TV
Well-known jatra actor Piyush Tripathy made a dramatic return to the stage at Basta in Balasore on Monday night, openly defying a one-year ban imposed on him by the Odisha Jatra Party Owners’ Association.
Further, his appearance at the Singhabahini troupe's inaugural night performance marks a significant escalation in the ongoing rift between the actor and the powerful association.
Bold Comeback After Year-Long Ban
Reports stated that Tripathy, who had been barred from performing for a year, appeared on stage at the Singhabahini party’s first camp, first-night event.
With powerful dialogues and stage presence, he enthralled the audience, openly signalling his intent to reclaim his place in the industry, with or without the association’s endorsement. Though his full-fledged acting scenes are yet to resume, his presence and delivery of key dialogues drew attention and applause, according to sources.
Association Faces Challenge Over Artist Autonomy
Tripathy’s performance comes in the backdrop of a simmering standoff with the Jatra Party Owners' Association, which had suspended him over allegations of accepting advance money from multiple parties, a matter that unfolded earlier this year.
While the association had remained silent on the matter for months, Piyush had earlier issued a strongly worded open letter challenging them to clarify their position within seven days or risk losing relevance.
His letter accused the association of double standards, subtly pointing to figures such as Surjya Mandira party owner Pramod Swain and artist couple Kahna and Tiki for allegedly being treated with leniency in similar situations. He also named actress Namita Bhuyan in his appeal for consistent rules.
Piyush Signals Long-Term Commitment
In the wake of the impasse, Tripathy has pledged loyalty to the Singhabahini jatra party, stating his commitment to work with them for five years, from 2024 to 2030. Sanjeev Padhy, owner of Singhabahini, defended Piyush’s re-entry by saying that if someone has erred and served their time, they deserve artistic freedom.
Meanwhile, members of the association have indicated that a formal decision on Piyush’s future will only be taken in 2026-27.
