Production controller of numerous non-fictional shows, Kavi Raju Desai is the one who sets the budget for any show and gives a graph to the channel people as to which they can work accordingly. In short, he has a power to make a show large or small by his budgetary predictions and is also the one who can either give wings to production people or can cut their wings by his planned budget. In an interaction with this self styled man, Kavi talks to Tellychakkar.com on various subjects for our ‘Behind the Lens’ section. Excerpts: Tell us something about yourself? Well, I work as a freelancer as a production controller for a production house. I usually control the entire unit budgeting of a project. Initially, I was into per-auditing and later shifted my attention to production. I recently finished Lakme Fashion Week in which I had to look after the whole setup from the beginning to the end. I have also done controlling for all the seasons of India’s Got Talent so far. I have even done shows like Satyamev Jayate and Kya Aap Paachvi Class Se Tez Ho among many others. Yes, in my career so far, I have only done non-fictional shows. How has your journey been so far? Well, in short, it’s been very hectic; this is the only industry where a person is never free. It was also great because it always seems like I am a traveller and am travelling this world on my own terms. What exactly does your work involve in? My work is to look after every minute detailing of the production department. Like, I look after the budgeting and also after the overall flow of work in terms of whether everything is smooth sailing or not. I look after every unit of the production house. I set up the budget which is actually the most important part of any show to start with. How do you handle the whole production? See, it’s not purely on me; I am accompanied by several other people as well. The whole crew like the directors and the controllers are my teammates. We work as a team and bring out the appropriate solution for any problem. And, I believe that a director is the captain of the ship and hence his verdict is final on any issue. He is the maker of the show and I am the manager of it who looks after the budget and fulfill every need on behalf of the producer. How can you differentiate your working pattern for any show? Well, the working pattern depends on the theme or the concept of the show. Like if the show is about politics or comedy or dancing, the working pattern remains the same, but the budget changes accordingly. So I need to look after the graph of my budget; the rest is based on team work. My work depends on the kind of project I get and the kind of budget estimation given to me; the rest is a mystery for me. What is your forte? I like working on non-fictional show only and since I am not a fiction person, drama and daily soaps are not my cup of tea. It’s not that I don’t like them; it’s just that I don’t want to work for such shows. How is non-fiction better than fiction? Explain. Nowadays, if you see television you will find that non-fiction shows are never ending and they come up with new seasons like KBC, Jhalak Dikhla Jaa etc. So, such show tries to set a landmark which they leave anyway. A daily show comes up with an expiry date, but a non-fictional show comes up as a new change and up gradation. Television today is based on marketing, so what one needs to do is to look up the show’s marketing benefits than just telecasting it. Some good non-fiction shows always repeat; rest is unnoticed. What are the needs on television today? Today, television is in lack of reality and non-fiction is the only show which gives variety to television. Getting older with daily drama is not the mantra of today’s generation. Today people want different shows with different concepts by which they can also relate themselves. Like India’s Best Dramebaaz on Zee TV, this show might not contain big stars, but it shows how one can be a star on his self talent. I like controlling such shows. What change would you like to bring in television? The working pattern is too hectic to handle, one does not get time to look after his personal life. I think more time should be given to handle work and one’s personal life as well. If not in media, where would you have been? I am an engineer by profession. Hence, if not in the media, I would be working as an engineer for some MNC. What advice would you give to aspiring actors? I would just say that if you have a potential to do something, use it in the right manner. What are your future plans? Well, I just want to stick to non-fictional shows only.