Himanshu Sekhar Guru
A handsome milkman is riding his bicycle. About five or six milk cans are hanging from the handle of his cycle. A group of beautiful girls led by the prima donaa teases him with the line ‘E chaetu, amar ade ghae nai aetu’. This was the sequence of one of the most popular Sambalpuri album ‘E Chaetu’. The milkman was played by Chhabila Pradhan, a talented theatre actor cast opposite the most beautiful Lipi. Orissa Post chats with the youngster to catch hold of his sweet journey as an actor.
Born to Binodini and late Samaru Pradhan of Remenda in Bargarh district, Chhabila married Bijli Pradhan and the couple is blessed with a daughter named Radhashree (3). His maternal grandfather Natya Maharshi Bhagban Sahu was also a theatre artiste and a director of repute. When he was in Class VIII his uncle Kumara Mahana wanted him to join the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune. But he could not fulfill his wish. About this he said, “We are two brothers. My elder brother is a bank manager and stays out with his family. It was therefore incumbent on me to stay back at home to look after my parents. If I can’t be a hero in the eyes of my parents how can I become a hero in the silver screen,” he quipped.
Chhabila has a number of albums to his credit like E chaetu, E Guru, Prem Mahara, Prem Vol.1, Dhoop sadhi lal mandara, Junha madua, Samlei bhajan. He has even acted in the pivotal role of a number of CD films including Nilaj ghare senra kunua, Maa (on environment), Mui nai maren, Khande dhane uneis tambi pol, Mister bhikmaga, Dhain dhupi bara basi thai tera, Adua bhitre muskil, Nila Madhav. All these projects are in Oriya. He has also acted in Hindi telefilms like Banphool and Der ho gayi. Recently, he has acted in a Bollywood film ‘Meri Ankho mein tum’. Shooting of this film was done at different places of Orissa. He essayed the role of a police inspector in this film. About his shooting experience in this film, Chhabila said, “I was much excited to work with a Bollywood cast and crew in the film. Generally, Oriya actors have a Hindi accent problem. I had also the same earlier. My mentor had figured it and asked me to correct it. I attended a short term acting course in the National School of Drama (NSD) in Delhi. After this training, I felt I had recovered from the problem. So, during the shoot perhaps I was the only local actor whose accent was almost ‘Okay’. And so the cast and crew (from Mumbai) plumbed for me. I was selected for a minor role, but after executing two scenes they promoted me to a major role and even my scenes were elevated.”
Chhabila is one of the most sought after actors of western Orissa. He is not only a good actor but a good dancer too. However, he is comfortable with his signature steps. For albums and CD films he has acted under directors like Jay Prakash Mohanty, Gopal Pradhan, Jayanta Maharana and many more. He has acted opposite actresses like Lipi, Gargi Mohanty, Dezi, and Lili. When asked, what makes him a good actor the humble guy said, “You should always open up to learn. The day you feel you are complete, you will get off from the ladder. Besides, my mentor has
always taught me to be a true actor and I love to obey his advice.” When asked about the name of his mentor he hesitated to
reveal.
Chhabila’s upcoming project is a
feature film titled ‘Fulei Rani’. He is also going to be cast in a feature film in a major role where one of his co-actors will be National award
winner Sadhu Meher. His role as Ravana (the mythological character) in a village yatra is very popular. Rangoli is his own drama group and he has acted and directed a drama ‘Tasmeishree Gurabe Namah’ which has been very popular with viewers.
