Sad that migrant issues are sidelined by news channels: Manoj Bajpayee
The images of migrants’ long walk range in the face of tragedy and death shook the state and hit the headlines within the national and international media but their issues have now disappeared from the news, something that Manoj Bajpayee finds unfortunate.
Manoj Bajpayee
Manoj Bajpayee said it’s sad that migrants’ issues aren’t highlighted enough by news channels. (Photo: Manoj Bajpayee/ Instagram)
Actor Manoj Bajpayee says he wanted to channel the nostalgia and pride of migrants for his or her range in Bambai Main Ka Ba, his hit Bhojpuri rap highlighting the plight of individuals who leave their native places to maneuver to big cities in search of employment.
Bajpayee, one among the best contemporary actors in Hindi cinema with films like Satya, Gangs of Wasseypur – Part 1 and Aligarh to his credit, said it’s sad that migrants’ issues aren’t highlighted enough by news channels.
The politically-charged song, written by Dr Sagar and directed by Anubhav Sinha, gave Manoj Bajpayee the prospect to mix the medium of rap together with his mother tongue , Bhojpuri, to speak about issues that bother him.
The actor, who hails from Belwa village in West Champaran, Bihar, said he wanted the rap to reflect the pride he has for his birthplace.
“Rap may be a good way to protest, to precise your anger. I improvised tons while performing. the foremost important thing that i attempted to bring was that whatever anger you would like to point out , you furthermore may show the pride, the pride of the village I come from,” the actor told PTI during a telephonic interview.
Days after the coronavirus-induced lockdown came into effect in March, lakhs of migrants and daily wagers landed on the highways, walking, cycling or hitchhiking to their home states many kilometers away as living in cities became impossible thanks to lack of labor .
The images of their long walk range in the face of tragedy and death shook the state and hit the headlines within the national and international media but their issues have now disappeared from the news, something that the actor finds unfortunate.
“It’s sad that migrant issues and their problems are sidelined by the media. they ought to mention it. There should be discussions and debates in order that this stuff don’t happen again.
“Migrants leave their range in look for a far better life within the big city but they find yourself living a pathetic life,” Manoj Bajpayee said, emphasising the necessity for job creation in small towns.
The 51-year-old actor said headlines today don’t reflect questions associated with the expansion and therefore the development of the country.
“From 5 o’clock till 10 o’clock, you’re reading things and seeing things which are completely not relevant to the country or its growth and development.
“In the name of journalism, what we are seeing is nothing but a mockery of journalism. I hope we start talking about something that’s relevant and matters to the commoner ,” he said.
Manoj Bajpayee said he added a tinge of nostalgia in his performance that comes from his love for his birthplace, while tons of it already existed in Dr Sagar’s lyrics, which are composed by Anurag Saikia and translated into English by senior journalist Sankarshan Thakur.
“I am a proud Bihari, village person and farmer’s son. I sincerely feel blessed i used to be born therein place. i’m pleased with the culture, language and upbringing that I had. I provides a lot of credit for my performances to the place I come from.
“It has contributed tons in making me the actor and therefore the person i’m today. The nostalgia doesn’t just come from the lyrics but also from the way I even have performed the song,” the National Award winner added.
Asked about the shortage of excellent Bhojpuri content in mainstream media, Manoj Bajpayee said he always wanted to try to to something within the language but actors need to depend upon other creative people for such collaborations.
“When Anubhav offered this to me, I immediately said yes. this is often my maternal language , my mother tongue . The response to the song has been encouraging. It gives me hope about future projects.”
The actor also believes the grammar of the visual medium is gradually changing with people from small towns and from places like Poorvanchal, UP and Bihar, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh coming to the industry.
“They come to the present industry with their stories and experiences. once they start putting out their stories, people relate thereto . And that’s why the local becomes global.
“In the last 20-21 years, the storytelling has changed due to these people that came from their own strong cultural background and that they tried putting out their stories and cultural experiences.”
Manoj Bajpayee, meanwhile, is enjoying one among the foremost creatively fertile phases of his career with back-to-back projects.
“I am always buzzing with ideas. If i buy tougher stuff, i will be able to throw myself into it because i really like this art. this is often the primary time in my entire career that three hundred and sixty five days of my life are given to people. I don’t have any dates left. i’m frightened of reading more scripts because if i prefer something and that i can’t roll in the hay , it’ll give me stress,” he said.
Bajpayee, who is now looking forward to the second season of The husband , promised a “more intense and thrilling” follow-up chapter to the favored Amazon Prime Video series.
While The husband should be ready by December, Suraj Pe Mangal Bhaari, a Zee Studios production, will see the actor during a comedic avatar.
