The Independent World launches in India connecting independent creative talent

Deepak Singh, Ahana Chaudhuri, Smriti Shadra and Sahil Dhas have launched The Independent World, a platform for independent creative talent to connect across India. The team behind the platform is led by Singh, who bring 23 years experience from agencies including DDB Mudra, TBWA, Leo Burnett and Dentsu India.

Headquartered in Mumbai, The Independent World will work as a talent aggregator platform celebrating and promoting noteworthy independent creatives from across the country. And across disciplines – including Art Direction, Graphic Design, Painting, Writing, Direction, Tattoo Designing, Illustration, Voice Over & Music Production, Photography and Cinematography, to name a few.

Singh said: “In the 23 years I’ve spent in this industry, I have had the opportunity to work and collaborate with some extraordinary talents. And I’ve realised that while a handful of great creatives get fame and recognition and the opportunities that come with it, there are so many others who are equally gifted but don’t get their due. And it’s time to create a level playing field. For talented people from not just the metro cities but across the length and breadth of the country. A lot of creative people have an Instagram presence, but they do not have a dedicated website or their portfolios are not up on any established platform. We want to make the discovery process of finding the right creative talent for the right creative project as easy as browsing an Instagram handle. But The Independent World is a lot more than that. It’s about the entire journey from starting out to making a mark and all the learning that comes in between. And so we will be organising events, talks, workshops, seminars, toolkits and much more in the months to come. We are really excited to discover and support a new galaxy of creative stars.”

Ahana Chaudhuri, Partner & Content Lead, said: “The thing that excites me the most is the creative process. It varies so vastly from person to person. Our interviews and features will bring that diversity to life. And hopefully they will throw up insights that help creative practitioners navigate the business of being creative. Because every commercial artist inhabits this conundrum – a tug of war between the brain and the heart, between economics and creativity. We have a lot planned ahead – from our coffee chats to our mentorship programs. There are just so many brilliant creatives to meet and so much to learn, I can barely sit still.”

Smriti Shadra, Partner, Strategist & Talent Curator, said: “At The Independent World, great work is the one and only criteria. From fresh out of college kids to seasoned experts, we’re looking to feature anyone who’s exceptionally talented. So while we’re aware of the challenges that exist in a typical agency setup and we’re here to root for the emerging young brigade, we’re also fans of the older generation of creatives who come from a different school of thought. Simply put, at The Independent World, there’s space for everyone to grow and collaborate. Our mentorship programmes will connect celebrated creatives with upcoming talents from small towns and villages who do not have adequate opportunity and would otherwise not be able to get this kind of access. For instance, a creative talent from a small town could assist a reputed film maker or photographer tomorrow because of this connection. That’s the kind of impact we intend to create.”

Sahil Dhas, Partner & Design Head, says: “Independent creativity I feel is the purest form of self-expression. It gives you that freedom which every creative person craves for. Especially when it comes to art and design, you are always looking for that free playing ground that lets you explore, without too many external filters. That’s when the best work happens. And that’s exactly what we are striving to nurture at The Independent World.”