FWM: You are a serial entrepreneur with a passion for the Arts. Tell us about your background.
I was born in a conservative family in Kollam a beautiful small town near the sea in Southern Kerala. A wonderful childhood protected by my parents and my brothers. I was very fond of colors and used to draw as a child. Being a science student, my artistic talent was limited by my record books. I should say that it was very easy to blame the circumstances and I would like to accept the fact that the inner fire in me was not so strong to pursue art as a career. I completed my graduation in Chemistry and got married to an Army Officer when I was 20
Life changed after my marriage. Army life is all about being able to live in exotic stations and a great opportunity to explore our country, different cultures, in all its vivid glory. One such place immediately after marriage was Chandigarh in the northern part of India. A typical south Indian girl who couldn’t speak Hindi nor was well versed in English, given me a lot of space and time to explore my talents. I had a wonderful neighbor, Mrs. Rajkumar who was an artist, amidst her busy schedule allowed me to watch her while she painted. My journey as an artist started there. My first experiment was with oil colors and copying great European artists and Great Indian Artist Raja Ravi Varma’s works.
I continued my pursuit of learning and sharpened my sketching skills under the guidance of a great artist, Dr. Sumangal Sen. I picked up few traditional forms of arts Kangra Valley art, Tanjore painting, and Charcoal sketching during my early marriage days. I have done my advance Diploma in Multimedia and continued to work in the same field as an Academic Head in a few reputed institution.
FWM: Is there synergy between your work as an artist and your work for social issues?
I have been an artist as well as an entrepreneur for most of my life. I think an apt term for this would be “Artpreneur”. As an entrepreneur, I understand the importance of marketing, branding, the revenue model for sustainability for any form of art. The problems and issues I faced and fought my way to overcome are what inspired me to work to make things easier for other budding women artists. I think there is complete synergy.
FWM: What lessons have you learned during your career?
Every day is learning in the path of entrepreneurship. We cannot learn the skills through education but rather experience is what is that teaches you. I believe that we need to have a clear vision and a goal with passion for the same. Initial days of my career I didn’t have that. I always took new roads and could take risks, a fearless attitude, but I lacked in a goal. I kept my eyes open and jumped into opportunities at all times. I took Impulsive decisions to satisfy my emotions which resulted in huge setbacks. Emotions make you weaker.
I don’t regret the decisions that I made, because I learned every step. I constantly looked for ways to do things better and pushed boundaries of comfort. I didn’t run away from the mistakes that I made. I learned to question myself at the same time I developed an attitude to ignore the naysayers. I understood the importance of a team of like-minded individuals who share the same passion for seeing your idea come into reality.
FWM: Tell us about Iris Green Films. You produced Maiya and have several shorts including, Home is Where the Heart Is, and Antaraal. Tell us about your current projects.
I embarked upon the movie industry as a part of my creativity and exploring a medium that can manifest an idea in a lifelike manner. As the founder and CEO of Iris Green Films Pvt Ltd a Film Production company. “Maiya” was the flagship project of Iris Green Film is on elderly Loneliness.
Besides, I have directed and produced short films “Home is Where the Heart Is” and “Antaraal”, in 13 regional languages for the All Ladies League (ALL), India Cinema chapter. The venture aimed to reach out to the soul sisters of the ALL, pan India, and give them a chance to engage creatively to beat stress/ depression arising out of the present scenario of widespread pandemic and the resultant lockdown.
Once I successfully release Maiya, will plan to start on a completed script which will be a co-production between two countries.
FWM: How important films as a call to action for social issues? What are your goals for Iris Green Films?
My dream is to produce society-conscious motion pictures with an appropriate entertainment quotient to appeal to a worldwide audience. Also proactively engage with society to catalyze social transformation. Through my films, I endeavor to address social issues that were always the core identities of our culture but are being overlooked as we progress towards development.
Cinema is an unorganized sector in India. Where in western countries first they plan to target viewers, marketing at initial stages and funds for the same is allocated as part of the budget. That is why even after making a beautiful movie I am still working hard to see light. Looking forward very patiently to the release of the movie. My goal is to develop a marketing wing, the big game which can help other new and upcoming filmmakers.
FWM: You are the G100 Global Chair for Arts & Leadership. Tell us about G100 and your initiatives for 2021.
Last two years, my exposure as a National President, WICCI Arts Leadership, and now as a Global chair with G100 Arts Leadership has allowed me to do an introspection and analyze my core strength as an entrepreneur. All my past experiences which I have plunged into without having any experiences have taught me great lessons. I believe I should concentrate on my core strength. Curating the project “Economically Independent Women Artists” and aiming to create women-oriented enterprises preferably in arts with the help of MSME, WICCI, G100, and Kankali Trust
Our objectives of G100 Arts Leadership wing
§ Shaping a Global Community of Artists, art enthusiasts, investors, art forums, institutions, and organizations.
§ Advocacy for gender inequality and specific challenges faced by women in the cultural and creative sectors.
§ Developing a Creative Economy and becoming a major contributor to GDP by creating a marketing strategy, training artists in various aspects of financial management skills.
§ Digitization of arts to preserve and promote Art & Cultural heritage and diversity.
§ Artful Healing of Mind and spaces for a better community.
FWM: As a woman of influence globally, what is your vision post-pandemic?
On a personal front I want to pursue my studies, I’m presently doing my Master in Psychology, dream to do my Ph.D. in Yoginis. I’m authoring a book called “Unleashing the Power of Feminine Within”, the experience that I embarked on while painting the 64 Yogini series and a digital and physical museum for exhibiting these paintings.
As a woman of influence globally, I aim of completing the project “Economically Independent Women Artist” aiming to handhold and create women-oriented enterprises in the next two to three years. That will be the first step to develop a creative economy. I would like to implement the objectives of G100 on a global level with the support of other country chairs of the arts leadership wing. I firmly believe that arts and culture have the power to bind people beyond borders
FWM: Tell us about Srishty and your hope for the future.
Ans: I started Srishty an organization that brought together artists from economically backward societies and trained them on space, energy, and colors. Srishty conducted exhibitions in different parts of India and Overseas. Due to unavoidable circumstances, I started concentrating on other ventures. Srishty was getting neglected and it demanded my presence, which I couldn’t fulfill.
Now I am focusing to rebuild the same concept in a global perspective beyond borders. I want to establish a museum physical and digital for the 64 Yoginis, which will be a study center of feminine energies and an institution for the arts and culture of India
FWM: Please share your social media links.
https://www.facebook.com/shobana.beena
https://www.linkedin.com/in/beena-unnikrishnan-00155970/
https://www.instagram.com/beenaunnikrishnan/
