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Being Pankaj

Meet Pankaj Saraswat, the mastermind behind `Gabbar Sher' and `The Great Indian Laughter Challenge'

MULTI-FACETED After successful radio and television shows, Pankaj returns to films

Second editions of reality shows and talent hunts have just begun in the country. After Indian Idol 2 and The Great Indian Laughter Challenge part 2, there are other shows like Naach Baliye and Fame Gurukul waiting in the wings.

Among these, The Great Indian Laughter Challenge (TGILC) series stands out for managing to capture the audience throughout the two seasons. And the creative brain behind the shows, Pankaj Saraswat, is all smiles. He has one grouse though: "In both the seasons, we never had a woman participant. A few women came to the preliminary rounds but got eliminated since they were not up to the mark," rues Pankaj. He reasons that this is probably because "women are too caught up in being beautiful, graceful and dignified and feel it's below their dignity to make faces and in turn make people laugh. This is why we don't see women stand up comedians," he says.

But reverting talk about his successful shows, he says, "The success of TGILC was probably because there was no precedence for such a show in India. But when Star wanted me to do a second season, I was sceptical. It is easier to start with a new concept but far tougher when the audience has a reference point. Obviously the expectations would be high."

So, is a third season on cards? "I don't think so. Right now I am taking a break and writing a script for Baarish, a film to be directed by Chandan Arora," says Pankaj.

Take a look at Pankaj's varied portfolio and it's evident that he hates monotony. He has acted in films like Paanch and Waisa Bhi Hota Hai and written the screenplay for Chandan Arora's film Mein Meri Patni Aur Woh starring Rajpal Yadav. Earlier, he has been the creative head for many shows in Channel V and conceptualised a clutch of programmes for Radio City.

"I get bored easily, so you won't find me doing the same thing over and over again," he says.

Talking of the Channel V and radio assignments, he recollects, "Those were challenging tasks. I belong to a generation that grew up on Doordarshan. But Channel V was for today's generation and the language had to be more contemporary. You cant use staid language like Chaand Sitarey... The same was the case with new FM radio channels. Radio was a tougher medium to work with because you are stifled by the lack of video support. Your success depends on the content and the voice."

Gabbar Sher, which is popular across all FM stations of Radio City, is also Pankaj's brainchild.

Finally, he says, "Though I like to do varied things, I don't take up more than one task at a time. I don't want to end up being Jack of all trades and master of none."

SANGEETHA DEVI. K

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