SUJATA Priyamvada Choudhury, the lead actress and activist of Subodh Patnaik’s well-known theatre organisation Natya Chetana, is better known as a baby in the theatre circles. Sujata’s saga of struggle and success began when she swam against the current of a conservative society to earn the distinction of being an Oriya woman theatre director.
Unlike Bhaswati, daughter of well-known theatre personality Asim Basu and Samita, wife of theatre director Gouranga Rout, Sujata faced stiff resistance from the family to be in theatre. “Even after being in this profession for the past 17 years and winning accolades for my work, my struggle is still on to win over my family members who could never appreciate my decision to be in theatre. I don’t blame them as they are a part of a conservative society that does not encourage women in arts,” sighs Sujata as she speaks to us taking a brief break from her rehearsal at Natyagram, the theatre village, near Bhubaneswar.
A rebel and reformist by nature, it was a small book on Mother Teresa that motivated the Rourkela-based teenager Sujata to think of a life that was different. “I wanted much change to happen in the society and thus thought of several professions to be an agent of that change. I even seriously tried to be a police officer but failed for my height. I am happy that I work with the theatre for change,” says the actress in her mid 30’s who has toured several countries abroad as a member of the Natya Chetana troupe that is known for its activism for social change.
While working as an announcer and assistant programme producer with All India Radio, Rourkela, Sujata had her first brush with acting at Rangamancha, a Rourkela-based theatre troupe. And the link facilitated her introduction to dynamic theatre personality Subodh Patnaik, her mentor. “In 1994, Subodh Bhai conducted a survey of the theatre organisations of Orissa to find out why there were not many women in Oriya theatre scene that was followed by a workshop in Bhubaneswar to develop leadership by women in theatre. I joined it representing Rangamancha of Rourkela and that was the turning point in my career and life,” feels Sujata who later had the fortune to be trained under the late legendary B.V.Karanth, Professor Robin Das of the National School of Drama and several other eminent theatre personalities in India and abroad.
Is it a fact that men are reluctant to work with women directors? “Yes, it is,” admits Sujata and adds that this attitude has been there in the entertainment industry that affects the emergence of women directors in cinema and theatre. “However, at Natya Chetana we have been able to break that barrier and my actors have been quite cooperative with me,” says the director and actress of path-breaking plays like Rebati, Dhala Suna and Jungle Janta – the plays dealing with issues of women’s empowerment, use of fertilizer in agriculture and deforestation respectively. She also keeps undertaking strenuous trips to various parts of the state with the touring theatre troupe of Natya Chetana presenting plays for awareness generation and making studies of the impact of theatre on the people.
As an actress and theatre director which has been the character closest to her heart? “Rebati”, pat comes her response. “The Father of modern Oriya literature, Fakir Mohan Senapati had created this classic character a century ago that symbolised women’s education and empowerment. The character still holds enough relevance for women in today’s world who suffer despite their spectacular achievements in various fields. Else why are we a few in theatre today!’ she quips.
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