Jharsuguda District, Odisha — From a small village in Western Odisha to becoming a pioneering force in Sambalpuri music videos, Manoj Singh’s journey is a powerful story of resilience, innovation, and cultural commitment.
Born into an artistic family—his father being an artist himself—Manoj Singh was drawn to creativity from a young age. After completing his 10th standard, he chose passion over convention and stepped into the artistic field professionally. Alongside his creative pursuits, he completed a Civil Diploma and developed professional expertise in Computer Networking and Hardware, reflecting a rare blend of technical proficiency and artistic vision.
Manoj began his career as a *choreographer and dance teacher, leading a dance group and training *30–40 students for dance competitions, stage performances, and music albums. This deep, hands-on engagement with rhythm, movement, and performance became the foundation of his later work as a director.
Initially aspiring to grow within the Sambalpuri industry as a choreographer, Manoj faced a critical turning point around 2010, when piracy and the decline of CDs and cassettes brought the regional music industry to a near standstill. At a time when Odisha had very few active directors and Western Odisha lacked a professional digital platform, Manoj took a bold and visionary step.
He launched Western Odisha’s first and biggest professional YouTube channel, “Everything For You,” as its Founder, at a time when digital platforms were still largely unexplored in the region. This initiative not only revived his own creative journey but also opened a new digital pathway for Sambalpuri music, helping the industry transition into the modern era.
As a director, Manoj Singh believes his responsibility goes far beyond visual appeal. His core philosophy is to enhance each project without compromising Sambalpuri culture. For him, modernization must walk hand in hand with tradition, ensuring that every frame respects cultural authenticity while pushing creative boundaries.
Looking ahead, Manoj has made a fearless creative commitment. Observing that many contemporary songs revolve around repetitive romantic themes, he has decided that his upcoming projects will explore completely new, meaningful, and unconventional themes. According to him, these songs may be strongly loved or strongly rejected—but they will never be ordinary. This experimental mindset has been part of his artistic DNA from the very beginning.
One of Manoj Singh’s most emotionally significant projects is the song “Ek Number,” where he took on the dual role of director and lead actor. When he couldn’t find the right artist to portray the character, he stepped in himself. The process of transforming into the role and expressing its emotions made the project deeply personal and remains one of his most cherished works.
Manoj strongly believes that a modern music video director must be *technically complete. In his view, true direction demands knowledge of choreography, camera work, makeup, editing, color grading, and overall visual storytelling. He advises aspiring filmmakers to enter the industry with *proper training, discipline, and patience, rather than relying on shortcuts.
With years of grassroots experience, a clear creative vision, and an unwavering sense of cultural responsibility, Manoj Singh continues to shape the future of Sambalpuri music videos—authentic in soul, progressive in form, and increasingly relevant on a global stage.
