If you are tired of looking at sarson da khet or Punjabi University campus as the hero serenades the heroine in music videos, here is the good news. Video director Navjit Buttar has a solution…
A yacht tearing through the water, a lush green field with a rich haveli, a buzzing mall, a fairly well done-up college campus to the sand dunes of Dubai to a vast expanse in some town of USA or if not any of those, then the neat, very apna Canada di roads and parks….
Our Punjabi singers don’t have to do much brain storming when looking for locations to shoot their songs. Well, this is because they don’t have many options. But with the bald and good looking video director and editor, Navjit Buttar opening a production house in London, we might see a spin in the quality and look of music videos.
Navjit, who comes from Nabha, Patiala was part of the founder team of Virsa Arts that has revolutionised video making in Punjab.
“It was time to test myself and also take our videos to the next level,” says the man who weights his thoughts before speaking. “The entire team of Virsa Arts did a great job, then came a time when we had to follow our own passions individually.”
A solo trip to Indonesia helped him to put things into perspective. “When in doubt, travel. It clears the head, aligns ideas and gives a push to passion,” he shares. “I knew I wanted to direct and there have never been two ways about it. I just wanted to explore the territory outside India but I didn’t know where and how to begin.”
Well, the Paulo Coehlo and Shah Rukh Khan’s philosophy— when you want something badly, the whole world conspires you to get it, worked for Navjit.
“I went to London for a video shoot. I visited places, and realised Punjabi music had seeped into the unknown corners of the country,” adds Navjit, as he adjusts his wayfarers.
The one-and-a-half month stay opened a world of avenues for Navjit, who decided to open the production house there. “Now, this is how it will work,” he excitedly gets down to explaining how it works. “One, now Punjabi singers who go abroad will have no problem in making their videos. My production house will do the job of hunting locations as per the theme, I would provide an international crew, the best of studios for editing and other purposes and also provide world-class technology for shooting.” Navjit fills in excitedly.
Navjit’s production house will be based in Uxbridge, London and will have an office in Punjab as well. Punjabi singer Ammy Virk is the first one to have availed the services of Navjit’s production house. “I filmed Ammy’s song Surma to Sandal in Central London with an international crew, and the video has the international standard.”
Navjit also feels a production house in London will open international market like Korea, Middle-East and the West. “Punjabi singers are holding live shows across the globe, then why shouldn’t they also aim for international standard in music videos,” he flashes one of his rare smiles, “I am getting into the gora market.” Before he gulps down a glassful of thanda nimbu paani, Navjit pauses… “I couldn’t have gone this far without the support of my friends Amaninder Syan, Arvinder Khaira and Varinderpal Bains and my parents.” And of course, one for the song that he has played in his mind again and again….