Jaleel Sabir, Founder, Mahavir Soundroom speaks to Smart Home World about the latest advancements in technology, creativity, collaboration, and his future vision for his company.
Mahavir Soundroom is where luxury meets technology to create unparalleled experiences in home automation and home cinema. With a reputation synonymous with high-end luxury, MSR caters to the Who’s Who, setting new standards in the realm of bespoke creations. Each MSR project is a masterpiece, a testament to innovation and craftsmanship that leaves the world in awe. From integrating cutting-edge technology to curating the finest brands, MSR has redefined the very essence of home automation, taking it to a level beyond imagination. Smart Home World showcases some of their projects, where every detail is crafted to perfection and luxury knows no bounds.
Mahavir Soundroom is one of the most reputed companies in the industry. Can you take our readers through your journey so far?
Our incredible journey started as a pioneer of luxury home cinema and automation since its inception in the 90s. Our story began with a simple desire to build a remarkable sound system, and little did we know that it would lead us to become a pioneer in the industry.
As the concept of surround sound was still nascent, our passion for creating the perfect sound system for ourselves soon became a shared fascination among our friends. Together, we embarked on a journey to build sound systems that mesmerized everyone who experienced them. With enthusiasm and dedication, we grew, attracting more like-minded individuals, and our journey took a decisive turn when we established Hyderabad’s first Home Cinema store with a dedicated demo room and an impressive LD and DVD library.
Over the years, our endeavors expanded, and we took on prestigious projects, leaving an indelible mark with the sound systems we designed for iconic landmarks like the Golconda and the Taramati Baradari. As our reputation grew, we ventured into various industries, leaving our expertise in corporate spaces, educational institutions, auditoriums, shopping malls, and control rooms.
Today, our focus lies in integration, installation, and automation processes, offering a comprehensive range of in-house services. We take immense pride in providing around 40 diverse products and services, ensuring our customers have a wide array of options to meet their unique requirements.
Being esteemed members of CEDIA, the industry standard in the professional audiovisual realm, is a testament to our commitment to excellence. With every project we undertake, we strive to redefine the boundaries of luxury and technology, crafting experiences that leave a lasting impact on all who encounter them.
As we continue to evolve and innovate, we are grateful for the unwavering support of our valued customers and partners. The future holds boundless possibilities, and we eagerly look forward to creating more unforgettable experiences with you by our side.
Can you share with our professional readers some of the revolutionary Home Theatres you have worked on, which have been a turning point in your career in terms of experimenting with new Sound Technology and High-end Automation, or introducing innovative concepts?
The essence of our journey lies in the relentless pursuit of visionary projects across diverse industries. From awe-inspiring Light and Sound shows to transforming corporate spaces and crafting mesmerizing home theaters, each endeavor has propelled us beyond limits.
One such groundbreaking project that pushed our boundaries was the world’s first Trinnov rack with 5x amplitude for a single theater. For this technological marvel, we incorporated an astounding 10 kW of amplification, powering a remarkable array of 37 speakers. This challenged both technical and design-related standards and became a trendsetter. Over the years, we enriched our knowledge and delivered exclusive and innovative sound systems for various spaces.
An unforgettable turning point came when a client approached us with a 24-channel home cinema concept, inspired by an Italian showroom. Instead of simply assisting the Italian integrator in India, we took a bold stand. MSR’s unwavering commitment to excellence drove us to decline the project, stating our principle of installing only projects designed and supplied by us. We were determined to deliver a system that surpassed the client’s Italian inspiration.
This pursuit of excellence led us to collaborate with the talented Sawan Nichani of MacBee. Together, we set out to create a groundbreaking 32-channel Home Cinema with 37 speakers, a feat that was unprecedented at that time. This revolutionary project not only expanded our creative possibilities but also showcased our dedication to turning visionary concepts into reality.
We take immense pride in this exceptional project that not only met but exceeded the client’s vision. This achievement has become a symbol of MSR’s commitment to redefining the boundaries of sound system design and installation.
As we continue to embrace challenges and seek new opportunities, our passion for innovation remains unwavering. Each project, big or small, continues to inspire us to go the extra mile, leaving an incredible mark on the luxury home automation and home cinema industry.
What are the latest technological trends shaping the Home Theatre or Home Cinema segment?
With the constant growth and evolution of technology, the trends shaping the home cinema segment today are niche and highly advanced. Whether it is 4k UHD laser projectors or high-performance speakers for an immersive cinema experience, the variety is limitless. Automation and its integration have had a huge impact on the home cinema segment. Today, home theatre systems are becoming part of smart home ecosystems, allowing users to control their entire home entertainment setup alongside other connected devices. Also gaining popularity today is multi-room audio systems that allow users to distribute audio throughout their home, creating a seamless audio experience in different rooms.
Ambient light-rejecting screens, LED video walls, Short-throw-projectors, Dolby Atmos speakers, etc. are a few new technologies, what are the brands you integrate in most of your projects?
At our core, we are a solutions-oriented company, and our expertise lies in providing exceptional audio-visual solutions. To achieve this, we partner with a diverse range of reputable brands, ensuring that each project receives the perfect blend of cutting-edge technology and top-notch performance.
For audio solutions, we collaborate with renowned brands like Meridian, Artcoustic, and Bang & Olufsen, among others. These brands offer a wide array of audio products that cater to various preferences and requirements, allowing us to craft customized audio experiences for our clients.
When it comes to projection systems, we partner with industry giants such as SIM2, Sony, JVC, BenQ, and Optoma. Their projectors deliver stunning visuals and high-quality image projection, ensuring a truly immersive cinematic experience for our clients.
For screens, we work with esteemed brands like Screen Research, Elite, Grandview, and Milan. Their range of screens caters to different applications, including home cinemas, corporate spaces, and public venues, enabling us to provide the perfect screen solution for every project.
Moreover, our LED wall solutions are sourced from trusted brands such as Samsung, LG, and Aero. These brands offer state-of-the-art LED display technology, ensuring outstanding visual performance and versatility for a variety of applications.
With our meticulous curation process, we handpick and integrate the best brands into our solutions, ensuring that each project receives the highest level of performance, reliability, and customer satisfaction. Our dedication to excellence drives us to continually stay abreast of the latest technological advancements, allowing us to create exceptional AV solutions that exceed our clients’ expectations.
Ultimately, our commitment to providing tailored and unparalleled audio-visual experiences is reflected in the careful selection of brands we collaborate with, ensuring that every solution we deliver is a masterpiece in itself.
What are your views on the importance of Lighting Design in a home cinema?
Lighting design holds immense significance in both home cinemas and residential spaces, as it has the power to transform the entire ambiance of a room. With a simple touch of a button, you can instantly infuse energy into the entire house or craft a captivating atmosphere for a specific area.
In the realm of home cinemas, lighting takes on a crucial role, setting the stage for an immersive movie-watching experience. As the lights dim with the commencement of the film, a warm and nostalgic feeling washes over you, reminiscent of the enchanting ambiance of a traditional theatrical setting.
Beyond its role in creating a cinematic atmosphere, lighting serves multiple purposes. It enhances visual comfort, ensuring a pleasant viewing experience for extended periods. Moreover, it contributes to the overall aesthetics of the space, elevating the interior design and making it visually appealing.
In the comfort of your own home, lighting becomes a key ingredient in curating an enjoyable cinematic journey. It complements the audio-visual elements, allowing you to indulge in a truly captivating movie-watching experience.
What is the biggest innovation in the home automation segment? How has it revolutionised the entire industry?
The biggest innovation in the Home Automation industry is that of Control Automation. It has made Automation very easy to use for any age group by creating a very user-friendly GUI (Graphic User Interface). It has also made the integrator’s job very easy by reducing the programming time drastically. We’ve always tried to break the mould and come up with solutions that are new, modern, and unique. As far as automation goes, there was a time when it was in the early stages when it came to India, and we did the integration of heating of the pool, integration of the fireplace, integration of the bollards, and integration of the lift. If suppose a car is detected 100 metres from the house, the lift overrides all the functions, comes down, opens, and stays for the owner. The bollards go down after informing security. So, the level of automation that we achieved was futuristic in those times. The automation segment today is integrating everything that is connected in a house, including your lighting, AC, curtains, security, Audio/Video and access control. Earlier, each of them was handled individually. Today, with the constant, cutting-edge evolution of automation, you can integrate every technology in the house and use it seamlessly. For instance, in a home cinema with a click of a button, you can close the curtains and dim the lights while the projector gets warmed up for viewing and all your electronics are ready for a nice movie experience. All you have to do is rev up the volume to your desired level.
What are some of the most challenging Smart residential projects you have worked on where there was scope for adopting the latest Smart Home technology?
Over the years, we have had multiple residential projects, and the requirements expected to match the vision were quite challenging; however, we managed to exceed the expectations, and one such residential project we designed was for an entire house in 2008. We had to make audio and video installations throughout the house. We had different kinds of installations made. Whether it was designing and creating glass speakers for the Pooja room, custom speakers with digital art for the master bedroom as well as the daughter’s room, or creating rock speakers for the terrace, we had to come up with the designs and plans for the house. For the home theatre, we had to fit In- wall digital speakers. While the requirements then were new, they were certainly challenging as well as fascinating at the same time.
How do you foresee the home cinema industry 5 years down the line?
I think we’ve barely reached the tip of the iceberg. As infrastructure keeps developing, so will the houses and spaces designed for it. Home cinema has almost become skeletal, like the structure of a house. Every new house has a home theatre designed for it. There is huge scope for home cinema, especially in India. There’ll be far more sophisticated and advanced smart home integrations as well as audio technologies in the future. The availability of good content to stream or watch is abundant as compared to 20 years ago. With an increase in content to watch, visual and spatial audio can reach undiscovered heights. For instance, a few years ago, we were working on a home project, and our briefing was to create a ‘maximum result with a minimalist look’. A few years down the line, we’re not sure what’s in store for us, but we’re definitely open to trying the best of what technology has to offer.
IoT and AI automation systems as the future of this segment? Can you share your views on the same?
While the pace at which IoT and AI automation are coming into our lives can be a little unexpected and overwhelming, we need to accept that soon they will become a part of all of our lives. With respect to MSR, our vision is to incorporate all the services and technologies that are going to foster the best solutions for our future projects, not just in Hyderabad but across India.
What is your future vision for your Company?
Essentially, what we at MSR strive for every day is to create rooms that become one-stop shops for all forms of entertainment. We always intend to make sound rooms where you can enjoy unrestrained music without worrying about disturbing others. In the coming years, we don’t just want to expand our creativity and plausibility in redefining sound rooms; we also want to leave an immersive and unparalleled experience for our clients. We’ll constantly keep evolving and redefining acoustics, personalization, sustainability, and advanced multi-purpose rooms to levels unheard of.
