With the regional cinema witnessing a boom in the country, icon of Bihar, actor and singer Manoj Tiwari is elated these days. According to Tiwari every Indian should be proud of this achievement.
He demanded 'industry status' for Bhojpuri film making in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand. Addressing the media on Tuesday here, he claimed that if the Governments of the three States with substantial population of Bhojpuri speaking people took such step then the standard of the regional films would not only upgrade but these States would also be able to retain a fair portion of the Rs. 800 crore annual business which otherwise flew 'outside'.
Tiwari said: "I request the respective Governments of these States to grant industry status and promote film making here. According to an estimate 60 to 70 Bhojpuri movies are being made every year and its annual turnover is around Rs. 800 crore but in the absence of proper Government support system most of the money moves out."
"Not just Bhojpuri cinema, but I've been toiling tirelessly to promote Bhojpuri all over the world wherever there's sizeable Bhojpuri population, like in Mauritius and Surinam. I feel the traditional songs and films have a lot to with my popularity and the popularity of the Bhojpuri 'bhasha' (language) among Indians abroad," says the actor.
He further said that some of the singers have brought bad name to the singing fraternity by promoting vulgar songs over the last few years. "We are happy to see the rising popularity of Bhojpuri music. There is also a need to promote young artists so that new breed could also display their talents," he noted.
He said that he was foraying in to the field of production from next year with a movie on the story of legendry Indo-Pak war hero Captain Hameed. 'This movie with an approximate cost of Rs. 4 crore would be released by April next year.