It's not just about earning a living, it's also about adding to the medium - Creative Director, Niraj Kumar Mishra

Niraj Kumar Mishra aspired to be part of the Indian Army, but destiny opened doors of the entertainment industry when he got a chance to work with his childhood hero, Amitabh Bachchan in the very first season of Kaun Banega Crorepati. He also had a detour when he worked with the sitar maestro Late Pt. Ravi Shankar for a brief period after which he decided to explore opportunities in Mumbai. He got his first break in Mumbai in Balaji Telefilms’ non-fiction shows Kya Kahein and Cosmic Chat as the Creative Producer cum Researcher. Since the, there has been no looking back for the man, who now works as Creative Director, Writer and Director for television shows. You have had a long experience in the industry. Tell us about your early days, and your journey to be precise. My journey in media began when I met the epic personality Amitabh Bachchan on the very first day of my first ever visit to Mumbai on the sets of Kaun Banega Crorepati. I was in the research team of the show, and mainly used to operate functionalities from Delhi. Later, I also worked on Kamzor Kadii Kaun (Star Plus) and Mastermind India (BBC World). Thus I began my career in media almost 14 years back. In 2004, I shifted to Mumbai to explore further possibilities in entertainment media and worked with Ekta Kapoor. Later I worked with a number of other production houses on various shows. In between, I joined channel programming team of SAB and even got the opportunity to start a show like ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’. Presently I’m working as a Creative Director for television shows and writing and directing as well. We have heard you are writing scripts for movies… Yes, I have three ready scripts. I am pitching them to production houses and studios. I had been writing and directing short films while working in TV. My latest short film, Gandhi: The Silent Gun, a controversial period fiction, got me acclaim and awards. I was encouraged by its response. I feel films are a more precise form of story-telling and propel me to push my limits. With three content rich film scripts, I am filled with confidence for the future. What is your basic interest now? My basic interest lies in good content and good stories... the medium does not matter. We should feel a little responsible. It’s not just about earning the living, it’s also about adding to the medium. I’m not a rebel or a crusader or a revolutionary but in nutshell, my basic interest is to give a little more to story-telling. How do you think television has evolved over the years? India is the 3rd largest TV industry in the world after USA and China with more than 700 channels and it has been estimated that this year it will cross Rs. 50,000 crore mark. So money wise it is growing, but we lack in content. In that sense, the picture is a little sad. You must have read in newspapers that Pakistani’s shows have better content than us. Our content should not look like fillers placed between ad breaks. Otherwise it's a misuse of an art for selling day-to-day products. Even if you compare our current shows with old Doordarshan shows, we have only brought down the standards of TV content. We need to promote season based shows and bring more creative and passionate producers on board. Seasoned shows will bring more quality in writing. Overseas it's a well-tested formula and content is so good that as an audience you desperately wait for the next episode or next season. Now that you are looking into films, is television off the radar for you? Not at all. As I said earlier, my priority is good content. Apart from films, I want to write, direct and produce good television shows. Along with my films I’m already pitching my shows to television channels. Which are the shows you have worked with in TV? I have worked on more than 20 shows. The prominent ones are KBC Season 1, Mastermind India, Kya Kahein, Betiyaan, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, Adaalat, Na Aana Iss Desh Laado and Rakshak. What is the genre that is likely to be a hit on TV today? Any genre would do well on television; people are starving for good content. These days tragic love stories and crime shows are ruling the roost. Even Indian mythology has not been spared to add to these flavors of the season. If you observe closely then you can clearly see that one person gambles on a certain genre and the moment it rises on TRP, rest of the world starts following the trend and such shows become reference material for new ideas. We need to get rid of such practice and as creative individuals; we must try to find our own ground. What are the shows you watch on TV? Or which are your present favourites? To be very honest, I don't watch television at all. I have deliberately avoided cable connection since last 8 years, though I do watch Comedy Nights With Kapil and Koffee With Karan on Youtube. Apart from these Indian shows, I follow couple of western shows as well. The Honourable Woman, Tyrant, Ray Donovan, Suits... these are my favourite current shows. With your experience, what have you learnt from the industry? Quentin Tarantino says, ‘People went to film schools, I went to films’. Whatever I’ve learnt I have learnt on my own....so books, films, DSLR Camera and web research became my teachers. And life and its hardships serve as even bigger teachers. Today writers and directors come to me for guidelines and I definitely feel nice. My mantra is..... Keep learning, keep sharing and keep moving ahead. This industry gives you a bittersweet ride. Whenever you want to say something different from the herd, you face hurdles from all the corners....and predictably so. So it’s fine with me. I have had a pleasant journey on the whole. That’s why I am sticking around! Any memorable phase that you have had in your career? Working with legends like Mr. Bachchan and Pt. Ravi Shankar were the most memorable phases of my career. Their sea of experience becomes your learning. Later I shifted to Mumbai and my first close encounter with entertainment media happened at Balaji Telefilms, which is like IMA (Indian Military Academy) of media. Ekta (Kapoor) is one of the most hard working producers I’ve ever come across. Afterwards while exploring different aspects of this medium I accidently directed my first short film and it became the ‘eureka’ moment of my life. Thereafter, I kept writing, directing, reading, learning and exploring my limits. Any regrets so far? Your long-term goals? No regrets; I have all my gratitude for television. It has given me enough to pursue my further dreams; though I wish I would have more opportunity and freedom to creatively push this medium ahead. My long-term goal is to contribute in the formation of peaceful, happy and healthy society. I hope to do so through my meaningful yet entertaining films and television shows. I came into this medium with certain dreams and responsibilities; I mean to fulfill all of them. Peace for Everyone!