Sonu Niigaam Sing For The Mega Movie 'Deswa'

I want to give Bhojpuri cinema a facelift,” says Neetu Chandra, who has donned the hat of a producer for the Bhojpuri film, Deswa. “There is so much of vulgarity and violence in Bhojpuri films that the industry is becoming synonymous with only raunchy movies. I want to change all this and reform Bhojpuri cinema by bringing in more sensibility as well as sensitivity,” says the actress.

“Deswa will be a purely commercial film and I intend to take it to all prominent film festivals across the world,” says Neetu, who has launched her production house, Champaran Talkies, with this movie. “We thought of naming it Champaran because that was the place where Gandhiji started his revolution, and we, through this production house are also starting a sort of revolution in Bhojpuri cinema, so it is only apt that we named it Champaran Talkies,” sums up Neetu.

Throwing her weight behind the movie as a producer, Neetu has also roped in the best of the talent from the music industry to sing songs for Deswa. “We have
Sonu Niigaam, Mika and Shreya Ghoshal singing for the movie,” she announces. Having come from a musical background (her mother is a classical music teacher), does she have any plans to take up singing too? “Well, I haven’t got the opportunity to utilise this talent of mine. I’m all game to experiment though!” she says. Why not try it out in her own movie, we asked. “Actually, my brother doesn’t think I’m that good a singer. Apparently he doesn’t even think that I’m that good an actress to act in his movie,” jokes Neetu.

Confident about the success of the music of her film, Neetu says, “Bhojpuri lingo has always been used and appreciated in Bollywood songs. Be it yesteryear’s Khaiyke Paan Banaras Walla from Don or the recent Sapno Mein Aike, Jaike, from the movie Ajab Prem Ki Gajab Kahani, Bhojpuri ka tadka jis bhi gaane mein lagta hai woh super hit ho jaata hai,” says the actress.

Coming back to her role of being the youth icon of Bihar, Neetu says, “I can’t be a youth icon and not do anything for the state. Actors today are running after Hollywood and crossover movies, but no one is giving a thought to regional cinema. People have forgotten that some of the best movies that India has produced were regional movies directed by the likes of Shyam Benegal and Govind Nehalani.”

Though she says that being Hollywood bound is not a bad thing, but, “I feel that I have a responsibility towards my city and I should do something to promote it. Hence I decided to produce a good quality Bhojpuri film that deals with the issue of migration,” explains Neetu.

“Deswa is a coming-of-age movie about three young boys, and spans over the time period from 2000 to 2010. It explores their journey in search of job from Bihar to other places and then back to Bihar. It was the subject of the movie that lured me to become a producer,” says Neetu. Apart from some established names like Aashish Vidyarthi and Vineet Jha, the movie will also introduce three newcomers.