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Sharad Devarajan, CEO and Publisher
CEO of Virgin Comics Sharad DevarajanHe may have studied painting in his undergraduate coursework, but don’t peg thirty-one year old Sharad Devarajan as a struggling artist. In fact, Sharad could be described as quite the contrary. By using his training in the fine arts to fuel a knack for entrepreneurship, Sharad has established himself as a pioneering force in the industry of South Asian comic magazines and children’s books. As CEO of Virgin Comics LLC and Virgin Animation PVT. Ltd., Sharad manages numerous aspects of the business including strategic alliances, investor relations, and product development. Having worked with big name creative powerhouses such as MTV Networks and Ford Modeling Agency in the past, Sharad uses the versatility of his past work experience as a catalyst for a creative renaissance in India. Recognized as a creative mastermind by many, Sharad has been featured in acclaimed media sources such as The New York Times, BusinessWeek, and NPR’s Fresh Air among many others. Read about the man that gives multicultural superheroes their many powers as we feature Sharad in this week’s Young and Professional profile.
Company
Virgin Comics LLC & Virgin Animation Pvt. Ltd
Gotham Entertainment Group LLC
Website
www.VirginComics.com
www.GothamComics.com
Name
Sharad Devarajan
CEO & Publisher, Co-Founder
Age
31
Hometown
Holmdel, New Jersey
Current residence
New York City, New York
Education
Columbia Business School, MBA
Syracuse University, BFA
Work Experience
MTV Networks, On-Air Promotions Department
Elektra Entertainment, A&R Department
Ford Modeling Agency, New Faces Department
DC Comics, Production Department
Ethnicity
Indian-American
About the company
Gotham Comics is a US based company established in 1997 to establish a leadership position in the South Asian comic magazine and children's book market. Over the last four years Gotham has established itself as one of the leading providers of international comic magazines in South Asia.
Virgin Comics and Virgin Animation is the creative collaboration of writer Deepak Chopra, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, and maverick Sir Richard Branson. Based in Bangalore, India, the company currently houses 50 artists and writers in a creative studio and is focused on two areas of development:
1. The creation of original stories and character properties that tap into The vast library of mythology and re-invent the rich indigenous narratives of Asia in a unique, compelling, and entertaining way.
2. Collaborating with creative talent from around the world - from filmmakers, to writers, to musicians, and other artists - to craft original stories and character properties initially in the form of comics and graphic novels subsequently to be developed into films, television, animation, gaming, wireless content, online, merchandise and more.
What are your day to day responsibilities?
Being a perfectionist and making sure everyone else strives to be one too. I manage numerous aspects of the business including strategic alliances, finance, investor relations, product development, marketing and new business development.
Most notable milestones
Gotham has access to a large library of publishing content, featuring over 10,000 character properties and more than 500 monthly comic magazines titles. The company currently publishes 13 monthly magazines and a number of quarterly children's books.
Over the last five years Gotham Comics has established itself as one of the leading providers of international comic magazines in South Asia, securing publishing relationships with DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Dark Horse Comics, MAD Magazine, Panini, S.p.A. Cartoon Network and Warner Bros. Worldwide Publishing. Through these arrangements, Gotham Comics has access to a large library of publishing content, including notable comic titles such as Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, Hulk, X-Men, Tarzan, The Powerpuff Girls, Scooby-Doo, Avengers, The Flinstones and Wonder Woman. The Company currently publishes numerous magazines and children's books based on these popular characters.
Another important milestone includes working with Marvel to reinvent Spider-Man into an Indian boy growing up in Mumbai (www.SpidermanIndia.com). Gotham's products are primarily available in English, have also been published in Hindi, Bengali, Tamil and Malayalam languages and reach nearly 1.5 million readers each month.
What's the niche?
Similar to the recent success of Japanese anime and manga, our mission is spark a creative renaissance in India and pioneer a new wave of cutting edge creative character entertainment content to bring to the world.
Unexpected learnings along the way
How to meditate.
What's in store for the future?
Virgin Comics: Envisioned as a creative exchange, Virgin Comics and Virgin Animation is leading the transition of India as an outsourcer to a source of innovative and dynamic creations and creators. With an eye on the rapidly evolving entertainment market (550 million kids under the age of 20 in the next 10 years in India alone), Virgin Comics will strive to create properties infused with a mythic sensibility that resonate with readers and audiences around the world. Utilizing the powerful and bold Virgin brand, Virgin comics is positioned to carve out a unique space in the powerful character branded entertainment arena and create a new wave of global comic entertainment.
Who would you like to be contacted by?
Visionaries and rebels.
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Best way to stay ahead
Manage your time and focus on the bigger picture.
Guiding principle in life
Live to your potential – the “meaning of life” for a person, a society, a culture and a business can be defined in two simple words: “to evolve.”
Yardstick of success
To leave this world in better shape than you found it.
Goal yet to be achieved
To create a non-for-profit to educate young children across the world on universal values (such as tolerance, respect, work ethic and responsibility), using fictional characters and visual storytelling mediums.
Best practical advice
Thought creates reality.
Supportive words from a family member or friend on your venture
Advice from my Business Partner and fellow co-Founder of Gotham Entertainment, Suresh Seetharaman: “Never say die.” These are inspirational words to me from a man who I have never seen quit on anything he has ever put his mind to and who defined what it means to be an entrepreneur.
Mentors
The two biggest mentors are probably my father and Mr. Christopher Linen my Chairman at Gotham Entertainment Group.
Most memorable business experience?
Launching my first magazine in India and seeing it on the newsstands for the first time.
At age 10, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A painter – still planning on being one again someday.
What motivates you for success?
To create.
Like best about what you do?
Giving a new generation of young indian talent a pedestal from which to scream to the world and start their revolution.
Like least about what you do?
Jetlag.
Biggest pastimes outside of work?
A nice Sunday nap after a stack of comics and a side of McDonald’s French fries.
Person most interested in meeting and why?
I’d like to watch a game of celebrity Poker with Picasso, Leonardo Da Vinci and Alexander the Great…I wonder who would win.
Leader in business most interested in meeting and why?
Fortunately, after working with Richard Branson I am able to cross this question off my list.
Three interesting facts about yourself
1. Had an eclectic education - I studied painting and got an MBA.
2. I don’t believe in marriage or many of the other unquestioned institutions of “civilized” society.
3. I eat only one meal a day (dinner) and survive on endless amounts of caffeine otherwise.
Three characteristics that describe you
1. Curious
2. Dreamer
3. A Loner
Three greatest passions
1. Family
2. Art
3. Travel
Favorite books
Alan Moore’s “The Watchmen” and Lee Kuon Yew’s “From Third World to First.”
Favorite cause
Teaching children to dream.
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