Odia Jatra comedian Dayanidhi barred by theatre outfit over script criticism

In a remarkable twist within the theatre landscape, noted comedian Dayanidhi was banned by the Odisha Jatra Masters’ Association (a theatre outfit) on Monday following his outspoken criticism of script quality.

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This move has captivated the performing arts community, reflecting the escalating tensions between artistes and scriptwriters in the State.

Alleged perceptions of comedian Dayanidhi

Dayanidhi's critique focused on the alleged deficiency of innovative dialogues in comedy scripts, which he believes has hindered audience satisfaction. His claims, suggesting that the scriptwriters and directors are underperforming in delivering engaging narratives, led to this decisive disciplinary measure by the association.

A meeting held in Bhubaneswar yesterday witnessed consensus that Dayanidhi's remarks warranted action. It was attended by around 70 to 72 directors and scriptwriters including Satya Jena, the secretary of Jatra Party Owners Association. The outfit has made clear that disrespect towards scriptwriters is unacceptable, and he would remain banned from current and future projects unless he issues an apology.

A similar situation had previously occurred with actor Sanjay Bhol, who later apologized for his remarks. However, Dayanidhi has yet to follow suit. The association's stance is firm, conditioning his future involvement on reconciliation.

Kishore Mishra, owner of ‘Biswa Darabar’ Jatra troupe where Dayanidhi presently works, confirmed awareness of the association's directive. However, the comedian has reportedly demanded evidence of the claims or withdrawal of the same if found baseless.

This incident brings to light broader issues within Odisha's cultural scene, with significant implications for those involved in the theatre industry.

“If an artiste (Dayanidhi) supposedly created by the masters is ignoring and undermining them, the masters should not work for those organisation(s) where he is working. If the masters are inefficient, then, he must not enact the scripts written by the masters,” the outfit media coordinator, Hara Barik said.

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No comments were received from Odia Jatra comedian Dayanidhi in this regard.

Reported By: Soumya Ranjan Sahoo, Saroj Behera