Odisha Going ROFL: Meet Debarchan Mishra, Master Of Parody

Odisha Going ROFL: Meet Debarchan Mishra, Master Of Parody

Parody is a craft that connects with society and draws laughter with comic delivery. And Bhubaneswar lad Debarchan Mishra is a natural in this art.

The 22-year-old aspiring engineer is paving a path in the world of comedy in Bhubaneswar and across Odisha. “My passion is to face the dreary world with a smile on my face. This has been my driving force in life,” Debarchan shares as he sits down for a freewheeling chat with My City Links.

So how did it all start, we start off by asking him. And he takes us to his childhood.

Childhood Capers

“I was a mischievous child. I used to perform stand-up acts for my teachers at school. Some of my friends had playfully suggested that I should pursue comedy,” Debarchan reveals about his days at Demonstration Multipurpose School, his alma mater.

His parents also encouraged him to pursue his passion, as long as he was doing well in studies. “My family is very supportive and encourages me by giving various ideas for my work. They mentor me both on stand-up comedy and YouTube videos.”

Besides, Debarchan also credits his friends for encouraging and inspiring him. “They have always stood beside me in every point in life. I hope never to disappoint them,” he adds.

Career Graph

Inspired by his friends, Debarchan decided to entertain the masses with his hilarious gigs.

He started out by attending random open mics. In one such event, he was noticed by the founder of Comedy Highway Bhubaneswar, Satyabrat Mohapatra. “Comedy Highway Bhubaneswar is the only active comedy collective in Odisha. I was approached by Satyabrat to join it and now I have been part of the group since 2018,” he informs.

His first venture was on November 8, 2019 when he opened for Gaurav Kapur — “my favourite stand-up comic” — at an event. “I was a bit nervous since I was going to perform in an auditorium for the first time. But luckily it went really well,” he recalls. 

Apart from Kapur, he has also opened for Nishant Tanwar (Joke Singh), Kumar Varun, Rajat Chauhan, Sahil Shah and many more.

At present, Debarchan is pursuing his BTech in Mechanical Engineering from College of Engineering & Technology (CET), Bhubaneswar.

This aspiring engineer has performed in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Rourkela as well as in various prestigious institutes such as KIIT, VSSUT BURLA, CET, IIIT, XIMB, XUB and IIT-Kharagpur.

He along with Jyoti Ranjan Dash (a member of Comedy Highway Bhubaneswar) also owns a show called ‘High On Pakhala’, an Odia-centric stand-up comedy show.

Son Of The Soil

“My content is very relatable to my Odia audience and that gives me immense pleasure, Posting relatable Odisha-centric content on my social media handles has also helped me to reach the masses,” says this true-bred son of the soil.

In fact, the very name Debarchan means “an act of worshipping God”. He reveals, “My parents believe that I am the fruit of their worship to God and hence the name, Debarchan. Being born in the City of Temples and in the land of Lord Jagannath, I chose not to have any stage name. So Debarchan is all it is.”

He mostly performs parodies of famous personalities and celebrities and social issues that ‘Odiabasis’ can relate to. “I am overwhelmed by the love and appreciation I receive from my own people. I consider my fans as my family. They keep me motivated to carry on and do better each time,” he says.

Travel Bug

Besides his performances and academics, Debarchan is also an avid traveller and likes visiting places. “I love travelling and exploring different cuisines. Currently my aim is to travel to each part of Odisha. I am already on the go,” he shares.

And what would he like to tell aspiring comics? “Honestly, I do not think proficient enough myself to guide anybody. But yes, I strongly urge everyone to believe in themselves and work diligently to shine in their fields. Keep chasing your dreams and take action,” he suggests.

As for dreams, we ask him about the ones he harbours. “I believe that it is better to live than to dream blankly. In fact, I have no concrete plans for the future because I prefer to dwell in the present,” he signs off.