#KetchupTalks: Pujarini Pradhan, the homemaker who changed how internet listens!

Showing up as herself, Pujarini Pradhan is expanding the online space and making room for more noteworthy stories and impactful voices.

No matter how open-minded and distinguished we think we are, it takes one Reel or a post for us to realise the innate prejudice that exists in us. People who are constantly fed visual content that we have come to recognise as the joys of life are based on a one-sided view of the world. We think and come to believe that this space, which feels like an extension of the modern world, is supposed to be a certain way. However, we love it when creators like Pujarini Pradhan break this bubble. 

A homemaker from a small place called East Midnapore, Pujarini grew to be recognised as a creator who shattered the internet’s view of what a content creator should look like. Appearing as her regular self, Puja is often seen filming her videos while attending to her daily chores, with a background that would not be considered an ideal ‘aesthetic’ on the internet. She is resilient, persistent and most importantly, well-informed on the topics she feels like sharing her opinions on.

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What is her content that got the internet excited, you ask? Well, it is a mix of everything that goes beyond the typical “day in the life” format. From cultural commentary to sharing a beautiful aspect of her life to sharing the impact international cinema had on her, everyone gets a piece of her thoughts. “When my videos went viral, I least expected it. I used to mostly post videos with my son. But I had these thoughts which I was scared to post publically but one day I recorded something while cooking and shared it on a trial reel. This platform thought this was a good idea. This platform actually made me confident. Now I'm sharing stories without fear. Without being shamed. This platform also showed me a path to earning a little bit of money. I can say I'm quietly independent now, even earning 5000 a month is enough for me.”

One noticeable aspect of her page is her choice to communicate in English. As an English graduate and someone who loves the language, Puja talks about her reasons for communicating in English before her videos went viral. "I was out of touch for a long time, but my love for it was always there. But most importantly, I was scared to post anything in Bengali because what if it reach to my village by chance. So I choose to speak in English. They still don't know that I make videos online. Another reason I always wanted to share my videos with a larger audience. Now I have an audience which is beyond my state and my country."

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The reason Pujarini stands out is not just her subversive and transformative thoughts that make you question the system we grew up in, but also how she presents herself to the people. She ticks every box that would traditionally evoke prejudice about her content. However, Pujarini dismantles these ideas with her perspective that challenges deeply held beliefs. There are often assumptions made about creators who don’t come from major cities; as someone from a village herself, she has not shied away from highlighting the ones she has encountered. "When my videos went viral, most people thought I was illiterate, and my husband is illiterate. But I'm a graduate, and my husband has more degrees than mine; it's just the situation that we don't have any work here." She also pointed out that it is still surprising to many people that, as a simple housewife, she loves watching foreign movies, reading books, and talking about social issues. "Yes, everyone isn't like this here. So I can't say they are absolutely wrong, but I hate it when they judge me because of the background they see behind me."

Being on social media is not something that everyone manages to nail, especially when there is constant competition, instant responses and people waiting to call people out. But as a fan of always being informed and of finding ways to explore her own worldview through mediums that entertain and educate her, there is a lot in her everyday life that inspires her content. "The gossip I hear every day from old women, the stories I hear of my village people, these things are the content for me. I share things from my own experience, and I think people resonate with most. And these things are all connected to the women suffering. I want mostly women to learn the fact that they need to be independent to live a free life, no matter what promises people do they shouldn't compromise their freedom for anything."

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Being part of an industry that has become a legit career for many, her interactions with fellow content creators have been limited, but she doesn't take them for granted. "I talked to one or two creators; the experience is different every time. I talked to them regarding how they earn money because this is a new thing for me, and there is no one to help me. Some people are starting business and some say they don't get a single brand deal. So this is the only experience I have with creators." But as a person who is finding her footing and trying to navigate through this space, she has become accustomed to taking both appreciation and criticism. "I don't get much time to interact with comments. I reply to good comments by saying thank you and I ignore bad comments because it's mostly about my appearance, so it's better to avoid negativity."

Pujarini Pradhan reminds us that the internet doesn’t need more polish, it needs more truth. In choosing to show up as herself, she forces us to confront not just our idea of content, but our idea of who gets to be heard.