Indian Idol goes to Nepal

A year after Prashant Tamang took India's entertainment industry by storm with his win in the popular television reality show Indian Idol, the 24-year-old police constable is now poised to become a matinee idol in Nepal.

The young man of Nepali origin, who owed much of his triumph to his wild fan following in this country, will now play himself in a biopic being made on his life, struggle and eventual victory.

The yet to be titled full-length feature film is the first venture of debutant director Dinesh Raj Sharma.

The script is by the Indian Idol himself and focuses on the artistic, mental and physical struggles he had to undergo to win a show that is watched by millions in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and the Middle East.

Besides Prashant, the other stars are Nepali film industry's most charismatic hero Rajesh Hamal, action hero Ramit Dhungana and sultry actress Jharana Thapa, who recently stirred a controversy with a media report about Bollywood baddie Shakti Kapoor "misbehaving" with her during shooting for another film in southern Nepal.

Most of the film will be shot in Sikkim and Darjeeling. Prashant was born in Tungsung village in Darjeeling district of India's West Bengal state.

He studied at St Robert's School in Darjeeling and after the death of his father Madan Tamang, who worked in West Bengal Police, joined the force where his singing talent came to the fore in the police orchestra.

Part of the film will also be shot in Nepal, where Prashant received a hero's welcome after winning the contest. Nepal's then prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala invited him to tea twice and his first concert in Kathmandu valley was sold out despite bad weather.

The shooting will start early February after Prashant, who won a Rs.10 million contract with Sony, is free to take up other commitments.

Prashant has already released an album in Nepali and has featured in a book on people who brought fame to Nepal.

He will sing his songs in the film as well besides another popular singer of Nepali origin, Bollywood celebrity Udit Narayan Jha, who was one of the Indian Idol judges.

I will definitely watch it and I know many of his fans all over the world will too 😃.

Wow! King: You seem like a really miserable person. You seem to get so much pleasure in riduculing singers like Prashant and Kapil. Is it because they are Gorkhali? Every thread I read, I see you making fun of Kapil. That must be your favorite pastime.

And as for your comment, I will definitely have a blast watching the movie whether it be in Nepal or Mumbai or any part of the world for that matter. Who made you the box office critic?