Niranjan Reddy : Once a Struggler, Now Multi-Talented Awardee

Bhubaneswar:  Niranjan Reddy is not just a name, it’s a proud feeling of success after heavy struggle in life and worked hard to create history and to show his blazed efficiency to the world.

A sports editor in a regional media house had been awarded for the best sports reporter earlier and now bagged a state award for best screenplay for Odia movie ‘Ole Ole Dil Bole’ this year.

In an interaction with REPORTERS TODAY, he shared his journey from a village boy, hailing from Belapada village in Ganjam district, he was the 5th among 7 brothers and a sister. His father was an RPF employee with a low wage.

“I did my schooling in Government High School maintained by ST & SC Development Dept. Throughout my student days, my school and college fees are burden to my family according to my father’s income that was not sufficient.  From Class 4th, I had started working as a helper in vegetable shop to the vendors and when I reached Class 9-10, I had started to work at a construction site as a laborer  and get Rs 20 per day.

He further added, “When I completed my matriculation, I wanted an admission in Ganjam College but the fees was much high. My family denied to continuing my studies. During holidays, I used to sell chilly from village to village. I remember carrying bags of dry chilly.

With the money, he got into admission to the college in his village, Gopal Krushna Bigyan Mahavidyalaya. Then he wanted to apply for PG in Berhampur University. “My family again denied me, as we had unable to pay the fees. So I again entered into the chilly carrying work to collect money for admission in further studies.” He added.

He discontinued his course in 2004 to join journalism in Bhubaneswar in a private institute.

 “After the first semester, I got to know about internship in a leading media house OTV. Then I approached my elder to arrange Rs 1000 for four months so that I could archive my dream. I remember sleeping on railway platforms, eating one meal in a day, travelling ticketless to save money.

He did all kind of reporting and even got placed to his home place Berhampur during his service as a reporter. And finally, he started sports reporting from 2006-2007 and two years later, in 2009, he bagged the best sports reporter award.

My play ‘Banchibaku Hele’ was about the hardships of life of the Hero. It became so popular, that it was made into a film and here I am, with a State award for best screenplay,” he said.

Niranjan Reddy’s life story inspires all the human being, how to get hurt and being a struggler to archive our dreams.