Happy Birthday Anindita! Motherhood gave her the opportunity to re-think it ALL
Dear Mommy The Hustlers readers,
in this tough moment, we all have a very crucial duty. Stay Safe and Stay Positive.
Staying safe means to not only protect yourself but also others and the best way to do so right now is to Stay Home.
Staying Positive means, acknowledge that this moment will pass and we have to make the best of it, celebrate what we have and our loved ones.
For this reason I decided that I would have kept on publishing my articles and this months in specific I want to celebrate life, today is the birthday of a magnificent woman, her name is Anindita Ghosh.
Anindita is a mother, she worked as a successful banker in Singapore and then, one day, motherhood gave us the opportunity to stop her insanely busy life as a manager and re-think it all.
Here what she shared with me.
MTH: First off - you and I connected via my blog and I am so glad we initiated this, what I hope will be a collaboration for years to come. When you sent me your intro message I was like “WOW”, I’m onto something, the energy coming across through your words was so powerful. So for those that don’t know you, would you like to share your presentation but most importantly: Who is Anindita ?
A: Hello, I am Anindita Ghosh; fondly called Andy by most. Who am I today? I am the Founder and Director of ArcLight Productions - we produce Multinational Arts events like the very popular Timeless Tales Family Theater Festival, the Rhythm International Dance Festival, commercial films and TV / web-series. The cornerstones of my productions are multi-ethnicity - reflective of Singapore as a melting pot of many cultures from across the world living harmoniously together. For example - at Rhythm International Dance Festival - we showcased dances of 10 nations across the globe - Brazilian Samba, Korean Pop, Arabian Belly Dancing, Spanish Flamenco, American Burlesque, Indian, Mexican, Thai, Sri Lankan & Chinese Classical forms - all in 1 show, for the first time ever in Singapore! Similarly, at Timeless Tales Theater Festival - we hosted 60 artists of 16 nationalities in each of 5 houseful shows for the second consecutive year now - receiving raving audience & media reviews!
I am an ex-banker & a mother to a 5 year old. Apart from ArcLight productions - I am also COO of Apexpert Management - our family’s Strategic Management Consultancy Business. As an artist - I love to act, direct, write, sing, dance, choreograph. I’ve been part of 30 prestigious projects across Films, Advertisements and Theater in the last 3 years of my new life. At this moment I am juggling a lot of hats - but enjoying each one of them thoroughly.
MTH: You are a famous Indian producer and founder of Arclight Productions I couldn’t help myself obviously and I did my research your production company is huge but before we get there I know you did not start your career in the movie industry you came from the banking business how did it happen and I am so curious and I want to know all about it.
A: Haha well not really famous yet - a long way to go and many more dreams to fulfill. But yes, my career transition is an interesting story. It was completely unplanned as I was happy in my career as a banker. Last working as a Director in an MNC bank that I joined straight from my Business school - I was doing pretty well with 6 promotions in 10 years. Had zero arts in my life but didn't ever feel that I was missing anything. I was working hard and partying harder. Had an active social life and traveled all across the globe with my husband.
3 years ago - on what was intended to be a short motherhood break - I chanced upon the world of dramatics and got so hooked that I haven't looked back since. The universe has been kind and opened many doors. I went from strength to strength - from acting to directing to co-producing Singapore’s biggest multi-ethnic theater festival and with many prestigious projects in the pipeline.
This is how it all happened. I had just wanted to spend time with my kid, but within the first few months I landed up in a film audition and I made it! It was just pure chance. So I became a part of Singapore's biggest budget film of the year - govt funded for the Singapore International Festival of Arts, made by one of the most prominent filmmakers in Singapore. I was the choreographer for the film as well as one of the character actors and I had a great time on the sets. That was it - the bug just bit me and since then I have not looked back.
Since then - I have shot for advertisements/commercials including some government ads, Singapore airlines etc. I picked up every other project that came my way - across commercial theater, dance, films. I am actually finding out new facets of my own self! As a kid I never knew I could write and now I have written plays that have been staged. I am even writing for a TV/web series now! Have been freelancing - as actor, director, writer, singer, dancer, choreographer, etc.
When I founded ArcLight Productions - it was just a very ambitious dream project - an attempt to make a sustainable career in the arts. ArcLight Productions went on to create Timeless Tales & Rhythm IDF. There is a big commercial film project featuring reputed Indian stars that is in pre-production at the moment, plus many more very interesting projects in the pipeline!
I am just going with the flow. I just happened to chance into this world and I enjoyed it so much that I stayed - and I love it so much that I can’t think of anything else at the moment. My head is brimming with ideas as to what to do next!
MTH: How does your average day look like? You are a mother and a woman in her career how do you make it fit into 1 day?
A: My life is no longer a 9-8 job like my banking days - rather I now have a 24 hour work day right and a 365 days work year. Both my companies are mine - so I have flexibility to take time out for my family, especially my child, when I need it - though sometimes I feel like I am working all the time - I have no more holidays, no more weekends.
Also, it is seasonal for me. For example: we concluded Timeless Tales recently and I think for the 2 months leading up to the show - it was all consuming - managing a team of 60 artists, schedules, media, corporate partners, ticketing , marketing, content, tech, quality, promotions - without the organisational support that you receive in a corporate setting. Moreover, we landed right in the middle of COVID’s maximum panic mode in SG. We ended up with 5 house full shows which was amazing -it was truly God's blessing. But we had to put in a lot of additional effort to pull it off! I requested my husband to step in to help out with my child and I am blessed with a great helper. All thanks to them!
The rest of the time when I’m in between projects - I find a good amount of time to spend with my kid. He does go to school but he is an advanced learner who requires a lot of home schooling as the school system here doesn’t support that at his age. So I spend a lot of time on his learning journey with academic, arts, sports, mind games and enrichment activities.
MTH: When I sit down and interview women from India and other countries where we women fight hard for equality, I have to say I have so much respect for them. Do you have a situation you can share where you felt you were not treated equally and you fought hard to reach where you wanted.
A: In my personal journey, if I go back to my childhood - my family always wanted a girl child. They have brought me up to be very independent, career minded - so my upbringing has been such that I have never allowed people to make me feel any lesser.
Having said that - the world is what it is, of course there have been situations that have been tough to navigate. Not to point any fingers - but there are times, especially when you are a mother to a young child, it gets tough. When I went back to work after my 4 months maternity break - I remember feeling very stretched - and inadequate both as a senior banker at work and as a mother at home. Though women are exceptionally good at multitasking, and I consider myself a fairly efficient and productive person who can get a lot done in less time - but somehow face time was very important at the workplace. So even after completing my work - when I would leave office at 7pm - I could feel eyes on me, of my co-workers - thinking ‘ Ah she gets to go home on her child’s pretext’. But that is it - it is not a pretext. I would still hardly get an hour in the day of my child’s waking hours to spend with him!
So while organisations at policy levels are supportive of working mothers - I feel our society is still not conducive. I did continue for 2 years post maternity - but then when I got the opportunity for a break - I jumped at it. All turned out well for me - but I do wish things would change for women at the workplace.
MTH: From what I see you have energy, passion for what you do and grit to sell. What is your best advice to women who are currently fighting to make their voices heard, fighting for respect or their rights in their home or the workplace. What is your best advice?
A: Ok. I am not saying this just for the sake of it - but I truly believe women are superior beings. The kind of feats we can pull off, the multi tasking that we can do, the way our brain works, the way we manage people - I feel that few men can do that. But I feel that society generally has a better acceptance of what men can do, and women just have to work doubly hard to prove and establish themselves - but that’s the world we live in. The world is changing, slowly, hopefully for the better - but we will still have challenges in our lifetimes to face. What we can do - is to hang in there and keep doing what we are doing, and do it bloody well. The one thing I always have in the back of my mind is - I am going to do my best. At the end of the day - if you work hard - you get recognized. All failures are learning for a better tomorrow. I strongly believe - you can change the world a bit at a time but don’t let the world change you. You hit one wall - look for another door - which may take you on a completely different journey - like it did for me!
My seed idea for Timeless Tales had originated from a similar feeling. I used to read stories to my son and there were all these fairy tales where there is a girl in distress and the prince charming comes and saves her and then they get married and live happily ever after - and I used to get very bugged. My seed idea was turning classics around their head and giving them more contemporary endings. The first play that I wrote and staged was called Saving Charming - where there is a group of 4 girls - inspired from Snow White, Red Riding Hood, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. They are modern day women who have extremely successful careers and are at top of their game. Secretly - they have this little sisterhood where they are actually crime fighting vigilantes at night. A rich brat (with the surname Charming) gets kidnapped and these girls turn up to save his life. Basically - a story that would inspire little girls to be more than pretty princesses and make little boys grow up to respect girls.
MTH: Your successful show Timeless Tales in Singapore just ended this was the second season you were showing how did it go and you offer it as a family theater fest so tell us a little bit about it and any upcoming shows.
A: Timeless Tales is my favorite project of the year. We are two ladies - both of us keen women entrepreneurs & artists - who came up with this concept of a multi-play Family theater festival in English for audiences in Singapore.
A Family Theater experience had been a void in the Singapore Arts scene – content that the whole family can sit & watch together! Also - helps to take children away from their screens ! Timeless Tales was chosen as the theme. Contemporary adaptations of all time favorite Classics, books, cinema, Shakespeare, mythology, fairy tales classics from across the globe. Plays that not only entertain but also address pertinent topics - through social mirrors, musicals, comedies, thrillers & drama.
Both Seasons 1 & 2 have been attended by 3 generations of families - from 3yo kids to parents to even grandparents - and they have given glowing reviews. We hunt & curate content that will appeal to audiences across age groups and ethnicity. As I mentioned Timeless tales featured across 60 artists from 16 nationalities. Most of the theater shows you see in Singapore are targeted towards a particular group - say expat groups, Indian groups or local groups. We have people from all around the world that are a part of our production as well as the audience!
Season 3 is going to be bigger and better and we’ll be making the announcements soon. We are already looking forward to and planning for Season 3 - it takes a whole year to create Timeless Tales. We invite scripts from across the world - based on our theme - contemporary adaptations of timeless classics. We recruit 7 directors based on their body of work. Directors choose their own script from our shortlist.Then we have an Open call for actor auditions. For TT Season 2 we received 100 applications, saw 70 actors in audition and selected the final 40 who performed. We then start rehearsals leading to tech and show week!
Any artist based in Singapore can audition - we have created a platform for professionals, full time artists as well as amateurs and hobbyists to come together and create art. It’s a beautiful community that we have built and People are finding work with each other beyond Timeless Tales. There has been a huge cross pollination of opportunities for artists. Singapore has a lot of arts happening in different pockets!
ArcLight Productions has a lot of dreams and ambitions and we have big projects lined up for the rest of the year as well as next year. Please do follow ArcLight Productions on Facebook and if you like theater please watch Timeless Tales next year! If you are an aspiring artist - keep an eye out for our casting calls. We hope to keep entertaining Singaporean and international audiences. If any one is looking for children’s / adults drama workshops please do reach out to us too.
To contact ArcLight Production: click here!