There Is A Difference Between A Trained And An Untrained Actor, Says Hara Rath

There Is A Difference Between A Trained And An Untrained Actor, Says Hara Rath

Actor Hara Rath certainly doesn’t fit into the stereotype of an Ollywood ‘hero’, but has over the period of his career built a credibility in acting that is hard to rival. With a PG Diploma in Labour Law, a National School of Drama background and movies like Bande Utkala Janani, Most Wanted, ACP Ranveer, Akhire Akhire, Kehi Nuhe Kahara, Meemansa and Luv U Jessica, we know that he is not one of the conventional, run-of-the-mill actors. Not just movies, Hara has been appreciated by the audiences in TV shows like ‘Bruti Ae Mo Pose Kutumba’, and popular album songs of Sarthak Music like ‘Dhana Kiari ra’.

In the course of an interview with MCL, the actor talks about his upcoming movie ‘Jogi’, in which he plays the lead role, the way he has steered his career and his idea behind choosing movies. Excerpts.

Slated to release on April 20, what are your expectations from your upcoming movie ‘Jogi’?

This film is special to me, as it is for the first time that I am playing the lead role in a movie. It took almost six months to complete this movie, and I had to shave my head thrice. It is very difficult for an actor to go bald, as I could not work in any other project during that time. I am hopeful that the film will do well.

Tell us a little about the film.

This film is about a saint becoming a ruler and what challenges he faces being the chief minister of a state. There’s also a love story entwined with the main plot that makes it even more interesting.

In this movie, your look is very much similar to the current UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath. Are you playing his character on screen as your movie is also named ‘Jogi’?

I agree that he inspires the look of the character but this is not his story. We have used his look because he is in the lime light now and resemblance to him will attract the attention of the audience more.

When and how did your journey in acting start?

I was born in a small village in Khordha but later moved to Dharakote, Ganjam with my mother. She was appointed as the headmistress at the Government Girls’ High School of that region. Ganjam being a place of art and culture, I grew up seeing the local art forms like Danda Nacha, Sakhi Nacha, Daskathia, Rannapa, etc., at Dharakote. As good as my childhood was I remember I used to go to watch Danda nacha the whole night until it ended the next morning.  We would then bathe in our village pond and head straight to school. So, growing up in a culturally vibrant surrounding, there was an actor budding in me.

When I was in 6th standard, I got my first chance to act and played Belalshana in a play called ‘Karna’. Since then, I started performing in plays every year.

We heard you bunked your banking exam to attend a workshop at National School of Drama. How was your experience at the film school? 

I had come to Bhubaneswar to appear for a banking examination but after spotting an advertisement about a workshop at NSD, I could not resist from applying for it. In the one month training period, the first thing that I learnt was discipline. Many people in Odisha have a wrong notion about plays, thinking it’s fun and not a serious art. An actor has to completely dedicate oneself to acting. There is definitely a huge difference between a trained and a non-trained actor.

Did you ever dream of working in movies?

No, not when I started out. Although I always wanted to act, I was unaware that my passion would turn into my profession. I started my career with director Raju Mishra, assisting him behind the camera. Two and half year passed and I kept looking for an opportunity to act. However, one day, there was a requirement of a junior artist to play the friends of Kuna Tripathy in a tele serial named ‘Duhita’, which aired on Door Darshan at that time. I took up the role of one of his friends, and had to say a one and half page dialogue. I had made up my mind that I would pack my bags and be off to my village, if I don’t get the chance to act. But as luck had it, the character of ‘Haria’ became the first among my recognisable work.

How did you enter the album industry?

While working for Duhita, all our post production work was done at View Studio. Director Susant Mani, who worked there had seen one of the scenes I had acted in. He called me up and narrated me the entire story of an album project called ‘Kete Dina Haba Dekha Nai’ with actor Naina Das. That was my first album, and I have done five albums with him under Sarthak Production. All of these albums were not just music videos but also had a story inside it. Recently, I have done a music video ‘Na Jani Mu’ for Odiaone channel in Youtube.

The Odia album industry is emerging again through different YouTube channels. Is this a good sign for the industry?

The truth is that there is no official industry recognition for Ollywood until now. Therefore, there is industry act is not applicable, leaving all artists and technicians suffering from financial problems and hectic schedules. The demise of Odia album happened due to entry of non-professional people into the industry and piracy. Quality not number is essential for any work. Of course, it is a good sign but makers should take care to create quality work.

Will you again do a serial if offered?

I am very upset that the serials are featuring ghosts and snakes more than humans are. Stories have lost their Odia connect despite it being an Odia film or a serial. Nevertheless, if offered a good story and character, I will definitely act in serials.