Page 80 - Mousumi: Unbelievable Transformation

Watching a musician sing is more appealing than watching a movie because you
can see the characters in real-time and the best part is musicals are more
memorable than regular plays, because of their smash hits. Not to mention that
watching the stage manipulations for transitions between scenes is always a treat.
It’s a perfect amalgamation of all the talents I possess and fulfils my
requirements for a satisfying career. I have been gifted with the talents in singing,
dancing and acting departments, thus making this career a perfect fit for me.
Unfortunately, the market for musicals isn’t main-stream in India yet,
but it’s making progress. Casting auditions are also highly competitive with so
many aspiring actors, singers and dancers. Additionally, the theatre industry
involves wearing different looks and costumes, a lot many of which may even be
unhealthy for a person both physically and mentally. Being a coloured women, it
is difficult for a person like me to fit roles in plays because of the obsession of
the industry with fair toned skin.

] The minimum wage is approximately 82,000 rupees a week (depending
on demand), which is considerably less than the money earned by a lawyer. Time
and resources are also spent on training and rehearsals. A 7-day work-week with
a minimum of 15 hours a day is also not for the weak-hearted, making it a
demanding job that can tire one easily. The effort-pay balance isn’t the best, but
that is the struggle of an artist which makes this profession attractive to me.
Being a musical actress will most definitely be a challenge, but I get to keep my
childish wonder alive. At the same time, I masquerade in different characters that
can increasingly become more complex with just a flick of a habit. Looking in
the mirror each time to see a different person will be a spontaneous ride and will
keep monotony out of my life. There is a sense of empowerment when you
portray a character, and you feel like you’re expanding your sense of self to
accommodate traits, feelings and words you would have never known. It is a
means of expressing yourself. An additional benefit is that sense of
accomplishment which comes when people give their standing ovation to you.
That feeling of being seen truly cannot be replaced and makes it an attractive
career option for me.
Yes, being a broadway actor will be beyond tiring. Still, even if my
energy is zapped out by the end of the day, I would be satisfied with the work
rather than being bored to death in a cubicle for 7 hours a day in an alternate
timeline.

Miraya Borah
An Artist

♦♦Career Mantra♦♦ Page 79