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Cyrus Broacha speaks on the making of `Bakra' and plans ahead for MTV
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DR FUNNYBONE: The orator in his element Photo: K. Gajendran
The original baap of desi candid camera, a.k.a MTV Bakra, and deejay uninterrupted can pass acerbic comments with a generous dollop of saccharine slapstick, which he specialises in. Digs on his Hyderabadi mother-in-law and wife Ayesha (whom he considers Hitler without the moustache) and his woes on fatherhood (exchanged notes with Bill Gates on the topic after an interview with the latter) included. But there is an extremely sane side to the orator who has the capability of bringing the house down. From participating in the live forum Be Heard-A Global Discussion with Colin Powell to attending the International AIDS Conference in Barcelona, including the interview with Bill Clinton that followed for the channel go to prove the fact. "I was sent there since they thought that I am the only VJ who can't get laid," is his explanation. But he gladly accepts credit for introducing candid camera to the Indian audience.
On the conceptualisation of Bakra, "I had a brawl with a taxi driver on the way to the studio and I retorted with a prank and succeeded. We then decided to shoot the taxi drivers in front of the office who would irritate us, to kill time. When we got back the tapes and played them, we found the office boys chuckling, a response we never obtained before. Thus we decided on the MTV Bakra. The programme became so popular that Balasaheb Thakeray would make sure he saw the episode during afternoons," he recollects.
Apart from paving the way for similar shows on the cable, the concept also got him film producers approaching for roles. "Some of the roles are very bad. Wohi karna hai jo aap Bakra me karte ho. You are hero's khaas dost. Budapest mein shooting hai," he scoffs.
Incidentally Cyrus began with the big screen with Jalwa when Naseeruddin Shah spotted the then 14-year-old Cyrus Broacha in Neil Simon's production. "Archana Puran Singh falling out of the swim suit was a dream," he recollects from his shoot in Goa. "Today I get a pagaar for not shooting and sitting in the office," is his excuse for not entering Bollywood.
Back at the MTV office, there is a lot waiting at the desk — a new `call in' show by the year end (in place of MTV Love Line hosted by Malaika Arora) and return of the Bakra.
What about the soaps and more Hindi music on the music channel? "Agreed. And remixes are rip offs of rip offs. We are playing 60:40 Hindi and international hits mix. That's what the market demands. Along with MTV Tamil and Punjabi regional channels, we are also coming up with one on international music soon," he promises.
SYEDA FARIDA
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