Colossus bestrides the Indi-pop world
By Dharam Pal

THE Indi-pop scene is getting more and more exciting each day, not as much for the songs but for the innovative videos being churned out. Have you seen Daler’s Tunak Tunak ..., Bhupi’s Jogia Khalli Balli..., Ali Haider’s Mahi-O-Mahi..., Jasbir Jassi’s Dil le gayee kuri Gujarat di ..., and other videos on music channels? Of the handful of Indians who have made it big on the music videos scene, Colossus is without doubt the most successful group of video directors today. Whether it is an ad film or music videos, when it comes to film production, Colossus gives you what you want. Colossus is run by Kumar Gaurav (film actor), Ajay Arora, Lovel Arora and Samir Hafiz, who handle the creative and production processes ,be it the script, direction or editing.

In a short span of three years, members of Colossus have come to be recognised as one of India’s leading directors of music videos. In a market where new videos are released practically every day, Colossus videos have stood out as much for their high production value, as for their creative content.

Starting with Anaida’s Oova Oova, Colossus has produced and directed Baba Sehgal’s Tora Tora and Ke Mai Jhoot Boleya, Nadeem’s O Mere Dil Ke Chain, Jagjit Singh’s Koi Chaudhnvi Raat, Mehnaz’s Miss India and Main Hoon, Kavita Paudwal’s Julie - I Love You, Sharon Prabhakar’s Mama Mia, Anaida’s Hum Sab Ek Hain, Daler Mehndi’s Phatte Chak Deyange and Hojayegi Balle Balle, Bhuppi’s Khalli Balli, Ali Haider’s Ajnabi and Mahi O-Mahi and Shekhar’s Maine Kiya Hai Irada, Bobby Cash’s Rukja Rukja, Jasbir Jassi’s Dil Le Gayee and Daler Mehndi’s younger brother Mika’s Boliyan.

Colossus intuitively develops the right approach towards a music track while planning the video, as is evident in Ali Haider’s Mahi-O-Mahi and Shekar’s Maine Kiya Hai Irada and content and story-driven videos — Oova Oova, Koi Chaudhnvi Raat, Miss India, and Julie, I Love You —which were well received by viewers and critics alike. Main Hoon was perhaps India’s sharpest dance video and Mama Mia remarkably brought out the essence of the track. Hum Sab Ek Hain is the only Hindi pop video ever to star four of the Hindi film industry’s most powerful film personalities —Sanjay Dutt, Atul Agnihotri, Salman Khan and Kumar Gaurav.

The works of Colossus havebeen appreciated by the music industry at large. Channel (V) nominated Balle Balle for the ‘98 Viewers’ Choice Awards. It had nominated three Colossus video — Oova Oova, Tora Tora and Miss India—- in 1996 for the best music video category. Screen nominated Ho Jayegi Balle Balle as the best music video of ‘98, and Hindustan Hamara won the North Bombay Junior Chambers’ Best Music Album Award.

Colossus has worked with almost every significant pop music company in the country — from BMG Crescendo to HMV, Pan Music, T-Series, Plus Music and Magnasound. Music companies and artistes enjoy working with the Colossus team as for its creative virtuosity and commitment to work.

Colossus has a dedicated production team of 34 persons which handles all phases of production work, as well as the actual shooting. Colossus comprises qualified personnel for every conceivable requirement. It has a creative team that handles script, a storyboard artist, two directors — Ajay Arora and Sameer Hafiz — who co-direct all projects. Ajay Arora’s skill with framing and colour coordination is also reflected in his position as executive art director, and Sameer Hafiz is also a trained lightworks editor.

Both Ajay and Sameer are members of the board, whose other directors include Lovel Arora and Kumar Gaurav. The Colossus team has worked with several cameramen, notably Bashir Ali (who shot Miss India) and Mangesh Rane (who-shot Ho Jayegi Balle Balle and Hum Sab Ek Hain). Colossus prefer to use diversity of talent in their videos.

The Colossus credo is simple: If it does not sell, it is not creative!