A tribute to Don Surti, the visionary who printed perfection

What began as a modest printing press in 1973 Mumbai grew, under Don's exacting standards, into India's most revered atelier for fine art reproduction and luxury printing. 

According to Don's son Jehangir, "Dad always said printing wasn't just about ink on paper. It was about bringing visions to life with perfect fidelity. That philosophy became our company's DNA." 

This uncompromising vision made Prodon the preferred partner for India's most discerning artists and photographers. As Jehangir notes: "We're not just printers; we're custodians of our clients' creative visions. Dad taught us that every job, no matter how small, deserves museum-quality attention." 

A printer's printer 

The industry knew Don as both a perfectionist and innovator. His legendary attention to detail became industry lore. There’s a joke that 'Jehangir is crazy - he rejects prints even before the client sees them. “Dad instilled that madness in us. If we knew something could be better, we had to make it better," Jehangir recalls.

This pursuit of excellence extended to equipment choices. Don's prescient timing in acquiring a Mitsubishi press just before the 2008 financial crisis became legendary. "The yen was locked at 33 - it jumped to 72 right after. Dad's prudent decisions kept us debt-free," Jehangir explains. 

One anecdote perfectly captures Don's unique blend of printing passion and Mumbai charm. Jehangir shares, "When installing a letterpress at our Adhyaru compound near Mahalaxmi Race Course, Dad had the crew raise a red flag when ready. He watched from the Race Course stands, through binoculars, to supervise the installation." 

This hands-on approach defined Prodon's culture. Even in later years, confined to a wheelchair, Don remained engaged. "He'd insist on reviewing samples," Jehangir says. "That passion for quality never faded." 

Legacy in ink 

Today, Prodon stands as a testament to Don's vision. Jehangir reflects, "Dad's greatest legacy isn't the machines, it's the culture of excellence he built that continues to guide us." 

As the industry evolves with digital technologies, Prodon maintains its artisan approach. "We embrace new methods," Jehangir notes, "but the standard remains what Dad set - solutions that honour the art." 

Don Surti's story mirrors Mumbai's own, where practicality meets passion, where race course binoculars monitor printing presses, and where perfection isn't a goal but a way of life. His legacy lives on in every Prodon creation that continues to "bring visions to life with perfect fidelity." 

Rest in peace, Don Surti. Your standards remain our compass. 

Don leaves behind Prodon under the leadership of Darius and Jehangir Surti.

Don, Darius and Jehangir Surti: passion for horses and print

From the pressroom to the paddock: Don Surti's racing passion

Don Surti's love affair with horseracing began long before he became a printing legend.

As a young man, he dreamed of life at the racetrack, confessing "I wanted to be in horseracing from a very young age." Though his studies at London School of Printing in 1962 set him on a different path, his passion for the sport never waned.

In 1976, the same year he founded Prodon Enterprises, Surti bought his first racehorse, Felecino, beginning a remarkable parallel career that would see him become India's only owner-trainer of racehorses.

His mornings typically started at Mahalaxmi Racecourse, where he spent two hours before heading to the press, applying the same meticulous attention to his horses that he gave to colour reproduction.

Don’s innovative training methods, including adapting print machine monitoring principles to optimise his horses' performance, led to spectacular successes like achieving a rare treble – three wins in a single race day.

The racetrack remained his sanctuary throughout his life, with the Pune racing season seeing him religiously disappear from Thursday to Sunday. "The thrill is in living life to the fullest," Don would say of his dual passions, proving that one could excel in both the measured world of printing and the exhilarating unpredictability of horseracing.