Judge's Insight

Kushal basu

Kushal Basu is a multi-faceted creative talent – Engineer, Business owner, Filmmaker, Storyteller, Teacher and an internationally recognised Musician having composed and sung for Doordarshan and HMV record label. At the invitation of Rajiv Gandhi Technology Mission Kushal shot numerous documentaries dealing with challenges in rural India and how home-grown technology is slowly changing the lives of impoverished villagers. At the invitation of Hon'ble WB Chief Minister Jyoti Basu, Kushal built India's first fully Digital Media Institute in Kolkata with a joint partnership with WEBEL..

Kushal is a Nuclear Engineer by education, a teacher by profession and a Musician-Filmmaker by passion. Kushal has practiced his craft and applied his talents through many projects on the global stage for the past thirty years, collaborating with artistes like Zakir Hussain, Amjad Ali, Ali Akbar Khan, Kaifi Azmi, Shivkumar Sharma, Sultan Khan, Sivamani, and others. Kushal has written, directed and produced numerous corporate, industrial, social documentaries, musicals and multi media stage shows for television and Theaters in India and USA.

Kushal has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Jadavpur University, earned his Masters degree in Film & Theater from SUNY, New York, studied MBA at San Francisco State University, California, USA. Kushal lives with his wife Atasi in Chicago, USA

In 1987, Kushal and Sam Pitroda (Telecom guru) founded Teledec International in Chicago which Kushal still runs today. With a state-of-the-art digital A/V studio and advanced engineering / Technical animation capabilities, Teledec has grown to be a internationally recognized leader of cutting edge provider of learning and knowledge management. Here are few internationally recognized brands on Teledec client list.

Kushal Basu

Education

Masters in English - Media Studies, Film and Theater, State University of NY, 1983

Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering, Jadavpur University, Calcutta, India, 1969

Masters in Business Administration coursework, San Francisco State University, 1976

Creative Highlights

Film and Television Production: Experienced in a wide range of film and video projects from their inception to completion. Knowledge and experience using a variety of documentary and feature film production and equipment. Skilled at writing, storyboards, treatments, scripts and film / sound editing.

Teaching Film and Theater: Passionate teacher and excellent mentor with ability to efficiently organize and coordinate course curriculum, student interaction meeting individual student needs. Provide efficient scheduling and necessary administrative support for a wide variety of film courses and projects. Support fellow teachers and strongly encourage cohesiveness.

Technical Proficiencies: Own complete 16mm professional film production suite - Arriflex 16SR, CP 16R with video assist, Bolex 16 mm, Angénieux and Arri lenses, O'Connor tripod and Fluid Head, studio Softlights and lighting gear, Sennheiser and Neuman microphones, Nagra SN recorder, resolver. FinalCutPro4, Green screen, set up, various preproduction software, including 24-track sound recording and mixing console, audio editing and special effects software. Complete 3D studio animation suite.

Additional Strengths: Enthusiastic and creative. Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and objectives. Possess necessary organizational and communication talents to successfully complete assignments. Understand necessary budgeting process to maximize administrative guidelines. Experienced as Producer, Director, Music direction, Editing, graphics, animation and special effects.

Creative Work

1980 - 1981

Assisted Director/Cameraman making docudrama Government of India National Award winner film DAKHAL, directed by Gautam Ghosh, shot in 16mm film, India's first video assisted camera owned, operated maintained by me.

1981 - 1986

Provided 16mm Camera equipment, related accessories and worked with numerous internationally award-winning filmmakers like Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Gautam Ghosh and many others

1986 - 1987

Taiught Physics and Science to undergraduate students at State University of New York at Buffalo.

1988 - 1990

Interviewed on Television and on stage numerous filmmakers, artists, musicians and political leaders on US cable channels and BBC including Shyam Benegal, Mrinal Sen, Chidananda Dasgupta, Govind Nihalani, Smita Patil, and many others.

1988 -1992

At the invitation of Hon'ble Prime Minsiter of India Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, moved to Delhi as part of Technology Mission team, as Documentary Filmmaker / Communication Consultant to Government of India producing TV serial to bring about social changes in rural impoverished villages in India in the areas of literacy, Immunization, drinking water, deforestation and communication, promoting technology, innovation and self help

1993 - 1996

Writer / Director / cinematography / Editor of telecom educational series -"Digital Communication Series" with Sam Pitroda covering Telecommunication basic as well as "Data Communication series " and "Wireless Communication Series " - covering Data and ATM technologies / applications.

1996 - 1998

Founded Asian Institute of Media Studies, in collaboration with state Government of West Bengal, India at the invitation of Hon'ble Chief Minster Mr. Jyoti Basu .

As visiting professor at the Institute -

Taught Film History, Documentary Basics, Digital editing, Lighting Technology and Interactive production techniques.
Developed curriculum, faculty staffing requirements, course content outline,
Designed, Engineered and Built facility infrastructure including specifying, purchasing, installing and commissioning entire studio equipment
Hired and Trained entire production crew and creative team in all aspects of running and managing the Institute.

Selected List of Production

1987 - Present

Produced more than 100 corporate films for Teledec International Ltd. Founder, President and CEO. Own independent studio producing film, video, documentaries, and multimedia productions for a variety of audiences, subjects ranging from corporate films, social narratives to biographical documentaries and musicals.

1988

Death of a Hindu - Writer / Producer/Director/Music / Editor : 55min

1998

Life of Swami Vivekananda (and l1898 ecture at World Parliament of Regions, Chicago, 1898) - Writer /Producer/Director/ Performer: 125min

2000

Dusk to Dawn - Writer / Producer/Director/ / Editor :

Music: Ustad Amjad Ali Khan & Ustad Zakir Hussain:125min

2002

The Journey (of Life) - Writer / Producer/Director/ Editor

Music: Ustad Zakir Hussain, Sivamani, Ustad Sultan Khan :135 Min

2004

Masters of Percussion- Writer / Producer/Director/Editor:

Music: Ustad Zakir Hussain / Sivamani / L Shankar:114min

2006

The Call of the Valley - Writer / Producer/Director/ Editor: 125min, Music Ustad Zakir Hussain & Pt. Shivkumar Sharma

2008

The Lost Motherland (Chhuta Watan)- Writer / Producer/Director/Singer / Editor

Music: Ustad Sultan Khan, Lyrics Kaifi Azmi: 125min

2010

The Unforgettable musical Period in Bengal – Writer / performer / Producer / Director / Music / Editor : 145min

2012

The World Poet - Writer /Producer/Director / Music / Editor : 35min

2014

A Humble Offering (Life's journey of Rabindranath Tagore) - Writer /Producer/Director / Editor :

Anchor show with Ms. Sharmila Tagore 115min (15 shows in US)

2016

2018

The Forgotten Woman (life story of Kasturba Gandhi) - Writer/Producer/Director/Music/ Editor 145min

Kal Bhi - Aaj Bhi - Multi-media production chronicling India's 4000 years history of classical music, dance and drama from Sanaatan roots to Coke Studio

Selected List of Accomplishments

2021

1984 - 85

1986-87

1987 - 1997

1987

1998

Awarded Top 100 Global Influencers in Education by Piktale, India

Taught at the State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY

Consultant to Government of India at the invitation of Hon. PM Rajiv Gandhi as member of Technology Mission, and wortk with Mr. Sam Pitroda, Director, to influence lives of millions in rural India with messaging, stories and TV serials

Founded Cine Melody International, Ltd, a film and musical research company in partnership with Bharat Ratna Mr. Bhupen Hazarika

Founded Teledec International Ltd, a technology training and corporate learning company in partnership with Mr. Sam Pitroda, internationally renowned Telecom Guru

Won critics award for Best Musical Documentary, Cleveland, Ohio

1999 - 2018

Singer, Arranger, Recording artist under HMV label (Kolkata) and other private labels and musical performer in India, Canada, UK and USA

2000

Conceived, designed and built India's first digital institute, Asian Institute of Media Studies in Kolkata in partnership with Webel & Hon CM, Mr. Jyoti Basu

2001

2001 - 2008

Signed MOU with Hon'ble Chief Minister of Bihar Mr. Lalu Prasad Jadav, to build Institute of Media Studies in Jamshedpur, Chattisgurh

Columbia College of Film, Television & Media, Chicago - Academic advisor, Mentor , Career guide and Adjunct Instructor

2002

Composed, arranged and performed title song for popular TV serial,

"Mittika Rang", Doordarshan India

2008

Won outstanding Musical Achievement award, India Association, Buffalo, NY

2014

Recognized by Art Institute of Chicago for multimedia documentary on Tagore

2015