Puja is a time for making new memories: Manoj Kumar Pramanik

Manoj Kumar Pramanik has won over audiences with his excellent performances throughout the years. He has been featured in various web originals, films, tele-fictions, web films, and television commercials. In a candid chat with The Daily Star on Mahalaya today, the actor shares his Durga Puja plans, and more.

What are your plans for Durga Puja?

Puja is a time for making new memories. Being an actor and a teacher, I usually have early morning wake-up calls but during this time, I get to be a bit more relaxed. I wake up late and turn straight towards the delicious fish curry and naru made at home.

I love spending the evenings with my friends after the aarti.  Marking the occasion, a dance competition is held every year on the occasion of Durga Puja. Although I have participated in it multiple times, I never managed to score a win.

Tell us about some of your fond memories of Durga Puja from your childhood.

I grew up being very close to my friends, neighbours, and peers in Naogaon.

Back in those days, we used to go around on small boats as we had no bicycles of our own. We would often return with swollen feet even though we had no idea we were walking for miles.

We would reach home famished from the daily hassle and tussle and run towards the kitchen. Our relatives and loved ones used to visit us with sweets, gifts and flowers!

What do you enjoy the most during this festive season?

Puja is the only time of the year when I get to relish on the roaring dhak, dhol and kortal. Monsoon is my favourite season, and I love to enjoy the rattling sound of the rain during the Bishorjon.

We usually have to take the protima by a boat to another village, and the travel experience is something that I look forward to every year.

You have received much appreciation for your recent web-fiction "Otithi", which was released on Chorki. How was the experience of working on it?

The experience was amazing, and the response was overwhelming. Besides my character, I loved the overall screenplay and storyline. Farhad Shahi is new, but he has shown promise with this production. 

What are you currently busy with?

I am looking to take a little break from television fictions as the workload has left me exhausted. I plan on taking up projects now that leave a strong impression on me, and are impactful.

I am looking at some offers from OTT offers at the moment, and plan to concentrate on teaching for the time being.

The author is a freelance journalist.