Meet the man behind SRGMP Little Champs

Meet the man behind Sa Re Ga Ma Little Champs

A photograph behind his chair displays the famous quote of Chinese leader, Mao Zedong: The journey of 1,000 miles begins with the first step. Life was tough for Zee Television's head honcho Gajendra Singh after he moved out of his hometown Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, to Mumbai in 1984 to pursue his dream in tinsel town. But 22 years later, he is one of the best known producers of the Indian television industry, who changed the way Antakshari is played the country after his latest show Sa Re Ga Ma Little Champs became a smash hit. "Not many know that I have faced very difficult times to reach this position," Singh states. "There have been days when I didn't have money to pay for a bus ticket in Mumbai and I had to walk to my destination. But I always believed in myself. I knew I would make it big one day."

In the picture: Gajendra Singh (extreme left) poses with Sa Re Ga Ma Little Champs contestants

Singh came to Mumbai in the hope of a career in films because of his uncle, Lal Singh who was was the chief editor in Films Division. Gajendra was deeply inspired by him and he was his only link to the film industry. His father, Faujdar Singh, was the general manager of the Gandhi Ashram in Azamgarh.

After reaching Mumbai, Gajendra enrolled in a film-editing course. His uncle also managed to get him a job in the state broadcaster Doordarshan. Two years into the job in 1988, Gajendra knew he was not meant to be an editor. He felt he had stopped growing creatively, and was stagnating. "One fine day, I just quit my job," Gajendra said.

In the picture: Anu Kapoor (centre) on the sets of Antakshari.

After resigning, his world was shaken. His uncle and friends felt it was a huge mistake to quit such a cushy job.

His uncle even turned Gajendra out of his home. "The world suddenly turned upside down," Gajendra recalls. "I had no place to stay and very little savings. Luckily, one of my editor friends, Mangesh Chavan, helped me out. He let me stay in his balcony and I was more than happy." Chavan, interestingly, was the film editor of Mithun Chakravarty's Disco Dancer. Next, began Gajendra's struggle, as he went from studio to studio to get a job. Gradually, he managed to bagged serials like Aahwan and Bajirao Mastani on Doordarshan.

Both of them did well, and he tasted success for the first time in his career.

Next, Gajendra launched what would be one of his most popular shows -- Antakshari. But even as he was on the threshold of real success, his uncle died in 1992.

"Till this day I regret that he did not see my fame and my serial," Gajendra laments. "He knew I had become successful in life after quitting Doordarshan but I had not yet become a very big name." Zee's Antakshari brought with it its share of twists and turns. Gajendra wanted Anu Kapoor to host the show, while others preferred Sajid Khan. Eventually, Gajendra had to give in to the pressures of replacing Anu with Sajid, who was more popular in those days. Unfortunately, Gajendra could not get along with Sajid from Day 1 itself. Sajid wanted a trendy presentation of Antakshari, while Gajendra preferred a traditional form. Sajid walked out. "Everyone cursed me after he walked out," Gajendra recalls. "Some felt that I should not do Antakshari though it was my concept. It was not lifted like Sony's Indian Idol." Gajendra finally managed to convince the Zee bosses to take try Anu Kapoor. When the rehearsals began, everybody seemed convinced the serial would become a hit.

Antakshari ran for 12 years, and enjoyed many hosts besides Anu, like Sonu Nigam and Shaan.
Ask him what his success mantra is, and Gajendra replies, "Truth. Whatever I do, I do honestly in my shows. There is no melodrama. That is why people love them because they are all real."

But when asked that the winners of his shows don't always become Bollywood leading playback singers, he counters, "Kunal Ganjawala and Shreya Ghosal are one of the biggest singers of the industry. They are products of Sa Re Ga Ma." "It also depends on the determination on the contestants," he adds. "They cannot replace Sonu Nigam or Shaan overnight. They have to work hard to get work in the industry." So does he rent his home's balcony to other struggling aspirants in film industry? "I give them my house and not the balcony," he laughs. Then he adds in a serious tone, "I help people. But I must see the fire in their eyes. They must have focus. If someone in Azamgarh says that you have good face, it does not mean you can land up in Mumbai and become a hero. One has to have focus like I had. I did an editing course and worked hard." Even today, Gajendra edits his own shows. But Gajendra's dreams are far from over. "I would love to direct a film," he says. "I have spoken to music director Ismail Durbar about this."

In the picture: Zee TV's Hero Honda Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge's finalists Vinit and Debojit

Why is Sameer not in the pic

Originally posted by: monika.goel

Meet the man behind Sa Re Ga Ma Little Champs

A photograph behind his chair displays the famous quote of Chinese leader, Mao Zedong: The journey of 1,000 miles begins with the first step. Life was tough for Zee Television's head honcho Gajendra Singh after he moved out of his hometown Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, to Mumbai in 1984 to pursue his dream in tinsel town. But 22 years later, he is one of the best known producers of the Indian television industry, who changed the way Antakshari is played the country after his latest show Sa Re Ga Ma Little Champs became a smash hit. "Not many know that I have faced very difficult times to reach this position," Singh states. "There have been days when I didn't have money to pay for a bus ticket in Mumbai and I had to walk to my destination. But I always believed in myself. I knew I would make it big one day."

In the picture: Gajendra Singh (extreme left) poses with Sa Re Ga Ma Little Champs contestants

Singh came to Mumbai in the hope of a career in films because of his uncle, Lal Singh who was was the chief editor in Films Division. Gajendra was deeply inspired by him and he was his only link to the film industry. His father, Faujdar Singh, was the general manager of the Gandhi Ashram in Azamgarh.

After reaching Mumbai, Gajendra enrolled in a film-editing course. His uncle also managed to get him a job in the state broadcaster Doordarshan. Two years into the job in 1988, Gajendra knew he was not meant to be an editor. He felt he had stopped growing creatively, and was stagnating. "One fine day, I just quit my job," Gajendra said.

In the picture: Anu Kapoor (centre) on the sets of Antakshari.

After resigning, his world was shaken. His uncle and friends felt it was a huge mistake to quit such a cushy job.

His uncle even turned Gajendra out of his home. "The world suddenly turned upside down," Gajendra recalls. "I had no place to stay and very little savings. Luckily, one of my editor friends, Mangesh Chavan, helped me out. He let me stay in his balcony and I was more than happy." Chavan, interestingly, was the film editor of Mithun Chakravarty's Disco Dancer. Next, began Gajendra's struggle, as he went from studio to studio to get a job. Gradually, he managed to bagged serials like Aahwan and Bajirao Mastani on Doordarshan.

Both of them did well, and he tasted success for the first time in his career.

Next, Gajendra launched what would be one of his most popular shows -- Antakshari. But even as he was on the threshold of real success, his uncle died in 1992.

"Till this day I regret that he did not see my fame and my serial," Gajendra laments. "He knew I had become successful in life after quitting Doordarshan but I had not yet become a very big name." Zee's Antakshari brought with it its share of twists and turns. Gajendra wanted Anu Kapoor to host the show, while others preferred Sajid Khan. Eventually, Gajendra had to give in to the pressures of replacing Anu with Sajid, who was more popular in those days. Unfortunately, Gajendra could not get along with Sajid from Day 1 itself. Sajid wanted a trendy presentation of Antakshari, while Gajendra preferred a traditional form. Sajid walked out. "Everyone cursed me after he walked out," Gajendra recalls. "Some felt that I should not do Antakshari though it was my concept. It was not lifted like Sony's Indian Idol." Gajendra finally managed to convince the Zee bosses to take try Anu Kapoor. When the rehearsals began, everybody seemed convinced the serial would become a hit.

Antakshari ran for 12 years, and enjoyed many hosts besides Anu, like Sonu Nigam and Shaan.
Ask him what his success mantra is, and Gajendra replies, "Truth. Whatever I do, I do honestly in my shows. There is no melodrama. That is why people love them because they are all real."

But when asked that the winners of his shows don't always become Bollywood leading playback singers, he counters, "Kunal Ganjawala and Shreya Ghosal are one of the biggest singers of the industry. They are products of Sa Re Ga Ma." "It also depends on the determination on the contestants," he adds. "They cannot replace Sonu Nigam or Shaan overnight. They have to work hard to get work in the industry." So does he rent his home's balcony to other struggling aspirants in film industry? "I give them my house and not the balcony," he laughs. Then he adds in a serious tone, "I help people. But I must see the fire in their eyes. They must have focus. If someone in Azamgarh says that you have good face, it does not mean you can land up in Mumbai and become a hero. One has to have focus like I had. I did an editing course and worked hard." Even today, Gajendra edits his own shows. But Gajendra's dreams are far from over. "I would love to direct a film," he says. "I have spoken to music director Ismail Durbar about this."

In the picture: Zee TV's Hero Honda Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge's finalists Vinit and Debojit

Good article monikaji, thanks for sharing. Gajjiji is now one of the most-popular dirctor with great demand. I really appreciate the idea of bringing the musical talents from different parts of the country to one stage.