Pragati Prava
Young actor Aman, who has a strong background in theatre, is all set to carve out a niche for himself in the Oriya film industry
With a strong background in theatre, Dhenkanal boy Aman had to wait for years before getting his first break in a lead role in the Oriya flick Katha Deli Matha Chhuin released a few months ago. The young actor is on cloud nine having signed up for lead roles in two upcoming movies the shooting of one of which is scheduled to start in a few days.
Aman, who dreams of conquering a million hearts as an actor, proved his mettle in around 60 plays in which he acted. “Since childhood I am passionate about acting. In my 14 years of acting career, I have been trying to improve my skills. Though I enjoyed theatre acting, I struggled a lot to get a break in Oriya films. At one time I was so frustrated that I had taken the resolution to give up on my ambition,” he said.
“But destiny had pleasant surprises in store. The next day, I went for an audition and the following week received confirmation that I had been chosen to play the lead role in Katha Deli Matha Chhuin directed by Shailendra Parida. My joy knew no bounds,” the passionate actor said. “I was happy that my first film was with Riya, a known figure in the industry,” he added.
Narrating his experience of acting with veterans in the film, Aman said: “I was lucky to have veteran Mihir Das as a co-actor. I used to enjoy his company on sets. I used to feel Das always supported and blessed me. Whenever I looked into his eyes, I felt that they were filled with love for me. He used to radiate positive vibes on the sets. On the last day of shooting he called me to sit beside him. It was like a dream come true – he appreciated my job and advised me to ‘keep it up’. His encouragement still inspires me.”
Though acting runs in Aman’s veins, he joined the Abhinaya Jagruti Institute of Theatre of Ajit Das, a father-figure in the theatre circuit, to receive formal training and learn technical skills. “After the completion of a formal training I feel more empowered,” Aman said.
Further, dwelling on his passion for acting, the humble actor said: “My native place in Dhenkanal has been hosting Ramleela for over 600 years. Here everyone is an actor and has to play their part in Ramleela. I inherited my love for this art form from my family. While my grandfather – a teacher by profession – was a playwright and poet, my maternal uncle is an actor. My mother Kiran Panigrahi, a teacher, is a storyteller and poet.”
“Since childhood, I decided to pursue acting as a career. However, in order to honour my parents’ wishes, I studied MBA. When I got my MBA certificate, I handed it over to my father, Debraj Pati, who is a senior officer in Boyanika, and said, ‘My responsibility towards you is over.’ I asked him to allow me to pursue my dreams, to which, he instantly agreed,” Aman said.
Aman worked in Ajit Das’s theatre as a lead actor for 11 years. Dwelling on the performances that brought him satisfaction, Aman said: “I love all my roles. But my work in ‘Jayadeva’, a realistic play based on Jagannath culture, and ‘Bheti’, the dramatisation of the novel ‘Abhagini’ authored by the famous Godabarish Mohapatra, are the most memorable ones. Ajit Das directed both the plays.”
Aman has also acted in a few Hindi and English plays. “An actor needs to be fluent in many different languages and I enjoyed the experience of acting in Hindi and English dramas,” he said.
Aman candidly confessed why the Oriya film industry lags behind: “At a time when we are witnessing super blockbuster films like Bahubali based on ultra-realistic themes executed in a perfect way, most Oriya films have cheap plots,” he said.
