Miodrag Petrović - Čkalja | Origin of Street Names

Miodrag Petrović - Čkalja (1924 - 2003) was one of the greatest Serbian and Yugoslav actors in history, an unrivaled comedian and improviser whose legendary lines are still as popular today as they were 40 or 50 years ago when they were created.

It is a curiosity that Čkalja was born on April 1, on the World Day of Jokes, for which he would literally become synonymous in the ex-Yugoslav region throughout his life. What makes Čkalja even greater is the fact that he became such an acting legend without ever stepping foot into the Academy of Dramatic Arts. At least not as its student.

Miodrag Petrović was born in Kruševac, where he completed elementary school and high school. After the end of World War II, Čkalja's parents sent him to Belgrade to study veterinary medicine, which he never completed due to poverty. It could be said that this was perhaps a fortunate misfortune because if he had, audiences throughout Yugoslavia would have certainly been deprived of an exceptional interpreter and entertainer.

As an amateur actor, Čkalja entered the big stage through small doors, during his studies, through engagements in cultural and artistic societies and drama sections. However, his talent was more than evident, and already in 1951, he became a member of the Humoristic Theater (today's Theater at Terazije), where he remained for more than two and a half decades.

Nevertheless, Čkalja achieved his greatest roles and cult status through television movies and series, including "Servisna stanica" (Service Station), "Ljubav na seoski način" (Love in a Rural Way), the legendary "Kamiondžije" (Truckers), "Vruć vetar" (Hot Wind), "Bolji život" (A Better Life), "Put oko sveta" (Around the World), "Orlovi rano lete" (Eagles Fly Early), and many other works.

Among numerous titles, the film series "Kamiondžije" (along with all its sequels), in which he co-starred with the equally legendary Pavle Vuisić, probably stands out as the pinnacle of Čkalja's acting career, at least as judged by the audience.

During that period, there is an interesting anecdote about the relationship between the two actors. Namely, for years, stories circulated in public that "Paja" and "Jare" didn't get along in their private lives. However, when the cameras started rolling, both being great professionals as they were, allegedly put aside all their differences and delivered exceptional performances in the roles of best friends. This truly sounds unbelievable and evokes admiration for the character and professionalism of both, but the reality is somewhat "milder" - Paja and Čkalja were, in fact, completely different individuals with nothing connecting them in their personal lives. They didn't socialize, but there was a tremendous mutual respect between them.

Although apolitical (his father swore him not to engage in politics when he saw him off to college), Čkalja didn't hide his disagreement with the politics of the ruling authorities throughout the 1990s. Being in disfavor with the government that largely controlled the country's cultural life, Čkalja spent his old age and passed away in illness and poverty.

Remaining modest even in the most glorious days of his career, Čkalja didn't want to be buried in the Alley of Distinguished Citizens at the New Cemetery but among ordinary people.

Memorial plaques in memory of the great comedian can be found today in Belgrade and Kruševac, and Čkalja's name is given to several streets in cities and villages across Serbia.