Ramesh Deo Production Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, one of the leading advertising production house headed by Mr. Abhinay Deo. He has successfully handled the production and direction of various films, commercial and documentaries. He has also proved his capability in developing & streamlining systems, enhance operational effectiveness and meet operational goals within the cost, time & quality parameters.

Mr Pai executed several documentaries, ad films & short films as Executive Producer (Oct 1987- January 2007). As Line Producer, he has executed over 60 TVCs with Ramesh Deo Production Pvt. Ltd for brands such as Tata Sky, Airtel DTH, Titan, Lays, HDFC, Bajaj Allianz, Mc Donalds, Sahara City Homes, Times Teach India, Chloromint, Yahoo Messenger, IDBI Fortis to mention few.

The carrier graph was straight up and rising which resulted into venturing in television as Producer of Marathi serials “Chaturai”, Ali Mili Gup Chili”, hindi serials “40 Plus”, “Umeedon Ke Sapne”, “Uthopia”, “Aastha” and  Urdu serial “Ye Hai Chakker Pe Chakker”. He also proved himself as Project Head of “Maaziya Priyaala Preet Kalena” for Zee Marathi and “Bandha Reshamache” for Star Pravah produced for Balaji Telefilms Ltd.

As Producer, Mr Pai was also acclaimed at various occasion like for the movies “Naam Gum Jaayega”, “Mukkam Post: London”, “Chor Chor”, “My Daddy Strongest” – A silent movie for kids, as Production Executive for Marathi film “Jeeva Sakha” and “Chal Gammat Karoo”, as Co-Producer of “Aboli”, as Associate Producer for Hindi Film “Ansh” and Finance, Production & Distribution of Vikas Mohan’s “Arzoo”, a Hindi Film.

After 2007, Mr Pai believed that this is the right time to venture into his key projects with all the technical expertise and so Ringa Ringa feature film came into existence with Mr Sooresh Pai as Producer. The journey followed by Marathi Film “Vasudev Balwant Phadke” as Executive Producer, released Balaji’s first Marathi film “Taryaenche Bait” and Associate Producer for Marathi film Sau Shashi Deodhar.

Taking this long journey and all the expertise, currently Mr Sooresh Pai is associated with “Shutter” as Associate Producer starring Sachin Khedekar, Sonalee Kulkarni, directed by V K Prakash and also as Producer of “Classmates” Directed by Aditya Ajay Sarpotdar, starring Ankush Chaudhari, Sonalee Kulkarni, Sai Tamhankar, Sachit Patil, Sushant Shellar and Siddharth Chandekar.

The industry has given vast experience and knowledge and in return receives better technicians for the future. Today we have a Producer not only with investing capacity but to offer his technical expertise which will certainly prove to be value add to make a world class cinema.

Source : Lokesh Shastri