The Journey From Harish To Harry

The Journey From Harish To Harry

If you're a fan of Sambalpuri music, you're probably witnessing its incredible growth, driven by talented young artists. Meet 22-year-old Harish Bhoi, known as Harry, who has become a prominent figure in the Sambalpuri music scene. His music videos, like 'Alta Makhi,' 'Lusku Lusa 2.0,' 'Kulfi Rani Chocobar,' 'Suna Re,' 'Tor Saitani,' 'Chhin Chatara,' 'Mor Mohni,' 'Lal Chunri,' 'Rang Rasia,' 'Mor Bela,' and 'Besharmi Priya,' have garnered millions of views and are trending on Reels. His infectious dance moves have captivated not just local audiences but also gained traction worldwide.

Hailing from Belpahar, Jharsuguda, Harry is pursuing his studies in Animation and VFX at a private institution in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Born into a middle-class family, Harry faced significant challenges in proving his dancing skills, but with determination and grace, he's now flourishing in the entertainment industry of western Odisha.

My City Links caught up with this young talent for an exclusive interview. Below are the excerpts.

How did Harish Bhoi come to be known as Harry?

There is no mystery behind it, actually. The story behind it is very simple. My friends used to call me ‘Harry’ and I am known as the same on social media. I am personally very fond of this name so I kept it as my screen name as well.

What made you fall in love with dance and how did you get your first break?
My elder brother, Hitesh, used to dance, and he is my inspiration. I learned dancing from him and Debashis Bhai. Unfortunately, my brother couldn’t continue dancing as he had to take up a job to meet our family's financial needs. I feel privileged that I could carry on dancing in my family, and now people recognize me for my skills. In my early days, I started by making cover dance videos and reels with different songs. With the love and appreciation from my audience, I moved forward.

I admired Bijay Bhai’s work and wanted to collaborate with him. So, I approached him to give me a chance to dance to his song. That’s how our collaboration began, and ‘Alta Makhi’ became my debut music video. Since then, we have formed a fixed team and have been working together.

Tell us your experience while making of ‘Alta Makhi’.
While making ‘Alta Makhi,’ all our team members played a variety of roles. Whether they were actors, singers, lyricists, or the DOP, everyone contributed to creating the backgrounds, sets, and the entire production of the song. So, I can proudly say it’s literally a perfect example of teamwork, and no one can individually take credit.

What do you have to say about the blooming Sambalpuri music industry?

Umakant Barik is like a legend to us; he has made the most significant contribution to elevating Sambalpuri music to new heights, and he continues to do so. His recent song, ‘Tikili,’ has gone viral on social media globally. As young people, we also aim to enhance our industry with our creativity. I believe we should persist in doing good work, as that will be the driving force for our audience to appreciate our efforts. This process should continue until we reach the sky.

People also admire your physical fitness. How do you maintain that?

I work out every evening, following a very strict diet chart of my own. I consume 12 eggs a day, 6 during the day and 6 in the evening. Additionally, I eat 100 gm of paneer and 250 gm of chicken daily. My trainer, Prashant Das, guides me with this regimen.

Who are the popular dancers you follow or get inspired from?

I observe the dances of most well-known dancers and various dance forms, but I particularly enjoy and follow the dances I learn on the sets or during workshops for my music videos. I always strive to upgrade myself and my work. So, in every song, not only myself but my entire team thinks about how we can present our projects more creatively and differently.

Do you notice any changes in your life after being popular?

I used to ask people about their day, but now they are curiously asking me about my upcoming projects and encouraging me a lot. The feeling of being noticed and loved is indescribable. I've heard that in certain areas, people don’t like it when someone rises and they start pulling their leg. However, I'm proud to say that I live in such an area where everybody is happy with my success, celebrating it, and encouraging me every day. Whenever I have a new release, they immediately start spreading the word through different social media handles and status updates. With their love and blessings, I no longer take any pocket money from my family; I am able to take care of my own expenses now.

Who is your greatest support in your family, with whom you share every secret?

Although all my family members are very cool and supportive, my mom is my greatest support. I can share anything with her. Sometimes, my dad gets worried when I have to travel far for shoots, but my mom assures him that nothing will happen, and that motivates me a lot. Family support is essential for talents to flourish. Along with studies, families should also encourage their kids to pursue extracurricular activities they are interested in or excel at.

While I may not have earned much money, I am very happy with the respect I have gained for myself, my family, and my locality. I aspire to open my own Animation and VFX studio here in Odisha. In addition to continuing dancing and acting, I also want to explore new-generation Sambalpuri films by being involved in story direction and every single aspect of filmmaking.