After Angry Birds and ‘Happiness is’, GenY is going gaga over Minions. And it’s not just the Minion quotes trending on Facebook, these totes adorbs yellow fellows have come right into our homes. Here’s some Minion merchandise you can pick up online, after watching Minions this weekend! 

 

EMI RECORDS INDIA TAKES OFF WITH A LI’L HELP FROM THE MAN BEHIND AASHIQUI 2

 

The Beatles and The Beach Boys to Coldplay and Katy Perry, EMI will always have a special place in our ears. And now, Universal Music Group has partnered with film director Mohit Suri to launch a new label, EMI Records India. To recap, Vivendi-owned Universal completed its £1.2bn acquisition of EMI Recorded Music in September 2012.

So, what will the Aashiqui 2 man bring to the new label? And what’s Devraj Sanyal’s (MD and CEO of Universal Music Group South Asia) roadmap for the label? Here’s what they told t2.

Why is a film man taking interest in a music label?
Mohit Suri: Fortunately for me, in our country films have been deeply interconnected with music. Where would any of our classic films be without the support of music and the artiste that made it possible? At least for me, I can confidently say that the stars of my career have been the musicians, singers, songwriters and composers that I have worked with. After having spent 10 years making films and consistently launching new musical talent in each film, right from Atif Aslam, Mustafa Zahid, Soch (the band), Toshi Sharib, Ankit Tiwari down to Ami Mishra in my latest film (Hamari Adhuri Kahani), being associated with a music label as prestigious as EMI Records India just enables me to continue with my belief and vision in launching new talent and contributing to the music industry as a whole.

Why bring EMI back to India?
Devraj Sanyal: The EMI brand has got terrific credibility. Simply put, it stands for great music! And that’s what our endeavour is about… to bring together outstanding talent in music and entertainment. With Mohit Suri, who’s got such a brilliant ear for music, we felt we will do full justice to the great EMI brand name.

Mohit: Music style and the technology changes with time, but the love for music doesn’t. EMI Records India will continue bringing the music to everyone just the same way it did in the past but now the mediums of technology will be more current and cutting-edge.

Devraj: Universal Music is the umbrella brand under which EMI Records India will sit. Under UMG we have some of the finest labels, including Interscope, Island Def Jam, Verve, Decca, Mercury Polydor, Virgin to name a few… and we are aiming to make EMI Records India one such great label too!

As a director, will you now release your soundtracks only on EMI Records India?
Mohit: As a film director, the platform I can provide for any musical talent can be restrained only to my own film. However, there is enormous talent in the country and abroad that needs to be discovered, tapped and given a platform to be showcased. By associating myself with EMI Records India, I get the opportunity to help this talent find the right showcase on all the other platforms possible –– namely other films, independent music albums and singles, shows, music festivals, television and so on.

While signing up musicians and soundtracks, what will you look for?
Mohit: What I have always done throughout my career –– a true voice. By that I mean not just a voice in terms of singing but a sound, song, music or artiste which is individual and characteristic of that artiste. That which is special and actually represents the artiste as a personality and it need not be what is prescribing to the current trend in music. I believe that true talent can only succeed by being honest to its own voice. One can fake success with clever adaptation and manipulation of trends and times, but true individuality creates long careers and legends. 

Will Calcutta musicians play an important role in EMI India?
Devraj: Why not?! Talent is everywhere and that’s the task of the team working under EMI Records India –– to dig out great talent from any part of the country as well as overseas.

Who are your first signings?
Devraj: Ami Mishra and Anmol Malik (daughter of Anu Malik).

What are some of your favourite EMI albums?
Mohit: That would be a long list! But I’d say pick any album from The Beatles, Coldplay or Norah Jones.

Mathures Paul
Who from Calcutta should be signed up by EMI India?
Tell t2@abp.in