HIMANSHU GURU, OP
The multi-faceted Chinmayee Priyadarshini is keen to make a mark on Oriya filmdom and has turned producer at an early age…
The latest development in the Oriya film industry is that an actress has come up with the bright idea of producing a film in which she will act in the lead role. While, even in the Hindi film industry it is a rare event, for Oriya films it is a fairly rare happening. Meet Chinmayee Priyadarshini, who debuted in the Oriya flick ‘Sapanara Nayika’ back in 2011 and acted in the second lead role. Later she played the heroine’s role in ‘Ei Janamara Sathitie’ in 2013. She is the producer and heroine of the film ‘To Premare Padila Pare’, a movie by Debaki Films. Orissa POST chatted with Chinmayee during the music launch of her film. Excerpts from the conversation:
The only daughter of Swarnalata and Bhaskar Chandra Nayak, Chinmayee passed high school from Vyasa Nagar High School and completed Plus III from Vyasa Nagar College in Jajpur Road. Later, she completed MBA from Utkal University and is now continuing her PHD in Human Resource Management. Her father served as a senior official under the Orissa government (he is now retired) and Chinmayee’s brothers Santosh and Prasanna are software engineers, while her sister-in-law, Pravasmita Behera, is JTO at BSNL. She intimated that her family members have financially supported her to produce the upcoming film.
Asked about entry into the Oriya film industry, Chinmayee said: “In 2011 I was working as a trainee HR in a company when I first got the offer for a film. Once, I did a photoshoot and when saw the photographs I thought I should try for films. Accordingly, I sent the photos to dialogue writer Rajani Ranjan who was known to me. He showed my photos to producer Rabindra Panda, who was convinced and offered me a role in his film ‘Sapanara Nayika’. As such I was interested in the line since childhood but had not got any scope. I was taking part in dance and fancy dress competitions as a child. Thus I immediately took up the offer.”
“I played a modern Christian girl named Rosy in the film,” Chinmayee added. Asked about her experience of facing movie camera for the first time, she said: “I was nervous and of course did not perform up to the mark on the first day for which I was scolded. But I vowed to improve and started performing better each following day. The film was screened for 22 days in the theatre and I myself heard the audience praising my performance.”
“I acted as the heroine in the second film ‘Ei Janamara Sathitie’ and was casted opposite Deepan. I played the role of a College girl in the film. It was basically a love story,” the actress-turned-producer told about her second film.
After her second film Chinmayee took a while to return to the silver screen. Asked about the reason she said: “The fact was I did not get roles as per my choice. I must say one thing. Girls from other states are given preference over Oriya girls. Perhaps that was another reason I couldn’t grab a role of my choice. Besides, I had always had the desire to produce a film and I finally got to fulfil my dream with ‘To Premare Padila Pare’. We have started the preliminary work on the next film, ‘Tu Laila Mu Majnu’, which I will produce. I am also the heroine of the movie. I will go on producing films one after another.”
“I will play the role of a village girl, the daughter of a zamindar, in ‘To Premare…’. The hero confesses his love for four girls at a time keeping his identity secret and finally chooses my character in the film for marriage. The role has ample scope for acting and dance,” Chinmayee said.
Besides films, the actress has appeared in docu dramas where she shared screen space with veterans such as Mihir Das. Her docu drama ‘Nua Sakala’ was based on the pension scheme and anther drama-based documentary, ‘Gaan Parimala Jojana’, was themed on cleanliness. These works were telecast in multiple channels.
Besides acting, the youngster is also a published writer. Her book ‘HR for All’, published in 2011 by Dhauli Publication, dwells up on the basics and different aspects of human resource management.
The multitalented spinster is also a good cook who excels in preparing Indian and Chinese cuisines. She said: “I am good at preparing chilli prawn, chilli chicken and biryani. I have not taken any training but have learned some tricks from my mother in preparing mouthwatering dishes.”
Asked about her love life, the beautiful actress said: “Now, I am concentrating on my career and frankly I don’t have a boyfriend. However, I am my parents’ child and would love to go for an arranged marriage with a man selected by my parents.”
“Although I haven’t taken any training, I have successfully danced in films where mostly the choreographers ask us to do Bollywood steps. However, I like contemporary dance the most,” she said.
“We were shooting in Pipili for ‘To Premare…’ where the lens of our movie camera got damaged and I had to bear a big loss. It was a depressing moment for me,” said the producer.
Asked about her aim, Chinmayee said: “I want to be a decent actress. Also, I make it a point to showcase our state’s culture,” she signed off.