HIMANSHU GURU, OP
Dancer and choreographer Pooja Mohapatra’s ability to assimilate and represent different styles of dancing – from Odissi classical to contemporary western forms – shows her depth of commitment to the art…
Creative Oriya youngsters are showcasing their diverse potential at the national and international level. Choreographer-cum-dancer Pooja Mohapatra is a well-known name in the Oriya film industry. She has performed in many parts of the country and also regaled audiences with her mesmerising steps in Malaysia, Dubai, South Africa and Bangkok. In fact her one-year stint in South Africa, where she took up teaching young aspirants, was a productive phase of the dancer’s life. Orissa POST talks to the talented choreographer and dancer about her achievements and aspirations.
“I was lucky to get a chance to dance in front of Lord Jagannath when I was merely three years old. It was a concert on the Badadanda after Bahuda Yatra. That was the beginning,” said the dancer. “The same year I got an opportunity to dance in the film ‘Bhuli Huena’. I learned Odissi dance from Guru Niranjan Rout at Rajdhani Kala Sansad in Bhubaneswar. Along with other three others, I was selected from the institution to dance to the number ‘Akashare kete tara se ta gani huena’,” she added.
While Pooja has earned laurels as an energetic dancer and strict dance master in the Oriya film industry, she is a proficient Odissi dancer. “I have been trained by Guru Padma Charan Deuri and Guru Jyoti Rout. Besides, I have participated in a few Odissi concerts on behalf of SRJAN Odissi dance academy under the direction of Guru Ratikant Mohapatra,” she said.
Asked about her aesthetic preferences, the dancer said: “Although I am good in ‘mangalacharana’, ‘batu’ and ‘abhinaya’, the last one is my favourite. I have performed in different choreographs including ‘Geeta Govinda’.”
“Between western and classical dance, I prefer the former. I have learned many western steps from my guru Amir Pati, who has guided many successful choreographers working in Oriya films today. He selected me for a programme for Doordarshan and later taught me many important dance tricks. He is the man who helped me discover the dancer in me. Along with Biddu bhai, my hubby Ajay and my best friend Leena, I founded the Sizzlers dance group. I am the only female assistant choreographer in Oriya films. I know all the western styles including hip-hop, contemporary, Bollywood, locking and popping. Of course, the Bollywood style is my favourite. If I am new to a style, I try to pick it up from YouTube,” she said.
Pooja has worked either as a dancer or a dance assistant in several Oriya films such as ‘Kie kahara’, ‘Pua mora jagata jita’, ‘Janmadata’, ‘Suna sansara’, ‘Suna palinki’, ‘Rakhi bhijigala akhi luhare’, ‘Mo kola to jhulana, ‘katha kahiba mo matha sindura’, ‘Ganga Jamuna’, ‘Paradeshi babu’, ‘Raja rani’, ‘Samaya kheluchi chaka bhanuri’, ‘Tate bhala pauchi boli’, ‘Pabitra bandhana’, ‘Singha bahini’ and ‘Mana rahigala tumari thare’.
Narrating a memorable moment, the dancer said: “I have had to work hard to become a dancer. In 1994, I used to practise at 3 in the morning, while tracks played in a Panasonic tape recorder at home. Back then we had to deal with low voltage. The tempo of a song played in a tape recorder decreases if the voltage is low. Resultantly, one can’t practise according to the proper tempo. Hence, my brother used to wake me up at 3 am for practice when the voltage was usually high.”
Dwelling on her performances overseas, Pooja said: “I have performed with my group in several foreign countries. The Oriya societies abroad arrange functions throughout the year and invite us to perform. I was lucky to have stayed for a while in South Africa, 9 months to be precise, teaching dance.”
Asked about her experience in South Africa, the dancer said: “People there frequently change partners and the problematic part is that males don’t hesitate much before proposing a girl. I had a bitter experience. During my return journey when I was clearing the immigration formalities a South African man (a perfect stranger) came to me and without any hesitation asked whether I would like to marry him. I was frightened.”
Pooja has performed in a number of award shows held across the country. She said: “I got the chance to share stage with many actors. At Barabati Stadium, I was part of a troupe that performed with Karishma Kapoor under the direction of choreographer Babu Bhai of Cuttack. At an award function in Kolkata, I had the rare opportunity to perform with Amitabh Bachchan on stage.”
Daughter of Sukanti and Narendranath Behera of Bhubaneswar, Pooja passed HSC from Unit I Girls’ High School and completed graduation from Maharishi Women’s College in Bhubaneswar. She is married to Ajay and the couple has a daughter, Titli. Manas and Chinmayee are her elder brother and sister-in-law respectively.”
“My father resembles actor Mithun da. He is a good dancer but has mostly worked as a writer and lyricist for plays. I am his pampered child. My father wanted to bring me up as a boy. He is my best friend. Being a dancer, he wanted me to learn western styles, while my mother wanted me to see me as an Odissi dancer. So I learned both to make them happy. My brother supports me a lot. My hubby has always stood beside me. I am grateful to choreographer Biddu bhai’s help and support,” Pooja signed off.
