Soumya Mukerjiu00a0brings you a first look at Cinema Bhojpuri, a new release that documents a 'frivolous' film industry that's enticed actresses from Kolkata and Chennai, the biggest Bollywood superstars, even India's first president

A dainty dusk descends on Cinema Bhojpuri author Avijit Ghosh's office, but being a journalist is no joy at that hour. His tone is terse, his words wandering into the work realm. "Sorry, you might have to hold if I get another call." But there's none. Instead, it's his calling that keeps us busy. "If a journalist wants to be a good author, he must discipline himself strictly," he emphasises, sharing his pre and post office writing regime. Ghosh rouses the author in him in the week, mostly, if not weekends. Much removed in manner and style, from his almost namesake Amitav Ghosh. There's a curious connection, though: Amitav watched Bhojpuri films like Mai Jaisan Bhauji Hamaar while researching for Sea of Poppies, Avijit delved into the cinema itself.


Superstar Ravi Kissen, who is considered the Amitabh Bachchan
of Bhojpuri cinema, shoots a passionate song sequence with actress
Apsara at a film set in Malad. PIC/ PRADEEP DHIVAR

The rest of the conversation unfolds in heady Hinglish, with so much to say in such little time. "India's first president Dr Rajendra Prasad (in his meeting with character actor Nasir Hussain) was a sure-shot inspiration for Bhojpuri cinema," he begins, "but an inspiration, not a pioneer. That certainly spurred the phenomenon, but the films would have come about anyway. It was mainly a question of time and money." Beyond the 1950s, no politician can take credit for the success of Bhojpuri-wood, he clears. Laloo, the least. "He took charge in 1990, and the years of his reign, and Rabri's, were the worst for Bhojpuri cinema. It was Sasura Bada Paisewala which changed the tide in 2004."

This compelled Ghosh to get going on his book. He dedicates it to Rupam, Mohan, Sapna and Moti Mahal -- the cinema halls of Arrah, an administrative town in Bihar where he fell in love with these films. Without regret.

"Every cinema has its own reasons to exist. It's true that some song and dance are risqu ufffd, but a lot of their themes don't exist in Hindi cinema. The zamindar for a villain has disappeared from Bollywood. Bhojpuri films keep the non-NRI life alive," he observes.

The book made Ghosh travel to Benaras, Mumbai and beyond to interview old and new stars like Kunal Singh, Rakesh Pandey and Ravi Kissen. "Ravi is an extremely articulate chap. He has a very astute understanding of the market," Ghosh muses. And, there's nothing called 'Bihari' cinema, he corrects during an inadvertent slip.

"Yes, there's Maithili, too," he rethinks, and when we wonder why that didn't do as well as its big Bhojpuri brother, Ghosh is at a loss. "Maybe it was about initiative. I don't have an answer to that; I never thought of it that way." But what he did has enough to make you miss your Bolly pop for Balma 420.

6 questions for the author

Pic/Rajeev Tyagi

What can the uninitiated expect from a Bhojpuri film?
Most of them are family dramas with masala, song and dance thrown in.

What's the audience like?
Back in the '60s and '70s, it was local families. Now, it's mostly single men and migrants in Mumbai, Delhi, Punjab and such.