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Geophil’s Robin looks to build co-production slate
Mumbai: There have been many who’ve tried and failed. But this is not deterring young television executive Robin Philip from doing so once again. The managing director of Geophil is quite gung-ho about building a strong co-production portfolio between Indian and international studios and between international ones.
In a conversation with Indian Television founder, CEO & editor-in-chief Anil Wanvari, Philip revealed that “Geophil started as book publishing and distribution house based out of Mumbai. They had ambitions to grow in the media space beyond the print format and that’s where I joined about a year back after my stint with the Indian broadcaster – Zee. I had the honour in working with them in multiple geographies including in Asia Pacific and middle east and then with the OTT platform name Viu which is owned by a Hong Kong-based PCCW.”
He further went on to say about what exactly Goephil does and how it bridges the gap between co-producers, “At Geophil, our vision is to actually take the entire bandwidth of co-producing content to a different level. We know that over the last year or so we have a lot of players who are trying to come together, join forces and co-produce. However, there isn’t a very organised way of doing it. So the vision is that, with the advent of OTT and the fact that people today, anywhere in the world are interested in watching content beyond their languages. We want players to look beyond licensing as a means of feeding their consumers with foreign content and only using the originals or the production platform for creating content locally. The only reason why I say an Australian platform will not produce content in Turkey is because they are unaware of how to work with the producer in Turkey or they don’t want to take care of 100% of the course. So that’s where we come in, we make sure that we come with the local experience in the market anywhere in the world where we give you the comfort that we get you the story. We will make sure that you know the timelines and the budgets in which the production is going to happen. The good thing is we will bring other co-producers who have similar interests in very different part of the world to join hands with you such that the producers together co-own the IP, get to air it in their own region and at the same time, monetise from markets, that are a lot of interest to them such that in a happy scenario, you are the content owner, you have a good ROI on your investment plus you created content which is an original which is going to not stay with you for two years or five years which happens with a licensing deal, but for life. This in a nutshell, is what we do. So we call ourselves the bridge between producers, platforms, investors, anybody who wants to kind of be part of the ecosystem of co-production.”
To listen to the entire conversation, watch the video:
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
