No IPL-style auction of artistes: Odia Jatra actress Namita Bhuyan

Faced with an ongoing artiste-manager dispute in Odia Jatra industry, noted actress Namita Bhuyan has emerged as a vocal critic, challenging existing norms in the community with her candid remarks on Tuesday.

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Accusations made by the versatile actress

Actress Namita, known for her versatility, publicly criticised in the context of fellow actors Nari Panda and Piyush Tripathy, and has openly invited boycotts against her, similar to those faced by her peers.

She also staunchly opposed any implementation of an auction system for artistes akin to the Indian Premier League (IPL), dismissing such proposals as inappropriate.

The Jatra Artistes’ Association is set to convene a meeting in Bhubaneswar tomorrow (on April 16) to address these disputes.

Amid the tensions, Namita has taken to social media to accuse certain individuals from the Jatra community of undermining artistes, expressing her willingness to face any repercussions that come with truth-telling.

“I speak the truth; hence, if I am boycotted for that, I am not worried,” Bhuyan told OTV. She believes her platform and voice, as divine gifts, must be used for the benefit of the audience.

The Jatra actress criticized the favouritism within the theatre community, questioning why comedy actor Nari Panda faces a boycott while the higher-paid Piyush Tripathy still remains unchallenged. She also condemned Odisha theatre troupe owners’ outfit member Kabiraj Swain’s suggestion for an IPL-style auction process, arguing that such practices would be detrimental to artistes.

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As the community meeting approaches, expectations are high that it could pave the way for a resolution, potentially opening a new chapter for fairness and artistic freedom in Odia Jatra. Bapi Panda from the artistes’ association emphasised the need for coordination, stating that resolution requires dialogue, rather than obstinacy.