COVID Fallout: Odia Choregapher Turns To Selling Tea On Roadside

By OB Bureau On Aug 26, 2020

Ganjam: There have been many heartbreaking stories of people losing their life and livelihood during the lockdown in the wake of coronavirus since March.

One such story is of Odia choreographer Sauling Padhiali of P Nuagaon in Ganjam district who had just about started realising his Bollywood dream. From being a choreographer in Mumbai, he came back to his village and now sells tea to make a living.

He was earning adequately for his family of five working in Bollywood, Ollywood, and Jollywood (Assam film industry) with his choreography.

Sauling Padhiali, 29 is an Odia born in Gujarat. He lost his father when he was ten years old and was raised by his mother Budhi.

Sauling had a penchant form dancing since childhood. He learned dancing from a teacher in Gujarat and gradually, started being noticed. He also got a break in Hindi and Odia films.

Life had just turned smooth for Sauling when the pandemic threw it out of gear. He managed to survive and take care of his family with his savings for some time but was eventually left jobless. He was left with no choice but to return to his ancestral village in Ganjam after he ran out of resources.

Sauling chose a footpath to set up a tea stall and started selling ‘rabidi’ tea.
He now earns a profit of around Rs 200-300 per day from his shop.for his ‘rabidi’ tea.

“I was earning well enough through dance. As studios and programmes were closed due to the pandemic, I was forced to return to village and sell tea to earn something for survival,” said a disheartened Sauling.

His first break in Bollywood was in 2017 when Sauling choreographed for ‘Hare Krishna Hare Rama’ track in ‘Commando 2’. He also worked for two Odia films – ‘Bindas’ and ‘Jaga Hatare Pagha’. He had also assisted as a leading choreographer in the Odia movie- ‘Sundergarh Ra Salman Khan’. Sauling is also well known for his work in the jatra industry and Odia albums.

odia choregrapher Sauling Padhiali