'Bhojpuri Spiderman' pins hope on Mayawati, says no to politics

Varanasi, May 22 (UNI) Pinning hopes on the Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh for the development of the Bhojpuri film industry, of Bhojpuri cinema superstar Ravi Kishen today demanded that the BSP government provide state subsidy to the industry.

''Bhojpuri film industry is a four-and-a half-year old parentless child, which has grown on its own. Neither UP nor the Bihar government has done anything to promote making of films in the lingo that is the mother tongue of people in both these states,'' Kishen said interacting with mediapersons here.

''The only government which has been sincere to the cause of Bhojpuri film industry was the erstwhile BSP-BJP regime led by Ms Mayawati in UP. Now that Ms Mayawati is back in power we have great hopes from,'' he added.

''Last time she announced a special package worth Rs 9 crore for the industry, but only Rs 30 lakh was sanctioned as the government was brought down. Subsequent government did precious little to further the industry's cause. With the BSP back in power the industry with 25 heroes demands subsidy from the government in UP,'' Kishen said.

He further demanded the setting up of an advanced film studio either in Gorakhpur or Varanasi to lower the production cost of Bhojpuri films which was very high owing to their making in tinsel town Mumbai.

''Ms Mayawati can now help us flourish from where we belong...if the government in both UP and Bihar support our cause the day will not be far when the Bhojpuri films will also hit the Cannes,'' he hoped.

The flamboyant Bhojpuri star whose voice has been dubbed for Bhojpuri version of Spiderman 3 and also plays the same toon character in its Bhojpuri avtar 'Makad Manav' in Bhojpuri remake of the film 'Bajarangi: The Bhojpuria Makad Manav' said the Rs 1,200 crore Hollywood blockbuster being dubbed and remade in Bhojpuri speaks volumes about growth of the industry.

''The future of Bhojpuri cinema is bright and it is all set to conquer the world...by not only remaining confined to Bhojpuri speaking countries like Mauritius, Surinam and Trinidad and Tobago provided the governments in the Bhojpuri belt nurture it like a child.'' The hero, who has acted alongside Amitabh Bachchan, besides playing Spiderman in the remake of the Hollywood blockbuster will has also essayed roles of Sholay's immortal villain Gabbar Singh in the Bhojpuri flick 'Govardhan Singh' and mythological character of Lord Parshuram in another flick of his native lingo.

The talented lad from neighbouring Jaunpur district, who reached the last three of the reality show 'Big Boss,' will also play the character of a steadfast Bihar police officer in another Bhojpuri film dealing with the change in police image in the Nitish Kumar regime in Bihar.

''The police in Bihar is no longer seen as subservient to interests of criminals as in the past, but is now known to be working to uproot crime from the once infamous state,'' he calaimed.

The actor who has also not so successfully tried his luck in Bollywood, however, has no plans of entering the political arena.

''Hum politics ko door se hi pranam karte hain...humein wahan kabhi nahi jaana,'' maintained Kishen, who campaigned for Congress candidates in just concluded assembly poll in UP.

UNI