How this Chennai-based writer went on to create a show for SonyLIV

Welcome back to The Chennai Emailer — a local journalism project that brings out original human-interest features & news compilation from Chennai. It’s run by me —Mohammed Rayaan😊

This newsletter is my passion project to highlight the best local journalism in Chennai after participating in the Entrepreneurial Journalism Creators Program at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism (City University of New York).

Chennai-based screenwriter Rajiv Rajaram recently made headlines when he joined SonyLIV as Head of Tamil content. He made his debut as a dialogue writer for Yashraj Films’s (YRF) first Tamil Feature film “Aaha Kalyanam” is a remake of Band Baaja Baraat.

Here's what his LinkedIn profile says:

"Rajiv started his career in advertising and then followed in his family's footsteps to work in radio. He was the executive producer at 94.3 Radio One FM. He still continues to be a popular voice-over artist having lent his voice to over 3,000 radio and television commercials. As a screenwriter, he is also the creator of Sony Liv's first ever Tamil original web series 'MEME BOYS'. He also stars as Detective Mathimaran in Spotify's Tamil Original Fiction Audio Series."

1) Tell us about yourself. What inspired you to get into the entertainment industry?

I was born and brought up in Madurai. I did my schooling there and moved to Coimbatore to study at PSG College of Arts and Science. I finished my B.Sc-Visual Communication. I chose this field because I have loved films since my childhood and wanted to make a career in them. 

2) Can you walk us through your career so far?

I started in advertising in 2005 in an agency called ‘Moulis Advertising’. Then I worked with ‘Rediffusion DY&R’ (as it was known back in the day) and subsequently with ‘O&M’.

Later, I moved to ‘Radioone FM 94.3’. In 2007, I was part of the team that launched the station in Chennai. I started as promo producer and brand solutions, eventually becoming the voice of the station, and breakfast show producer, and then became executive producer-imaging. I was there till 2011.

I got back into advertising by joining a creative hot shop agency called ‘OPN’ (pronounced as Open). We were the team behind the popular CSK anthem ‘Whistle Podu’.

I then decided to pursue a career in full-time theatre in a company I founded with my friend Mathivanan Rajendran ‘Stray factory’. I ended up writing 14 short plays and 20 odd sketches.

We toured across the world performing in many theatre festivals and created a digital media brand called ‘Rascalas’ in 2014 with the viral sensation ‘We are south of India’ in partnership with ‘Culture Machine Media’ from Mumbai. I joined ‘Culture Machine’ around 2015 as their creative director for south and created a digital media brand ‘Put Chutney’.

Around 2019, I moved to the long-form content division of Culture Machine — CM Studios as vice president of content-originals. I created Sony Liv's first Tamil original show ‘Meme Boys’ in 2022.   

3) You're a screenwriter, show creator, and playwright, and have even acted in an audio series. I'm curious to know how your daily life looks like.

I am a late riser. I prefer to write for an hour in the first half of the day and another hour in the second half of the day. My day isn't complete without any reading (usually a book/long-form article). My voice-over work is entirely dependent on studio requirements.  

4) How should budding students prepare for an entry into the cinema industry?

5) Can you also give career advice on how one can sell their script to OTT or audio platforms?

6) How can screenwriters reach out to producers? What platforms or networks should they consider?

Follow eminent producers and production houses on social media. Companies like Dream Warrior Pictures have a clear process when you want to send in your story/script.

The old eras of gatekeeping are slowly coming down. It is now possible for an aspiring writer to reach out on social media to share his/her registered script.

However, as a basic, I suggest you visit the Screenwriters Association India website and attend their workshops. If possible attend a good writing masterclass online. They are available both for free and for cost. 

7) It will also be great if you can suggest any online creative artists' communities or websites that will be useful for an aspiring screenwriter. Also suggest books, podcasts, or other resources you accessed that perhaps taught you creativity. 

I will always refer upcoming writers to check out the wonderful long video essays on iconic films and screenplays on popular YouTube channels such as ‘Every Frame a Painting’, ‘Nerd Writer’, and ‘Thomas Flight’ as a gateway to get started. Once you have entered that space, I suggest you start checking out the ‘Studio Binder’ and its screenplay collection. 

8) What skill or support system do you wish you had when you were growing in your career?

Well, I wish I had the money to buy the iconic screenwriting books that is one for sure, and another one I wish YouTube was as big as it is now. When I started writing there was a YouTube channel ‘Film riot’ which used to be very entertaining. 

9) What are the common mistakes people can avoid when they wish to pursue a career like yours? 

10) In the age of the internet/social media, do you think that personal branding is necessary to promote and get noticed by production houses? If yes, how can one do that effectively?

Not necessarily. Screenwriting is a very specific trade and if you are good work will always find you. While there is no harm in branding yourself online, at the end of the day you need good work to back you up any day. 

11) If you had the power to change one thing in the entertainment industry, what would it be? 

12) What are your favourite books, films, OTT shows, and music? 

This is a very long list. I am not sure I can answer this tough question. I am not sure whether my favorites feature in this list.

But here goes, on shows, I love Aaron Sorkin's ‘The West Wing’, Armando Ianucci's ‘The Thick of it’, ‘The Sopranos’, ‘Seinfeld’, ‘Curb your enthusiasm’, ‘Rick and Morty’, and many more. Movies and music are too tough I am afraid I will miss out on many things I love :). 

13) What more do you wish to achieve in your career?

I wish I continue to write every day for the sheer love of it and let the universe take it forward from there. 

14) If there is any other information, you'd like to share…

Remember there is no correct way to learn screenwriting. All it requires is just sheer practice and you will find your rhythm and voice eventually. If you want to write then you can. 

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