For a place under the sun
SANGEETA BAROOAH PISHAROTY
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"The Great Indian Laughter Challenge" has given two comedians from Punjab more of what they have - a ready audience.
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THE DREAM WEAVERS Bhagwant Mann and Deepak Raja, two of the finalists on "The Great Indian Laughter Challenge".
This looks like the only talent hunt on television so far where the contestants have tasted a dash of fame already. Locally.
In fact, all 10 finalists in the Star One show, "The Great Indian Laughter Challenge" are established comedians. "Otherwise, they wouldn't have been on Star One," as anchor Navjot Singh Sidhu would say with that inimitable tinkle in the eyes. But the newness for these contestants in this platform is, a wide gamut of ready audience and more name and fame. Television has the power to make you super famous these days, after all.
Says finalist Bhagwant Maan, "I have been pursuing comedy as my profession for the last 12 years. I have done stage shows not only in India but all over the world. Be it America, Europe, Middle East, Australia or New Zealand, I have done it all. I also have a TV show `Jugnoo Mast Mast' on Zee Punjabi." Enough to suggest that he could have done without "the challenge." But quick to add its benefits, Mohali-based Mann says, the show will further ascertain his position as an accomplished comedian.
"The channel had got in touch with me, not otherwise. They short-listed top 50 comedians from different places. So, the contest is not to establish whether you have the looks or talent but begins with the thought that `you are talented and so you are here.' We are not amateurs. The benefit for us is, the show will take us further, professionally," he explains. So much is his fame already, Mann says, "Once after his car was hit by someone, he got into a physical fight with the man. But the man soon began to laugh despite the blows. On being asked he said, `Please give me an autograph. You are my favourite comedian. I too ended up laughing."
Another finalist from Punjab, Deepak Raja too has been doing stage shows with master comedian from the state, Jaspal Bhatti. "I have already done a comedy film `Nalayak'. I am doing another film with Bhattisahab. So you see, I am already a known name in Punjab. What this show would do for me is open channels to reach Bollywood," he states his ambition. For a trip to Hollywood, he says, laughing, "I will grope my way there too!"
TV fame
Bhagwant Mann
Hailing from Jalandhar, Deepak says, the fact that his fame has widened because of the show is already showing. "I have just got two stage shows in Jaipur and Bangalore. I heard all of us would also get chances to feature in TV serials on Star One. I am really looking forward to all of these," he adds. And now that the show is reaping good ratings (its July 8 episode got a TAM rating of 7.7), his hopes have got an added wing.
For the next round of shooting, they would head for Mumbai in the first week of August.
"The Badshah will win, though that doesn't mean the others are not rulers," sums up Deepak for all.
Sporty enough, did you say?
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