Arindam Ganguly
Post news network
Bhubaneswar, Dec 16: How amazing it is when an actor, making his/her debut in the world of mainstream movies, receives a phone call out of the blue only to be informed he/she has won the title of best actor!
Barsha Nayak is one of those lucky few whose very first role in a film won her accolades. Her portrayal of Tulasi Munda, a noted Oriya social activist, in Amiya Patnaik’s directorial Tulasi Apa won her best actress at the 27th State Film Award presented by the Government.
“I was travelling to Bhubaneswar in a car when a friend rang me up and told me that I had beaten other actors of repute for the title at the state award,” she says.
Born in Paradip, she finished her MBA from Biju Patnaik University of Technology. Even as a technical graduate, she never lost the flame for acting, something she has been carrying since she was a kid.
She got her break while she was still working for an IT company in Hyderabad. Upon being asked by the director, she sent some sample of her clips for the audition. “45 days later, they called me and told that I was going to play Tulasi Munda in the movie.”
“Playing her was a tough job. She is an inspiration to so many. Before she became an activist, she was working as a daily wager herself,” Barsha says.
Being born in a poor tribal family in Orissa, Tulasi Munda, herself a victim of illiteracy, took the mission of educating kids with similar plight as hers by opening a school for them.
Explaining her preparation for the role, she says Director Patnaik gave her many live classes before the shooting. “Tulasi madam’s physical presence at the shoot helped me in understanding the nuances of the character. She was very supportive of me.”
Her first interaction with the director baffled her because she felt she would not be able to give justice to the character.
“I would like to thank Amiya sir for showing his faith on me and reassuring me from time and again that I could deliver,” she speaks with gratitude.
The filmmaker is planning to release Tulasi Apa in 2017. Barsha will be busy in its promotion from early next year. “A film should be judged by its content,” she says when asked if it can be regarded as an art movie.
Now having finished with her first venture, other Oriya movies are already on her platter. “I am currently reading some of the scripts and yet to reach a conclusion.”
In a time when the regional audience is finding more inclination to Hindi and English makes, a venture like this will certainly attempt to change their perspective on Oriya movies. “If you give a good and original content to the audience, they are bound to like it. We need more films like Tulasi Apa.”