KATHERINE MANUEL
THE GOAN | PANAJI
What is a friend? Is it someone we speak to regularly, someone who has our back, or simply someone we can always count on? Perhaps a true friend remains a constant through life’s highs and lows. Some friendships are fleeting, while others stand the test of time. A few friendships that surpass the strains of time and distance occasionally blossom into a romance or even a lucrative business endeavour.
FRIENDSHIP TAKES ROOT
For Anuja Phadke and Sneha Mahashabde, their childhood friendship led to the creation of a cosy homestay, ‘Caju Grove’, in Guirim. “We have been friends for over two decades, ever since we were 11 years old. We spent a lot of time together, and though we went to different colleges, held different jobs, and lived in different countries, we remained close friends. Eventually, both of us wanted to leave the city behind and explore the idea of ‘alternate living’, so we initially began a farmstay called ‘Kokum Tree’ in 2018 and, in 2022, we started ‘Caju Grove’.”
A CHANCE REUNION
Even a chance reunion can lead to great things. “We knew each other because we were in the same parish in Porvorim, but we were merely familiar strangers,” say Rahul D’Souza and Fabian Franco of Flashbakc Studios. “We happened to meet by chance at the same hostel in Bandra, and this reunion became the beginning of our friendship.” Initially, Fabian would ask Rahul to edit his pictures, and in turn, he allowed Rahul to use his camera. Fast forward a few years, Fabian was looking for a partner to join him in the wedding photography industry, and who better than his friend Rahul? That was the beginning of Flashbakc Studios in October 2014, which has now carved out a place for itself in the industry.
MUSIC STRIKES A CHORD
For others, the industry itself forges friendships. “The concept of Music Fever Co. had already existed in 2009, but I was looking for a new partner after the co-founder moved abroad,” explains Jonathan Zuzarte, one of the duo behind Music Fever Co. “Nashvin was well known in the music industry, so I messaged him on Facebook, and he obliged.”
BUSINESS BUILT ON TRUST
A common adage that one hears when entering the business world is, ‘Never mix friendship with business,’ but for these friends, business is better with each other. “Working with Jonathan is great because there is a good level of trust, transparency and respect between us. We give each other a 100% free hand in the tasks allotted, and if in doubt, we do not shy away from communicating,” says Nashvin Cunha Gomes, Jonathan’s partner at Music Fever Co.
A similar thread exists between Rahul and Fabian too. “When we started Flashbakc Studios, we were very clear about what each of us brought to the table, and we both had different perspectives. Our two worlds blended, and we’ve always been incredibly in sync,” explains Rahul. Fabian agrees, “We’ve learned to draw a line between friendship and business when needed. We hold each other accountable, call each other out when one of us is slacking, and more importantly, pick each other up when life gets tough. That’s what makes our partnership work, not just as business partners but as lifelong friends.”
WORK AND FRIENDSHIP
When it comes to Sneha and Anuja, the dynamic is slightly different. “We spend a lot of time together, and separating the two is not easy; we make sure that when it's work, we focus on that. Sometimes we might be out together with our mutual friends, and we get a simple idea, and we start talking about how we can use it in our business,” they explain. “This has really strengthened our friendship because we both have equal stakes in this venture, and we are bound to each other because this is our livelihood. With all the ups and downs and all the experiences, this has built our bond.”
SHARED MEMORIES
When you work with a close friend, the experience is like a rollercoaster – there may be a few downs, but the ups certainly make up for them. Silly mistakes and the occasional disaster are often looked back on with laughter and a smile. Sneha and Anuja recall countless memories that they look back on and laugh about: “There are too many for us to even choose one!” Jonathan and Nashvin agree that there are numerous instances too. “We have worked together for so long that picking out one memory is hard. I recall an insect flying into Nashvin’s mouth once while he was belting out a song, or even the time when we accidentally played a break-up song at a golden jubilee,” exclaims Jonathan.
Rahul shares a memory of a nearly missed flight and a lot of running and pleading to make it back home in time: “Looking back at that experience now, it's one of those stories we still laugh about. It perfectly sums up our friendship – equal parts chaos, bad planning, blind confidence, yet somehow everything works out in the end.”
MORE THAN BUSINESS
A good friend builds you up, and this is true for Caju Grove, Flashbakc Studios and Music Fever Co. These businesses prove that an endeavour built on the virtues of trust, understanding, respect and, of course, a whole lot of fun has the capacity to become something spectacular.
