Yash Patnaik launches the 'Power of One' campaign!

As the nation is engulfed in the election frenzy, producer Yash Patnaik who has three popular shows on air at present has taken it upon himself to encourage people to go ahead and vote. The producer of shows Veera, Main Na Bhoolungi, and Sadda Haq has made a video which has popular faces from his shows making an appeal to voters to go out and vote for their choice!

Speaking to TellyBuzz about the same, Yash says, "Long back in 1999 during the Kargil days I had made a similar film 'Salute India' for a channel and we had Bollywood biggies talking about bringing out patriotism amongst Indians. And now, as a producer and an aware citizen, I once again felt it was a social obligation to do my bit so we thought of this campaign." This time the elections are certainly playing on everyone's minds, "I found that this election is going to determine how India is going to shape up in the coming years. It is actually an election for Mother India particularly after all the things that India has gone through. Furthermore, there are around 12-13 million young voters who need to understand the importance of all this and we felt the need to address them."

The campaign is not in favor of any particular party says Yash, "It is not about voting for any party but voting for a philosophy, an idea, a movement. When you vote and elect someone, you give a power of attorney to a particular party or a group of parties who will decide how to rule the country. Thus, we wanted to tell people to come out, vote and make a statement. And if you don't do that then you don't have any right to criticize. People stand in a queue for a cricket match, or a rock concert so why not stand in a queue for this and exercise your right to vote."

Yash had almost all of his leading faces from all of his three shows emphasizing on the right to vote in the campaign, "Being in the popular media helped and I had faces who could reach out to millions of people. It is a fact that when popular actors say something then the viewers definitely get motivated into doing so. And I am happy that each one of the actors who has shot for this campaign did so voluntarily. They were happy to do it and stayed back after pack up to shoot for the same."

We also talk to couple of these actors as to what they feel about the Power of One campaign and what they feel about voting.

Aishwarya Sakhuja who plays Samaira in Sony TV's Main Naa Bhoolungi - "I think everyone should vote. The voting day is declared as a gazetted holiday and some people take advantage of it to go out of town when they actually should be voting. As a democratic citizen of India we have been given the power to vote and if you don't use it then you don't have the right to talk about how the government doesn't do anything and how the taxes are a waste. I think every citizen should vote since each one vote counts. Boond boond se banta hai sagar and with so many boondein it will really make a difference and bring forth a change."

Param Singh who plays Randhir Channel V's  in Sadda Haq - "Even young people now know about the various parties, nominations and the candidates who are standing for the elections. When we all are so aware of the situation around then what is stopping us from voting? I think everyone should vote and choose who will rule the country and at the end of the day you should be happy of your choice and decision. Everyone talks about wanting something better from the government so the least you can do for that is ensure that you go out and vote... it hardly takes time to do so."

Digangana Suryavanshi who plays Veera in  Star Plus' Veera - "I really think voting is very important especially because you decide whom to vote for and elect the people who will govern you. These are things you cannot take for granted. Normally we sit and discuss or criticize about the issues that bother us and also about elections when we meet friends over coffee or with family at the dining table but then later if we don't go and vote then what is the point of discussion? Everyone has to make a start and realize how important it is to vote. You have a right to voice your decision and choose whom to vote. And if you are not sure whom to vote for then you can always utilize the No Vote' option but not voting at all is just not done!"

Apart from the above TV stars, other stars who are also encouraging the people to vote and making them aware about this campaign are Shivin Narang, Harshita Gaur, Vishal Vashishtha, Vikas Manaktala, Farnaz Shetty etc.

Check out the video links at - 

http://youtu.be/2TElBdjnzAA

http://youtu.be/pgXZvVmivWY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bff2ALLoGPI"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bff2ALLoGPI

Seema Khot Mattoo