One look at Shaju Ignatius, executive producer, Perspectrum, Percept Holdings, and you realize that being happy is something we have to learn. You see him and say 'this is it, he's happy, he's got a home, career, wife, adorable kid, and is at peace with himself, and if there's something else to happiness, this Piscean will yearn for that too.' Correspondent Nidhi Jain really digs the pace of his life on the Fast Track.

Work - my big great canvas -
I have never planned my moves. I wished to be a pilot or atleast get to fly as cabin crew but then my exploring mind led me to Eureka Forbes,after which i moved on to Damania Airways.Looking further I got into advertising,and did a small stint in Advertising Forecast in which I happened to do the promotion for the film 'Speed'. From that experience I started liking the concept. In the summer of '95, when event management was not a regular word/career, an ad by 'Wizcraft' caught my attention - "Join us and work will be a party".As part of India's premier Event management firm, created & managed many prestigious projects : The Michael Jackson India Tour, concerts by Shaggy, Deep Purple, UB40, Lou Bega among many others, first ever Television concerts by Lata Mangeshkar & Asha Bhosle, multiple international events across London, New York, Mauritius, South Africa, Dubai.Got tagged as the 'Awards specialist' in the industry, as I managed almost all the film & music awards held in the country, viz, Filmfare Awards, Zee Cine, Zee Sangeet, Bollywood Awards, IIFA Awards, Screen Awards, Hero Sports Awards, Sangeet Awards, Economic Times Awards, Filmfare South Awards, Mata Sanman Awards, Ceat Cricket Rating Awards, Castrol Cricket Awards, etc. Closest to my heart being the Annual Filmfare Awards, which I have been associated with for atleast 8 years of my career.

It was great to be associated with fresh ideas and events. What attracted me towards it was that it was not regular mundane work. Then, it was time move again and learn new things. Along with my close buddies based across the metros, we set up the event management business for the Times of India, called 360 Degrees.

In 2004, Percept D'Mark became my focus for the next 2 and half years. This was a great wide platform, and we truly created some memorable projects & campaigns. Now my next step to learning has led me to join Perspectrum, the IMC (integrated marketing communication) consultancy arm of Percept Holdings. My work mantra is to always have a backup plan to any element or idea.

Experimenting is the motivation, like food to the creative brain, one cannot get it in one sitting, it needs continual and regular 'top up's. A live example is first time author of 'That thing called love'. Tuhin A Sinha has always had a flair for writing (it provided him a stepping stone into the entertainment world). He was fascinated by people of television and concepts always drew his attention. Extremely excited about his new book, Tuhin says he has more things up his sleeve, in a conversation with Correspondent Nidhi Jain.

What made you write this book

Being a writer it was a logical extension, and also there is a sense of possessiveness and exclusivity that a novel gives me.

Book and Character

The publishers (Shrishti publication) wrapped up the making in two months, as they liked the subject, which is on relationships, a universal theme. Being a scriptwriter my characters reflected the spirit of Mumbai, and how it keeps bouncing back, its ethos, etc., the entire conceptualization made its marketing little easier. The characters in the book are those we can all relate to - one is cheating on his wife for no reason, there's a male chauvinist waiting for an emotional shed, an idealistic guy, a gay; and many more are the faces to my story.

Crux of the book
How the morality paradigm has changed in Indian society.

Cover page

After securing permission from a German photographer, this picture was taken which highlights the darkness of the monsoon and depicts a sense of loss.

Next on Agenda
The marketing of the book has taken a toll. What do I want to do next? Playing cricket for India would be great.

Book that captured attention
Tuhin is an erratic reader; sometimes he read a lot, sometimes nothing. But among his few favourites are Sidney Sheldon novels, Alchemist by Paolo Coelho. Among the Indian authors there are Rupa Bajwa's A Sari Shop, Chetan Bhagat's Five Point Someone, The Insider by the late Narasimha Rao, Jaswant's Singh's Call to Honor, Anurag Mathur's Making the Minister Smile.

What's next
Maybe a story on cricket, with a difference; expect it to come soon to keep the momentum going.

Tuhin's book 'That Thing Called Love' reviewed by Jairaj Padmanabhan, Regional director, Optimum Media Solutions,"That thing called love' is about 'those complexities and confusions in the matters of heart'. Set at a good pace, debutant novelist and scriptwriter Tuhin. A Sinha weaves a contemporary story of a bunch of well-etched out characters' exploring expectations, disillusionments and fragility in relationships. Pranav, as a character particularly stands out. The book captures interesting moments in the backdrop of that chaos called Mumbai.Not surprisingly, sex does make its entry. However, it could have been much better dealt with by Tuhin".

In conversation with Shaju Ignatius. "My college days? I was involved in youth related events."

In the beginning? I wasn't exposed to the word 'ambition'.

My college days? I was involved in youth related events.
 

Play? An avid sports lover, like football a lot, and do get on the field often. (I used to play tennis & squash earlier, and need to get back to it soon).
 

Inspiration? The 'livewire' city we dwell in - Bombay.
 

Fascinated? Guitar as an instrument. (will learn to strum it some day).
 

Freak? On Gadgets.
 

Love? Gaming, dancing (very passionate).
 

Music? Retro, English and Hindi numbers, and Soft rock?truly rocks !
 

Follow? Cinema?..and its magic.
 

Award Man?At the Percept Annual Conference 2005, was awarded for Teamwork across the Group. Also got a citation from Percept D'Mark for innovation in creativity & work.
Settle Down? In New Zealand, which offers all the aspects of nature and climatic conditions, and your get to see the world's first sunrise everyday.
 

Foodie? Like continental, pastas and love eating out.
 

What next? ? would like to direct a movie someday soon. When I saw the film Phone Booth, I thought of making a movie with good friend John Abraham.

Until then continue to 'Have the insight to innovate and the foresight to anticipate'.

No amount of space consumption or maintenance costs can dissuade one from collecting the rare things that one has always been fascinated by. Carlton D'Silva, creative director, hungama.com, gives Correspondent Nidhi Jain a peek into his precious collections.

Statues-
The statues I have collected so far are from my visits to the US. These statues are limited edition ones i.e. Just 8,000 to 10,000 pieces exist of each of them. Though such statues can be bought from Amazon or eBay, on these sites they tend to be a more expensive commodity. The most expensive statue I possess till date cost Rs15,000. Before buying I surf the detailing and history attached to it. One such important site is "Bowen designs". Maintenance is to be followed like a ritual, statues of these kinds needs a glass cabinet, and the usage of a particular kind of water. Above all, my statues have inspired people around me to make it a part of their personal collection as well.

Books---
During my stay in the Gulf while I was a kid, I collected rare comic books. Lesser an edition, the more expensive it becomes. I have been fascinated by characters like X-Men, Superman and Batman and the books created on them. I always make it a point to attend the comic convention in Santiago.

Movie---
Collecting movie memorabilia is a fairly new interest that I have developed since the last 4-5 years. Right now, the making of Sin City and the costumes of the film Narnia by 'Veta Workshop' has largely grabbed my attention. I am a very big fan of Matrix with 10-disc version with pre post section incorporated in it. Old movies converted into comic books, sci-fi, gift edition of Peter Jackson and King Kong have also caught my fancy.

"The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it"-- Theodore Roosevelt.

Carlton D'silva, creative director, Hungama.com tells correspondent Nidhi Jain, how during his ten years in internet business and seven years in Hungama, the rules were made and reinvented in the effort to become a true leader while simultaneously preparing future ones too.

Lessons you learnt---I spent almost eight years in boarding. Though I enjoyed every moment but it was strictly disciplined ,while creating a new family in any given circumstances and also without any strings attached.

People that influenced ---It is very difficult to head towards your vision without deterring but it all seemed easy for my MD and CEO Mr.Neeraj Roy, whom I always look 'upto'.

Method of pacifying madness---Well! With us there is a session of gaming to relieve tension. In any industry people don't stick for long but I have binded my team for five years now, the difficulty of recruiting people keeps away madness.

Strategic alliance-With new upcoming technology it creates specific team pertaining hard core skills, when it comes to coordination, the team becomes closer. We always like to hire young minds with new ideas, and also work on the philosophy" lost on time, lost on opportunity". My strategy is to keep 'my team'.

Ensuring that team delivers----There is always a difference on how one direct

The creative gang (well some of them anyways)

people ,I still do hardcore job of putting up a website, now and then; though I earn respect among peers, I still make an effort to get in touch with people who are difficult. The work is always split depending on the core expertise delievery, in our work a project takes three hours with right hoarding, animation, designing and banners. That means one needs to get a good blend of people.

Fun part of your business---Come and experience a day with the creative team in our office, you will realize that there is no seriousness to the job, we have music playing 24*7,photo sessions are always ongoing process. That's the kind of environment we have created.

Changing rules of work---In today's work scenario one should realize for growth and opportunity that 'you don't work for company, you work with it.
Earlier it was clear cut want, but now it's about survival.

Trip over love, you can get up; Fall in love and you fall forever. What's the use of worrying? It never was worthwhile, so pack up your troubles in your old kit-bag. And smile, smile, smile. This poem is dedicated to the love of my life.

When I was in charge of the Michael Jackson event, not only did it (the MJ concert) redefine the business of event management, but it also got me closer to my then beloved and now wife Neelu, a Sardarni, with whom I kept my vows for five years (anniversary -- 16th September).

My marriage remains the most cherished event as I was the event manager for my own wedding. With just two weeks in hand I had very little time to do a Punjabi and Church wedding, both on the same day. It was tough yet a lot of fun.And then the reception party, which turned from a formal gathering into a wild discotheque, we partied till 3 in the morning !

Now there is my new love and an addition to our family in my 8-month old daughter Anysa, meaning Greek Goddess.The best part of our marriage is the mixing and adjusting of two diverse cultures cultures & religions. What impressed me most is that Neelu happened to pick up my mother tongue (Malayalam) inspite of being a hardcore Punjabi, while I just about manage to speak the language myself..