"Odrastao sam u najsiromašnijoj ulici u Kruševcu" Ovako izgleda Čkaljina bista ispred njegove rodne kuće u Kruševcu, samo je jednom govorio o najvećoj rani

January 27, 2026

TL;DR

Miodrag Petrović Čkalja was born 102 years ago in Kruševac on World Joke Day.
He chose comedy to bring joy and smiles to people struggling with hardship.
Čkalja grew up in extreme poverty in Kruševac's Balšićeva street.
He aspired to provide joy to all people in the country, not just his neighbors.
He faced criticism and prejudice for being a comedian rather than a dramatic actor.
Čkalja starred in popular Serbian series like 'Servisna stanica' and 'Kamiondžije', and films such as 'Orlovi rano lete'.
He felt that actors from Belgrade had more opportunities, while he had to fight for his place.
His greatest reward was the laughter of the audience, which he valued more than any critic's review.
He chose to stay true to his comedic path rather than pursuing dramatic roles for praise.
Čkalja saw himself as a source of joy for the nation, a performer by whom people would remember actors.
He retired from public life in his later years and passed away in Belgrade in 2003.
A monument was erected in his honor in Kruševac in 2005, and a street in Belgrade was named after him in 2006.

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