The Odia entertainment industry witnessed a rollercoaster ride in 2024, with moments of glory, controversy, and growth. From achieving international recognition to dealing with controversies, the Odia cine industry, in particular, experienced it all. Despite the challenges, Odia cinema thrived, entertaining audiences and pushing boundaries. Here’s a roundup of the significant events that shaped the industry in 2024, highlighting the triumphs, setbacks, and trends that defined the year.
Nanda Master’nka Chatasali Shines At Cannes
One of the most significant achievements of the Odia film industry in 2024 was the screening of the trailer of Nanda Master nka Chatasali at the prestigious 77th Cannes Film Festival. Held at the Bharat Pavilion, this milestone marked a proud moment for Odia cinema. The film, produced by Abhay Pati and directed by Pranab Kumar Aich, tells the inspiring story of Nanda Prusty, a Padma Shri awardee, and his dedication to education.
The film portrays him as an ambassador of change and a saviour of our culture. He selflessly provided free education for 70 years to children of three generations of his village.
Nanda was a ‘chatasali’ teacher from a remote village named Kantira, under the Sukinda block in Jajpur district. He shot to fame after receiving a Padmashri from the President of India.
This international recognition highlighted the growing global presence of Odia films and paved the way for future collaborations and opportunities.
Odia Film Daman Receives National Acclaim
The Odia film Daman won the National Film Award for Best Odia Film in 2022 at the 70th National Film Awards. Directed by Vishal Mourya and Debi Prasad Lenka, the film was later dubbed and released in Hindi nationwide. The film received widespread acclaim and was tax-free by the Odisha government. To be honest, Daman brought Odia cinema back into the spotlight at the national level, grabbing the attention of audiences and critics alike. The film also became the highest-grossing Odia film, giving actor Babushan a new identity.
Odisha State Film Awards Presented After Five-Year Hiatus
After a hiatus of almost five years, the Odisha State Film Awards were presented this year, with awards for three consecutive years – 2020, 2021, and 2022.
For 2020, the awards were presented to Sahid Raghu Sardar for Best Film, Rakesh Samal for Best Director for Romeo Raja, Debashish Patra and Amalan Das for Best Actor for Sahid Raghu Sardar and Romeo Raja respectively, and Kavya Kiran Shukla for Best Actress for Sahid Raghu Sardar.
The 2021 awards were given to Pratikshya and Dalchini for Best Film, Suresh Pattnaik for Best Director for Trushna, Dipanwit Dashmohapatra and Ankit Kumar for Best Actor for Pratikshya and Bhikari respectively, and Suryamayee Mohapatra for Best Actress for Dalchini.
The 2022 awards were presented to Daman for Best Film, Sudhanshu Mohan Sahoo for Best Director for Mayabini, Babushan Mohanty for Best Actor for Daman, and Lipika Mudra Mishra for Best Actress for Baura Hatabaksa.
Additionally, the Lifetime Achievement Award was conferred upon Ananta Mahapatra for 2020, Srinibas Mahapatra for 2021, and Jayiram Samal for 2022 in recognition of their outstanding contributions to Odia cinema.
Karma Brings Anubhav Mohanty Back Into The Spotlight
The recently released Odia film Karma has shaken off several stereotypes plaguing the Odia film industry. One of its most significant achievements is reviving the career of Anubhav Mohanty, once the undisputed superstar of Odia cinema.
Mohanty’s career had been marred by controversies, his foray into politics, and personal issues, which left him with little time to focus on films. Consequently, most of his films failed to impress at the box office and generate meaningful discussions. However, with Karma, Mohanty seems to have got a new lease on life. The film’s success has not only boosted his career but also brought him back into the spotlight.
It’s worth noting that Mohanty was once known for his Midas touch, where every film he touched turned to gold. Though he has acted in several films in recent years, none of them have been able to replicate his past success or generate significant buzz. The arrival of Karma has changed that. The film’s success has breathed new life into Mohanty’s career, and it will be interesting to see how he capitalizes on this momentum.
Manoj Mishra At The Centre Of Controversies
The Odia film industry witnessed a lot of controversy in 2024, with most of the attention focused on the feud between actor Manoj Mishra and his opponents. The conflict started with a heated exchange on social media, with Manoj targeting actor Anubhav Mohanty. The situation escalated, with both sides trading insults and allegations. Manoj’s opponents, including producers and directors, boycotted him and refused to work with him. The controversy also led to some lesser-known individuals getting attention for their involvement.
The controversy surrounding Manoj also seemed to have helped him get a Congress ticket to contest the Balangir Lok Sabha seat, although he lost the election.
Manoj Mishra again hogged headlines towards the end of the year for the wrong reasons. One of the most notable incidents was a physical altercation between Mishra and director Bobby Islam outside the Bhubaneswar DCP office. The fight, which was caught on video and went viral, occurred during a meeting to resolve a dispute.
Crackdown on obscene Jatra Performances
One of the significant incidents in 2024 was the crackdown on vulgarity in Odia Jatra performances. The state government took stern action against explicit content, issuing a directive banning nude dances and double-meaning dialogues. This move came after several complaints, including a controversy involving Jatra actress Rani Panda. Taking stern action against vulgarity, the current BJP-led government made it clear that in case of violation, necessary action will be taken against jatra artistes. The culture and Odia language department issued a letter to all superintendents of police (SPs).