Born and brought up in Bhubaneswar, he made an impact on the Indian television viewers at a very young age. Leaving behind an action-packed year with the stupendous success of Rang Badalti Odhni on Star One and the victory over Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment for the Ra.One fiasco, Yash Patnaik, CEO of Beyond Dreams is now all geared up with two of his upcoming shows, Veera (Star Plus) and Apne to Apne Hote Hai (Life OK), which he feels, would create a new benchmark in the league of television shows.
The promos of Veera are already on air. Tell us something about the storyline.
Well, Veera is all about the relationship between a brother and a sister, something that has never been seen before on television. We have gone in sync with Star’s catchline, Rishta vahi soch nai.
The story starts with how a nine-year-old boy brings up his two-month-old sister and the sacrifices he makes for her. Of course, there are twists and turns but for that you need to watch the serial, which has a brilliant star cast with actors like Sudhanshu Pandey, Shagufta Ali, Harsh Vasisht and Aastha Chaudhary.
Apne To Apne Hote Hain on Life Ok. Sounds equally interesting.
Apne To Apne Hote Hai is again based on a concept which has not been explored on television before. It revolves around reverse migration, the conflict between small and big India. The story is based on how a modern girl from Delhi comes back to her village to take her father but ends up falling in love with the village and the ups and downs she goes through in this process. It is expected to be aired from the second or third week of November.
Any movies in the pipeline?
Yes, we are working on a thriller and this one is based on the evils of social networking sites. We are in the scripting stage now and have roped in Shashank Shah for the movie, who is the director of the highly acclaimed Chalo Dilli.
Do you plan to work in Odisha some time?
Of course I want to. I had planned a movie some time back too but infrastructure hurdles came in the way. I am very happy that Inox has come to the State. If it is a success, I plan to bring in more multiplexes into the State. And yes the other dream I nurture is to promote the State as a shooting locale.
You have been a journalist, writer, director and producer. But what is Yash, the dreamer, thinking next?
Well, I want to make a movie called Bhaat based on farmers. A story on how the land on which they used to cultivate rice, their staple food is eroding, thanks to industrialisation and SEZ. The movie will deal with the fate of farmers without land for survival and bhaat. The fight of a farmer who refuses to sell his land against top power centres and land grabbing mafia. This is my dream project and I soon plan to transfer it on ‘reel’.