Children are agents of change: Prasoon Joshi

Writer-lyricist and ad guru Prasoon Joshi, who has recently penned the anthem for "Swachh Bharat Abhiyan", says children are the future of the nation and if "we instill a value in a child, it will go a long way".

"If we want to see 'swachh Bharat' after 10 years from now, we need to talk to the children as they will be adults at that time," Joshi told IANS over phone.

The song titled "Swachh Bharat ka irada" has been put to music by Vishal Khurana and was released by the information and broadcasting ministry in October.

Along with singer Kailash Kher, the anthem has been sung by many children, including Joshi's daughter Aishaanya, and was taken to different schools on Children's Day Nov 14, to generate awareness about the campaign.

Joshi insists that children's voices were incorporated as they can "bring the change we want to see".

"Children are the main singers of the anthem along with Kailash. Children are the future and have the innocence, if we instill a value in a child it will go a long way. Hence, we are trying to make a pledge through children towards a better future and bring a change," he said.

It was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who took forward the message to clean India in all quarters and Joshi says the idea of using children's voice too was inspired by Modi.

"I saw that PM is so connected with children. He believes that children play an important role in bringing a change in the country. It inspired me and I wrote something that sounds nice in children's voices," Joshi said.

The lyricists, whose poem "Mumkin hai" was used in the finale episode of "Satyamev Jayate", is now looking forward to film "Margarita, with a Straw" starring Kalki Koechlin.

"Right now I looking forward to 'Margarita, with a Straw'. I have other projects but I can't talk about them right now," he said.

The film has been directed by Shonali Bose and also features seasoned actress Revathy, Hollywood actor William Moseley and newcomer Sayani Gupta.