On new turf-ManojTiwari

From Bhojpuri films to hosting a reality show, how did it all transpire?
I know Gajendra Singh producer of shows like Sa Re Ga Ma, Voice of Indiaand Little Champs since a long time and have been called for his shows from time to time. Sometime ago I had been on the sets ofVoice of India, It was then that Singh casually asked me whether I would mind hosting a reality show to which I had casually given my consent. Recently Singh again approached me with an offer to do Chak De Bachche to which I said yes immediately thinking that by this I i do something different. And here I am.

You have primarily been into composing and singing.
Yes, I have seen that when I used to do something (composing and singing) all by myself I would be heavily successful but when I was at the hands of others, the result would be otherwise. Like for instance when I do an album, the cost of which is Rs Ten lakhs it earns a whopping Rs two crores but when I do a film the budget of which is Rs a.10 crore the film earns a paltry Rs 70 to 85 lakhs.

But why a sudden shift?
(grins) You see a lot of Bhojpuri filmmakers are making films just for the sake of it. They want only a big name in their films. They don't have a proper script nor do they abide by the Bhojpuri culture which sends wrong signals to the audience. It's not that I show my displeasure to all this. On questioning they say "you be concerned with acting, we will manage the rest." Every time a film fails at the box-office, my fans come to me and ask me as to why I have to do such films. All this things remain in my mind. And when this offer came to me, I thought it was the right time to do something different. Not only this, I am in an advanced stage of talks with Mukta Films who want to sign me for a film of theirs.

Tell us something about your role in the show?
I am the captain of 'Desi Dhuandar' comprising children coming from small towns of the country while Roshni Chopra is the captain of Mehra Rockers comprising children from the Metros. Every time a child goes centre stage I yell 'Chake De Bachche…ragad de', which in short means come on child, go out and win. Children take this enthusiastically and always seek my advice. By all this I have regained a lot of my confidence that I had lost featuring in some of the Bhojpuri films that flopped.

What has been the reaction to your show?
Oh! It has been excellent. I have been having rave reviews and am daily receiving hundreds of calls and letters, this time from a different set of fans who are children from small towns all across India. Just a few days ago, I received a call from a village Bhadohu in UP saying that on a particular day as many as six families bought Tata Indicom receiving sets all to see my show primarily. I am now getting a feel of being widely known in the country.

http://www.screenindia.com/news/On-new-turf/295090/