His parents wanted him to pursue an academic career, but Odia anchor Subham had different ideas. While his friends were busy with studies, Subham was working to realise his dream of becoming an anchor. His perseverance paid off and he is now considered among the best in the profession. So far, he has worked with a number of Odia TV channels and performed in live shows and other events and social gatherings across the state.
The son of Purnachandra and Mamata Behera of Balasore, Subham had a keen interest in anchoring from his teenage days. “I used to closely observe TV reality show hosts. Their skill in holding the interest of the audience fascinated me. I decided to do something similar and make a career of it. After completing my bachelor’s degree in commerce, I devoted most of my time to observing the popular anchors of the state and at the national level. Meanwhile, I completed a course in HR in Bhubaneswar which only enhanced my confidence as a performer. After that, I never looked back.”
Subham is one of the most sought after anchors in the industry after hosting three successful TV shows for different Odia channels. He is looking forward to doing something innovative that will appeal to audiences of all age groups.
About his career, Subham says he first got the chance to host a stage show when he was studying for a degree in commerce at MPC College of Baripada. “The organisers of a college youth fest were looking for a good anchor. Someone suggested to me that I should contact them and thus I bagged the job. That was my maiden stage show and also the turning point of my career. Some media representatives and other dignitaries who were present at the event appreciated my work and advised me to go for a career in anchoring. Their words encouraged me, and I began contacting other organisers of such shows. Be it a family get together or corporate promotional event, I met every person who could give me a chance to display my skills. I am obliged to many people who helped me get assignments. On the other hand, my parents wanted me to do an advanced course in Bangalore. But as I wanted to be in touch with the Odia film and television industry, I landed in the state capital and enrolled myself in a B School,” he says.
With the contacts he had, the aspiring anchor soon got noticed by the who’s who of the entertainment industry.
Subham, who now hosts 10 to 15 shows a month, says, “The celebration of the 150 years of the establishment of Jajpur Town was a memorable programme as I had the opportunity to share the stage with many Bollywood celebrities like Armaan Malik, Mika Singh, Sukhwinder Singh, Amit Kumar, Shaan, Millind Gaba and Udit Narayan.”
He also remembers the time he was asked to translate the speech of well known architect Norman Robert Foster into Odia at a programme in the presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. He has also hosted shows for VIVO IPL Trophy Tour 2017, Hockey India League 2017, MTV Pulsar Mania, and KTM Indian Stunt Shows in Ranchi and Bokaro (Jharkhand).
Needless to say, Subham has a huge fan following thanks to his good looks and distinct style of presentation.
“My hard work and dedication have got me popular programmes such as ‘Mumbai Masala,’ ‘Story of Odisha,’ ‘Odisha All the Way’ and the current programme ‘Taste of Odisha’ on a leading TV channel,” he says.
When asked about the difference between commercial and TV shows, Subham says, “While doing commercial shows you need to know the details about the company, their promotional strategies and other things. There are certain limitations. But in the case of TV shows, I can be more creative and display my skills better. Though the anchors are given a script to work with, sometimes they have to be at their creative best to connect to the audience.”
BRATATI BARAL, OP