COVID Fallout: Odia Choregapher Turns To Selling Tea On Roadside

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.