In this interview, we sit down with Mustavi Irtiza Bashar, a well-known figure in Dhaka's automobile scene and the host of the popular YouTube channel, Cars and Conversation. With a deep passion for cars and a unique perspective on the automotive industry, Mustavi has carved out a niche for himself by focusing on ownership experience-based reviews.
What inspired you to start your YouTube channel? Was there a particular moment that sparked the idea?
For someone who is an introvert by trait, starting a YouTube channel would be one of the last things in my mind. But in all honesty, in order to grow, you always need to come out of your comfort zone.
Moreover, there was a gap in the market in regards to car reviews, as most of them are inclined towards brand new and reconditioned cars, and mostly their facts and figures, rather than the true experience of ownership.
Lastly, I have a website for car trading for vehicles named MotorTrader, in which I was looking for ways to market that website too.
How did you find your niche within the content creation space? Was there a specific audience you wanted to cater to from the start?
I think there was always an unrealized demand for ownership experience-based reviews. Pre-owned market itself is quite massive in Bangladesh, therefore consumers are always on the lookout for pros and cons of their desired vehicles. I mostly wanted to cater car enthusiasts and car users/buyers, but also for general viewers who find a podcast style review interesting.
How many interviews have you conducted so far on your channel?
Till now I have done over 120 interviews so far, while total videos are above 140 which includes ‘First Look’ and ‘Showroom Review’.
What is the most memorable interview you've done? Why did it stand out for you?
Each interview is memorable in their own way, as each owner shares their own unique encounters with their cars. But a few of them were remarkable, for example, the 2JZ-GTE swapped Toyota Chaser Tourer V was exceptional, and viewers enjoyed it a lot! Also, there was a 3SGTE swapped Toyota Corolla EE90 which audience were in awe of the project and how nicely it was completed.
Out of all the cars you've featured or reviewed, which one was your personal favorite and why?
Quite a difficult question to answer in all honesty. The BMW 640i is one of my most favorite cars in the country, so I thoroughly enjoyed that car. The Porsche Boxster was quite cherished, the handling and looks of the car always stands out. Lastly, the Corolla 3sgte mentioned previously was also memorable due to the power and aesthetic work done to it.
Do you have any dream cars or interviews that you haven't yet featured on the channel but hope to in the future?
I am an enormous Ferrari fan, so would love to get either of the old or new Ferrari on the channel. Either the 328 GTS or the new 296 GTB, or even the F430 or 458 Italia. Also, JDM vise, I am eager to do a video on the unicorn Toyota Century and ever popular Toyota Supra MK4.
How has your content evolved since you first started the channel? Have you made any changes in style or format?
Initially it was quite casual without necessarily having separate sections for each video. Now, all videos follow a format, with common sections in all, while some episodes have a few more chapters in relation to the car or the owner.
What challenges did you face when starting the channel, and how did you overcome them?
From the beginning of the channel till now, I have been the only member in the C&C team. Personally, I have had no experience in relation to video editing, videography, content creation, social media handling, and such. I had to learn everything, and even now I am learning every day in this segment. Not to mention, there was plenty of trial and error in almost all departments. With time and practice, everything eventually gets better.
How do you stay consistent with content creation while balancing other aspects of your life?
This is arguably the most difficult part in regards to running a YouTube channel solely. The usual schedule of Cars & Conversation is to post every Thursday night. As a result, I need to do a shoot once every week, if not multiple times of different cars, just to be one week ahead of schedule.
Editing itself can take up a lot of time as well. I have other businesses too for which I need to dedicate time every day, so it can be a challenge to maintaining everything smoothly. Lastly, family time is quite crucial for me, so I try to spend as much as possible with them, if that means sacrificing a bit of extra work.
What are your future plans for the channel? Do you have any new types of content or collaborations lined up?
I do plan to expand a little and add more mixture of different concepts in relation to cars. More importantly, I want to bring back the positive car culture spirit in between enthusiasts with the help of my content. Other than that, I am in talks with a few brands and businesses for collaboration with the channel, hoping for the best.
