When Lochani Bag was offered the role of Ghasa Munda in Anupam Patnaik’s Tulasi Apa—Odisha’s first biopic—the actress was told that she would have to enact the role of a poor tribal woman, who is a mother of seven.
The film, based on the life and struggles of activist Tulasi Munda who has been working for tribal rights in Keonjhar district of Odisha, had Lochani playing the role of the protagonist’s mother. Although the role was that of the supporting actor, Lochani, who is in her mid-30s, instantly agreed to do it. The actress was lauded for her performance in the film at the eighth Bengaluru Film Festival held recently. Tulasi Apa is scheduled to be released next month.
“The character focused on different shades of a woman, from being newly married to a young mother to an elderly woman who stands by her daughter while she fights odds for securing tribal rights,” says Lochani, who considers herself lucky to be doing meaningful cinema in the Odia film industry. Sans a lineage, the actress has been successfully carving a niche for herself in Ollywood with roles that may not be meaty but are distinct.
Lochani was offered the Ghasa Munda role by Patnaik, who saw her in Sabyasachi Mohapatra’s Adim Vichar, her debut film which fetched her the the State’s Best Supporting Actress award last year. Coming from the backward Kalahandi district of Odisha, Lochani joined the film industry after dedicating almost 20 years to theatre and continues to have a strong presence there. “Coming from a small town, I consider myself lucky to have got an opportunity to work in films like Tulasi Apa and Adim Vichar. The films gave me an opportunity to experience a medium that is so different from theatre,” says the actress, who is a known name in the Odia, Koshali and Sambalpuri theatre.
Lochani’s portrayal of the eldest daughter-in-law of the protagonist in Adim Vichar was appreciated at almost all the popular national and international film festivals. Although the actress has no reservations in doing character roles, theatre will continue to be her first love, which, she says, has strengthened her foundation in films. Lochani has been awarded as the best actress in theatre by different District Cultural Councils of Western Odisha as well.
Apart from Tulasi Apa, Lochani is also awaiting the release of her other films, Pahadara Luha (tears of mountain) and Pappi. Pahadara Luha is again a film by Mohapatra based on industrialisation and subsequent displacement of Paraja tribals in the Koraput district of the state.