Soyong, OP
Some exhibit rare artistic talent from childhood. A few others excel after rigorous training in specific artistic pursuits. And Priyansu Kumar Mohanty is one such wonder kid who is not only born talented but also received thorough training to become a successful yoga practitioner.
Priyansu is an exceptional child who has drawn accolades for his ability to dance, perform martial arts, gymnastics and paintings and received several state and national level awards. Orissa POST meets the multi-talented young star who is keen to excel in yoga.
Sonal, as Priyansu is nicknamed, is a Class VI student of Unit 8 DAV Public School in Bhubaneswar. His father Lingaraj Mohanty is a former cine artiste and mother Preeti, a homemaker. Grandson of former Odissi dancer Snehalata Mohanty, Sonal was five when he started learning dance from D Debendra Rao. Currently, he has been under tutelage of Guru Gautam Bhattacharya for four years now.
Interestingly, Priyansu has acted in a number of films. Asked how he entered films, he narrates, “I won the first runners up prize in a talent-haunt TV reality show aired on a local channel. During the show, dance director Dilip Swain spotted my talent and asked me to dance and act in the Oriya film Om Sai Tujhe Salam. So far, I have acted in five films and a few albums.”
When asked about his happiest moment in films, Priyansu recollects, “I was overwhelmed by the standing ovation I received from spectators during the 2014 Oriya Chalachitra Awards function at Saheed Bhawan, Cuttack. This happened soon after my stage performance for a filmi number Ami Je Tomar (Bhool Bhulaiyaa).”
Priyansu developed a fascination for yoga at the age of seven. He got formal initiation in Yoga from Guru Debasish Haldar. He won appreciation and prizes for his yogic postures that took him to every nook and corner of the country. According to his Guru Haldar, Priyanshu has a rare acumen for learning things. “He catches fast with accuracy and performs better than my expectations,” he adds.
Sonal is a disciplined student who scores more than 94 per cent in class examinations. After school, he focuses on activities like dance and yoga. An early riser, Sonal’s morning begins with yoga practice followed by martial arts training.
His mother Preeti Mohanty claims Sonal never throws tantrums for anything. “We learn discipline from our child,” she avers.
Interested in engineering and down-to-earth, Priyansu says his ambition in life is to make a name in yoga at international fora. “The world should remember Orissa as a Yoga destination across the world,” he claims.
Although Priyansu has acted in a number of Oriya movies, he is not very keen to leap into Hindi films. He is also fond of watching cartoons like all other children of his age.
Sonal’s school authorities, however, are proud of him as he has brought many national awards to the school, thanks to his excellence in yoga, dance, painting and gymnastics.
