By: Reshma Kelkar, IndiaFM
Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Udit Narayan's first film as a producer Kab Hoi Gawna Hamar has been selected as the Best Feature Film in Bhojpuri at the National Film Awards this year. Conceptualized and written by Deepa Narayan Jha this film was directed by Anand D Ghatraj.

This will be the first Bhojpuri film to be honored by National Film Awards. Kab Hoi Gawna Hamar was released in 2005 and stars Ravi Kishan, Divya Desai and Kunal Singh. While extremely happy about the film, singer and now producer Udit Narayan said, "It feels great and it's certainly an honor for Bhojpuri film industry that a Bhojpuri film has got privileged by National Award. It's like a dream come true for me."

Ravi Kishan who played the lead role in the movie says, "This is for the first time that any Bhojpuri film has got a National award. I promised the industry earlier to get a National award anyhow. Whether it's for me or for my films it is as good as I am getting the award. In the last 45 years, this will be the first film to receive this honor."

Udit Narayan was quite apprehensive about venturing into film business. He gives all the credit to his wife Deepa Narayan, who motivated him to come up with a Film production house called UD Movie. "I was motivated to make films by my wife Deepaji as she wanted to do something for the Indians who are staying in Mauritius. We feel people staying abroad have maintained Indian values and are close to Indian culture. I was quite apprehensive about it as I know it's a tough job. The film was released in the year 2005. This was the first Bhojpuri film to be shot abroad" he adds.