Tele-talk

When Sukhwant Kalsi the man who writes the stand-up comic lines in Movers and Shakers says he's a writer by chance, it's hard to believ...

When Sukhwant Kalsi the man who writes the stand-up comic lines in Movers and Shakers says he8217;s a writer by chance, it8217;s hard to believe him. That8217;s because the stuff he writes in Mamp;S Sony is much funnier than all sitcoms put together. And the man actually writes for ten to twelve hours a day.

Walk with him down the Lokhandwala market and he stops at every newspaper stall to glance at the headlines. 8220;Reading newspapers and with a little effort, my episode is ready8221; smiles Kalsi. Believe it or not he8217;s always wanted to become an actor. A cartoonist for over twelve years in leading magazines and newspapers, Kalsi is also the editor of a children8217;s magazine called Nanhe Samraat. A presentation of his cartoon column Moorkhistaan from that magazine to the executive producer of Mamp;S, Sailesh Dave got him the job of writing Shekhar Suman8217;s lines almost immediately. Now, in less than two years, Kalsi is one of the most wanted writers of the industry. Murli Sharma spoke to him:
As a writer how much do you think you have contributed to the success of Movers amp; Shakers?
Basically, I believe, rather we all believe, it8217;s been a team effort. Probably because I write most of the stuff I deserve a little more than others. But overall it8217;s the executive producer, director, presenter and me 8212; we work day and night, keep thinking about it all the time. It8217;d have been difficult without all of us. And I must say Shekhar is brilliant, the way he improvises what I write.

Do you agree that your show is a take-off on Jay Leno a talk show on CNBC?
Have you ever seen Jay Leno? Then you would not be asking this question. Of course it is a take-off, I agree completely with you. Even the sets are the same. Only difference is the backdrop. There they have a picture of New York City and in Movers and Shakers the ba-ckdrop is Bombay. Paanch din log hume jheltein hain that8217;s why we call it the desi Jay-Leno. Laughs.

Is it difficult writing a daily show like this?
It8217;s very difficult. Writing a sitcom is very easy because you know what to write by developing a plot. Here we have topical issues and I myself don8217;t know what8217;s going to happen tomorrow, what8217;s going to be the headlines in the newspapers the next day. Like when the Vajpayee Government fell, I had to write something immediately and give it to the team so that they could shoot it the same day or else it would have become stale.

Writing one episode a day, isn8217;t there a fear of becoming monotonous?
Not at all because as I said, it8217;s based on current and topical matters related to politicians, cricketers, film stars. These people keep making news everyday and that8217;s how I get a new idea everyday. And now it8217;s become a habit.

But aren8217;t you ever scared at making digs at politicians and other celebrities?
Never. I8217;m happy. Why should I be scared? I8217;m not talking about anyone8217;s personal life, but about their work. I guess the politicians and other celebrities must be also enjoying it.

Don8217;t you think viewers would be fed up of these spoofs some day?
No. Tell me one thing are you ever tired of listening to news bulletins or reading newspapers? Spoofs are more enjoyable. And we are not talking about the same person every day. In fact, due to viewer8217;s response, the show has gone five days a week. And still we8217;re getting letters from all over the world asking us to make the show seven days a week!

Story continues below this ad

So are you planning to make it a daily?
No. We are not so cruel. Viewers are tolerating us for five days a week, that8217;s enough.

You seem to be well-versed with our politics. Where do you think our country is heading?
It8217;s not heading, it8217;s only revolving like the earth. When the earth revolves we have day and night the same way governments keep changing. The only problem is with children and their general knowledge. They study at home and go to the school and by the time they are writing the exam the prime minister has changed. They don8217;t know what to write.

Have you ever thought what you would do if there was no politics?
No dirty politics is a thought, but it would never happen. If at all it happened, we8217;d talk about the politicians and politics of neighbouring countries. Like even now we do talk about Bill Clinton, Nawaz Sharif, Saddam Hussain.

What are your future plans?
I8217;m planning a two-minute programme on current topics to be flashed in between news bulletins like R.K. Laxman does in newspapers. I8217;m planning on an album which would parody current affairs and also an audio magazine for kids. I would like to do a political sitcom too.