• The jatra owners' association announced that there would be no jatra shows from August 1 this year. Being a leading jatra actor, how do you react to this?
This is an unfortunate decision. The people and artistes depending on the jatra have been pushed into uncertainty. It would have been better had they discussed the issues with the artistes and the ways to revive the old form of art rather than deciding to bring the curtains down.
• But where will you go now?
This is a big question. I am not so worried about myself. But, thousands of artists are depending on jatra for their livelihood. At the same time, I can tell you that the thought that by stopping shows, jatra industry can be shut is wrong. It has been there for centuries together. It has seen many ups and downs. We hope that it will also overcome this difficult phase. As long as the artistes are there and the spectators are there, jatra will be there. Here the question of patronage comes. If these owners dismantle the jatra parties, we will certainly face a problem. But at the same time, I hope that a new set of owners will come forward and run the shows.
• The main charge of the jatra party owners is that leading actors like you are demanding Rs 30 to Rs 40 lakh, besides other perks. It's not possible to pay such big packages...
When I started my career, I did not get a single penny. Later, I was paid Rs 250 per month. Sometimes, I used to get the money and sometimes, the jatra owners either delayed payment or refused to pay saying that our performance was not "up to the mark". But they started paying us only when we became popular among people. In fact, there was a competition among them to hire us. They used us as a commodity. What is wrong if we get some extra money?
• Why don't you scale down the package? It seems the jatra party owners association is using the tactics to put pressures on the artistes...
They should have discussed the issues with the artistes before taking such a decision. We, the artistes, never hanker after money. We are there in the field because of our sheer love for the art. At the same time, how many jatra owners have seen how we spend nights after nights, days after days away from our homes. Should we not be compensated for this?
• One of the main reasons cited by the association is that jatra is no more a viable business. They are incurring loss...
I still believe that jatra is a profitable business if you can manage it properly. This is not like any other business. Only those with passion for jatra should take it up. But with due regards to jatra owners' association president Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, I can say that he never looks into how a jatra party is run. I do have respect for Soumya babu. He has a great love for the art and artistes. But he has also made a mistake. He considered this to be just another business. The people he relied upon indulged in all sort of corruption and made money for themselves. It was the same case with Pradeep Mahartathy. All these people depend on their managerial staff who backstabbed them. They should have plugged the loopholes. People have a right to know how many jatra party owners spend the entire night seeing how it is running. Besides, the jatra owners are going on increasing their fixed assets.
• We have seen artists from Bollywood including Shakti Kapoor and Rakhi Sawant step into the Jatra world as the local artists failed to draw the crowd...
The jatra owners will pay Bollywood actors huge amounts and then say that business is not picking up. We have a habit of ignoring our parents and falling in love with father-in-law and mother-in-law.
That tendency has led us to bring those film artists. They will be a crowd puller for a day only. They cannot provide entertainment for days together.
In fact, despite Shakti Kapoor's presence, we did record good business last year. One has to understand the language and culture to entertain the people.
• Any expectation from the government?
We hope the government will intervene and do something for the artistes. It has already shown its commitment by coming to the help of Ananta Ojha, announcing pension for artists, however meagre the amount. At the same time, the state administration should rise to the occasion and introspect why the jatras cannot be performed in Cuttack, Puri and Baragarh. These are the places where jatra can do good business. Besides on the pretext of examinations, elections and other events, the state government should not arbitrarily cancel the permission for shows.
• You are so successful in the jatra world, why did not you not step into the film arena?
There is a difference between real life drama and reel life drama. Here you know the audience. If you do something wrong and fail to rise up to their expectations, they will immediately throw chappals at you. If you do well, the same audience will cheer you endlessly and shower their affection on you.
• People are staying away from the jatra particularly because of the obscenity attached to the record dances...
You are seeing all sorts of dances in your drawing room with your family members (on TV). What's wrong in it? Here the people come for entertainment. It is our duty to give them entertainment.
