He was the man behind many wedding videos. But now, Ranchi-based Arun Prakash, CEO of Shruti Visual Information, has bagged his most prestigious project yet — covering the state visit of the President of the United States to India.
Prakash’s company bagged the tender issued by the ministry of external affairs to provide pictures and videos of Donald Trump’s visit to India on February 24 and 25 for official release. Prakash, who has his office at Kanke Road, said he bagged the tender in October.
He added that from October 3, 2019, his company was officially serving the MEA for various daily events. “Foreign delegates come to meet President Ram Nath Kovind, PM Narendra Modi and external affairs minister Dr. S. Jaishankar. We cover the visits and send stills (pictures) and videos to the MEA for official release,” Prakash said. “But the coverage of US President Trump’s visit is a big honour.”
Shashank Yadav, the company manager (broadcasting and IT) posted in Delhi, told The Telegraph they were confident of doing a good job. “Trump will visit India on February 24 and 25, and go to Ahmedabad, Agra and New Delhi. It will be our job to send pictures from various locations to the ministry of external affairs. We will also broadcast live the meeting of President Trump and PM Modi on the MEA’s official YouTube, Facebook and Twitter platforms. We’ve done similar jobs in the past, but as this is Donald Trump, the world will watch us.”
What about preparations? Yadav said: “Eight teams have started working on the job.”
CEO Prakash said they handled important assignments such as beaming state Assembly proceedings live. “We are empanelled with the DAVP, the nodal agency of the government of India for advertising by ministries and organisations, since 2016. We are also empanelled with IPRD, Bihar. Our firm covered the Kullu Mahotsava of Himachal Pradesh last year,” he said.
He said his company came into being in 2020. “Before that, I used to cover weddings, birthdays and family events on a simple VHS camera. My clients, many of them influential people, liked my work and trusted me.”
He added it was not easy. “A bank I went to for a loan said making it big from Ranchi wasn’t possible. I am glad I proved many people wrong.”
