Raja Vassanthan is a prominent entrepreneur in Singapore’s media industry, but his journey to success is anything but ordinary. Born and raised in India, Raja completed his Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Communication from Karunya Institute of Technology, Coimbatore. However, instead of pursuing a career in his field of study, he chose to explore his passion for media production, which eventually led him to become a successful entrepreneur.
Q 1. What made you follow your passion rather the pursuing a career in your field of study?
When I was studying in Karunya, we had a music band in our batch. I was part of the band and played the keyboard. I also did the setup of the sound system, connecting all the instruments together and getting the instruments ready for other musicians. Unknown to me, it was the first step of the journey that I was about to walk.
We used to have Evangeline Memorial Tournaments every year and a team from Jesus calls would bring broadcast equipment with big cameras and a van which was converted to an outdoor broadcast van. I was drawn to the team and helped carry cables, tripods and assisted in any way possible. I realised that I kind of liked what I did even though it was just carrying stuff and helping the team. Slowly this interest turned into curiosity, I wanted to learn more about Audio & Video Broadcasting.
Q 2. When and how did you make the decision to pursue further in your field of interest?
I completed my Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics & Communication in the year 1992. As every other Engineer would do, I started applying for jobs in the field of Engineering. I did not get offers from any of the companies that I applied to. All of them asked for work experience, which, as a fresher, I felt was ridiculous. My uncle, who was working for Deccan Studios in Bangalore, (Deccan was the biggest studio during those times, pioneering in Audio Mastering and duplication services for movies) asked me if I would be interested to join the field of audio recording and duplication. I jumped up in excitement and immediately said yes. When I went in, I saw a huge audio mixer, the size of two dining tables with way too many knobs, which kind of blew me away. That was where I first saw recording being done in large, 2 inch spool tapes. Slowly but steadily I started to learn the trade and enjoyed doing what I did.
Q 3. What was your next move in your career?
I had the opportunity to meet Dr Paul Dhinakaran in December 1992. He asked me what I was doing and I explained to him that I was doing audio mixing and editing. He said that Jesus Calls was looking for Audio Engineers and asked me if I would be interested to join Jesus Calls. I was very hesitant and told him that I would pray about it (something that we all normally do to politely reject). But somehow things changed, and I contacted him back and said, “Yes, I am willing to join Jesus Calls”. I started my journey in Jesus Calls Studios as an audio engineer, in Feb 1993.
Q 4. What made you to jump into Videography?
One fine day, the person in-charge of video in Jesus calls resigned and I was tasked to take charge of the video department. I did not know the basics of videography. I learnt from the video assistants there how to identify the different types of cables and all the basics. From there on we started the Jesus Calls television programs. It grew from one program in Raj TV to many programs over different channels and in many languages. I was also made in-charge of filming videos in Jesus Calls Campaigns. I was loving what I was doing even though it was a tough journey. I was elevated as a Media Manager for Jesus Calls. My experience in this role further fuelled my passion for media production and I decided to pursue it as a full-time career.
Q 5. How did you then become an entrepreneur?
In 2006, due to some heart-breaking circumstances, I moved to Singapore to explore new opportunities in the media industry. I got employed by a mega church to take charge of their video department. I worked on high-end musical productions for the church. I stayed there for 7 years, managing volunteers, training and growing the team. During this time, I honed my skills and built a network of contacts, which later proved to be crucial in starting my own production house.
In 2014, I founded Creatio Media, which focused on producing corporate videos, television commercials, and wedding projects. Starting a business from scratch is never easy, but my passion, perseverance, and hard work paid off. Creatio Media quickly became a renowned production house in Singapore.
Over the years, I worked with some of the biggest brands in Singapore and delivered high-quality media projects that have garnered widespread acclaim.
Some of the major projects include live video feed for SEA games gymnastics, Resorts World Sentosa, Shangri-la group of hotels and several other big brands in Singapore in partnership with fellow media partners.
Q 6. What would you like to say to others who are afraid to take the first step of their entrepreneurial journey?
Follow your dreams and desires. There will be challenges along the way and it’s these challenges that will shape you to the person who you desire to be.
Q 7. Could you share with us a little bit about your family?
I am happily married to Usha and have 3 children Rachel (25), Rachlynn (16) and Raemon (10)
Q 8. Thank you for sharing your journey with us. We wish you all the best in your entrepreneurship journey.
Thank you for giving me an opportunity to share my journey with all our fellow alumni.
Conclusion:
Raja’s journey from an engineering student to a successful entrepreneur is inspiring and shows the power of following one’s passion. He had a dream and was willing to take risks to pursue it. His dedication and hard work has paid off! Raja’s story is a testament to the fact that success does not come easy, one must be willing to work hard, learn from their experiences and never give up on their dreams.
Raja’s success is also a reflection of Singapore’s vibrant media industry, which provides a platform for entrepreneurs like Raja to explore their passion for media production and build successful businesses. The media industry in Singapore is rapidly growing, and the government’s support for this industry has created a conducive environment for entrepreneurs to thrive and succeed.