It was 6:30 in the morning in
Dubai; I had been working for an hour busy preparing notes for my next
encounter. I was gazed by the morning hues and am all set to go, now.
I shaved, took a shower and had a bite on my day’s start-up meal. Miles to go before
I shaved, took a shower and had a bite on my day’s start-up meal. Miles to go before
I sleep. Now my car is
speeding up towards Dubai’s finest building, the world’s tallest Burj Khalifa.
With my car parked, I head for the Atmosphere on the 123rd floor.
What a feeling to be up there in the sky and it reminds me of one thing – the sky
is no limit. My tools for the meeting with Mr. Sathar Al Karan have been set .
At 11 am, Mr. Al Karan was seated opposite me with a very confident and
assuring smile.
As we progress our
conversation, I shifted my mode
and infiltrated further
to explore this special man’s journey which started 20 years ago. A B-Tech student who moved to Dubai for the passion of photography and later did various glamour events like, South Indian mega star Mammootty’s Hit Parade, Mohan Lal’s Lalsalam to mark the triumph of his 30 years excellence, world famous Indian dancer Shobana’s “Maya Ravan”, International Malayalam Film Awards, and was also associated with many projects like Dubai Spring Carnival 2010, Kiddies Fashionista, Jashan Saif and Kareena show, etc.
to explore this special man’s journey which started 20 years ago. A B-Tech student who moved to Dubai for the passion of photography and later did various glamour events like, South Indian mega star Mammootty’s Hit Parade, Mohan Lal’s Lalsalam to mark the triumph of his 30 years excellence, world famous Indian dancer Shobana’s “Maya Ravan”, International Malayalam Film Awards, and was also associated with many projects like Dubai Spring Carnival 2010, Kiddies Fashionista, Jashan Saif and Kareena show, etc.
Mr.
Al Karan being a multitalented individual whose management style has a touch of
humanity. You have always been a visionary and have excelled in online innovation.
Would please share your experience?
Would please share your experience?
The
proof is in the pudding and the proof here is that I have launched more than
hundred web sites and own more than 1600 domain names. That shows the
enthusiasm and commitment in what I do! Wish my websites to be an initial
intermediary or an initial liaison between any kind of business activity and
interests between UAE and India.
Being
a sheer event management marketing spike, what are your plans for art based
events in the near future?
We
are all set to provide you with some scintillating shows in the near future.
Entertainment programs, classical dance performances, plays by national and
international groups, eastern and western music concerts, theme shows, beauty
pageants, fusion evenings and a lot of other things are on the cards. And we
know how to plan them because of networking with groups across the country and
abroad. We also plan to bring in a series of multi-city musical road shows with
some of the biggest maestros in the art scene.
Is it true that you that you
have currently registered 1600 domains and 800 YouTube Channels under your name
or activities? What is that one thing that drives you to become so much
passionate about online portal activities?
Yes it is true that I am very
passionate about internet and activities related to it.
For me this is just like a hobby. And I would love to thank prominent personalities in my own way as an appreciation for their efforts - like giving them a special domain
or a website.
For me this is just like a hobby. And I would love to thank prominent personalities in my own way as an appreciation for their efforts - like giving them a special domain
or a website.
There are many events which
you have initiated and nurtured but somebody else has taken the glory? Do you
think that some sort of lobbying or plagiarism happened? Examples like Mammotty’s
Hit Parade and Hit Jet etc.
Plagiarism and lobbying has
always been there, ever since the world began. First of all it never bothers
me, my ideas are unique and I am the only source of these ideas and I strongly
believe that ideas cannot belong they are just sparks that initiating .i don’t want to take
ownership just because it is my brain child. People can copy me and they can
become undeserved beneficiaries of my ideas. I always remember the words of His
Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai and Vice President
of United Arab Emirates that we should always be practical, realistic and optimistic. So you know although I don’t mention
names of people who have claimed, on different media interviews, about their
fake patronage, but Mr. Ajith Menon of Arabian Radio Network has been very
supportive and we have together initiated many projects.
So, what are your current projects?
So, what are your current projects?
There
are many projects coming up and a few projects are in pipeline. International
Malayalam Film Awards which will be held in Burj Khalifa Armani Pavilion on the
2nd of December, is a supportive event to join and to partake in the
celebration to mark the 42nd UAE National Day. The second one is
Dubai Midnight Marathon to proclaim and tell the world that Dubai is the only
safest city in the world you can walk in any Dubai street without having a
sense of fear. Dubai Midnight Marathon is under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan
Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and supported by Dubai Tourism Department,
Dubai Sports Council. Dubai Midnight Marathon will kick-off at 12-12-12 at
12:12 am. The day is very special for me. Another project currently in progress
for Dubai Tourism is “Muwaya”. It is a campaign to educate and enrich the young
generation about the traditional Emirati nose to nose greeting.
That
sounds like there is more in the pipeline? So, what are the future plans?
I
am planning to do two events which will be biggest of their kind. Me and my
team are aiming for Guiness World Records. And I have plans to promote new
talent, who are financially backward. It is part of our CSR program. I love to
dream big -
if there is a big event like Olympics and it comes to UAE, I would love to be a part of it.
if there is a big event like Olympics and it comes to UAE, I would love to be a part of it.
Why
do you choose Dubai as your base? You are a South Indian but why Dubai?
Dubai
is unique in its own way. It is deep-rooted to its tradition and culture; we
have more than 140 nationalities residing in this city. It has room for
everyone. Choosing Dubai
as my base is because of the freedom, changing patterns, hues the country offers me. I am inspired by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum,
and his leadership qualities. Recently Dubai was enlisted as City of Events; it is such happenings that give me reasons for choosing Dubai as my home. So this city has made me who I am now, this is my way of saying thanks to this glorious land and its people.
as my base is because of the freedom, changing patterns, hues the country offers me. I am inspired by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum,
and his leadership qualities. Recently Dubai was enlisted as City of Events; it is such happenings that give me reasons for choosing Dubai as my home. So this city has made me who I am now, this is my way of saying thanks to this glorious land and its people.
I
said thanks to Mr. Al Karan for spending time with me and sharing his thoughts,
ideas and work plan. Now its 1:30 pm we are splitting.
Back
to the busyness of life.
