Early Life & Struggles
Prem Ganapathy was born in Nagalapuram, a small town in Tamil Nadu’s Tuticorin district. Prem came from a low-income family, one of eight siblings. Due to his financial hardships, Prem had to quit his education after class X.
“My teacher advised me to keep studying, but I told her bluntly that I didn’t want to do so. I wanted to work and earn a living to support my family because we were facing significant financial difficulties. It wasn’t easy even to obtain firewood and water. To get firewood and water, we had to walk miles,” says Ganapathy.
Aiming to support his family, Prem left for Chennai in search of work. He earned about Rs. 250 a month working many jobs in Chennai, which he sent home. In 1990, Prem fled to Bombay (now Mumbai) when he was just 17 years old. But upon arrival, he was robbed and left stranded in an unfamiliar city by a man who promised him a job. Left with no option, Prem decided to stay behind and try his luck.
The very next day, Prem started working in a bakery, washing dishes for Rs. 150 a month. He tried to save as much as he could over the next two years by taking up odd jobs at different restaurants.
Immigrant Hustle: The Mumbai Days
Despite his hardships, Prem decided to stay persistent. Over time, he moved from washing dishes to working as a kitchen helper. He learnt the nuances of South Indian cooking along the way. In 1992, with the small amount of money he saved, Prem started his own food business. He rented a small handcart near Vashi railway station, selling idlis and dosas.
According to Ganapathy, ”I rented a handcart for Rs 150 using some money I borrowed from friends. In the beginning, it was pretty challenging. Frequently, our handcart would be picked up by the municipal vans. But I was firm and full of optimism. I never gave up hope.”
The same year, his brothers joined him as well. Together, they focused on hygiene, quality, and a distinctive masala that made his food stand out.
From Handcart to Identity: The Dosa Innovation
By 1997, Prem saved enough money to open a small kiosk called Prem Sagar Dosa Plaza. He started experimenting with fusion cuisine here, fusing the classic dosa foundation with unusual contents like paneer chilli, Schezwan noodles, and even spring rolls. The customers were fascinated, and the news quickly spread.
“I added more variety to the menu. Along with this dosa outlet, I also tried my luck by investing in a Chinese restaurant, but it flopped. However, I tried to add the Chinese flavour in the dosas, which worked very well,” he says.
Entering the Retail Space
In 2003, Prem’s life took another leap forward when he secured a space in Center One Mall, Vashi. He served his specialty dosas to the mall management in an attempt to convince them of the worth of his idea. Soon after, Dosa Plaza opened its first franchise location at Thane’s Wonder Mall. Following that, the chain started to grow gradually thanks to word-of-mouth, high standards for quality, and a franchising model that permitted quick growth without sacrificing flavor.
Building a Global Brand
What began as a handcart is today a global food brand. Dosa Plaza has about 72 stores throughout India as well as other countries like the UAE, Oman, and New Zealand. Today, the menu offers more than 100 dosa varieties from classic South Indian to Indo-Chinese fusions. This victory was achieved without any MBA degree, big investors, or corporate backing, solely because of Prem’s perseverance, determination, and guts to be creative.
In his own words from an interview, “If you are honest with your customers and passionate about your work, success will follow you.”
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