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The voice and vibes of Orissa

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Movie Moghul Prashant Nanda’s Thukul adds originality to Ollywood
By Sukant Rout After “Jianta Bhuta,” Ollywood’s movie mughul Prashant Nanda has given the Odia film lovers another original stuff in the shape of Thukul. Based on a triangular love story, the film has Babusan and Archita in lead roles. Mr. Nanda, known for identifying talents from the crowd and catapulting them to the pinnacle of success, has introduced Prakriti Mishra, daughter of music director Manmath Mishra, in the film. Produced by Akshay Parija’s Creative Arts, the movie has seen Prashant Nanda accomplishing a lot of activities in segments like script-writing, dialogue, lyrics and music. The cast crew, among others, include Kuna Tripathy, Sritam Das, Pupider, Ilu Banerjee, Aparajita Mohanty, Minaketan and Samresh. Noted Odissi dancer Meera Das has for the first time tried her hands in choreography in the film. Shot in Muscat, Dubai and some attractive locations in Odisha. Thukul is all set to be a trend-setter for aspiring producers who want to take a plunge to roll out original products.
Praise rains for Barsha, new experience for Anubhav
By Nalini Sahu Ollywood’s hot pair Anubhav Mohanty and Barsha are in cloud nine these days. After grand success of “Balunga Toka,” the top artistes have once again gifted their fans yet another treat through “Something Something.” Produced in Bishnupriya Art and Graphics, Anubhav Mohanty’s home production, - the movie has been an instant hit since its release. Movie buffs were found making a beeline before cinema halls to get a ticket. The star was seen encouraging his fans by hopping from one cinema hall to another on the day the film was released. “Since it is produced by our home production, I was carrying double responsibilities – to continue my worth as expected by my fans and make the overall project a success. It was completely a fantastic and new experience,” says Anubhav. For the sweet siren Barsha, it was yet another opportunity to strike a chord with her admirers with new flick in the New Year. “I am delighted that they chose me to take me in their first film. I have tried to deliver the best. However, audience is the best judge,” she signs off. Directed by the versatile Sudhakar Basant, the cast crew includes Harihar Mohapatra, Banku, Trupti, Muna and Saroj.
Originality earns Swayamsiddha signature of honour
By Sukant Rout Swayamsiddha, which swept most of the most of the State Film Award 2010, has proved scripts based on real life stories appeal more to sense and sensibilities of both the judges and audience as well. Produced by engineer Prabhat Ranjan Mallick, the Siddhant Mohapatra flick on Maoist insurgency bagged the best feature film, best director (Sudhanshu Sahoo) and special jury award (Siddhant Mohapatra). Sanjib Mohapatra got the best photographer award, while best art director award went to Budha Moharana. Ajay has been adjudged as best sound recordist while eminent music direct Swarup Nayak got best lyrics for track Jadi Ei Pruthibire Samayara… in the same movie. Directed by Sudhanshu Sahoo, the film explores life of the suppressed souls in the neglected land joining Maoist forum for their basic rights and privileges. Swayamsiddha, after emerging unscathed out of the allegation and getting huge appreciation in Odisha, have already made its foray into the Bengali movie market.Sidhanta, Aparajita, Sunil Kumar, Yukta, Pradyumna Lenka, yusmanta, Runu, Pintu Nanda, Sweta Acharya, Anita Das and Niharika star in this film that teases out the root and resolution of a burning issue.Yukta is a Bengali actress with much credentials in Bengali filmdom. Swarup Nayak has made the sequence songs for the film while T. Sauri,Bapi and Tapu Mishra have lent their voices. The Jayadev Award for lifetime achievement went to cinematographer-director Apurba Kishore Bir. Other film awardees include best female playback singer Ira Mohanty, best music director Abhijit Mohanty and best child artist Master Ankit.

Balunga Toka steals the show in Dussehra Puja fever, vibrating city, crowded streets-markets-shops, up-roaring festive mood and holidays - with these, if we mix multicolored apparels, the south-flavored sound of dholoaks, witty humour, roaring laughter, some pathos and superstar Anubhab Mohanty and Barsa's magic Jodi as toping, then the result will be long queues of oriya cinema lovers outside the cinema halls. Yes, the movie market has taken up as a storm as the much awaited movie of the puja season "Balunga Toka" released this Sunday. The wait is proved fruity as the film has delivered what it has promised - loads and loads of entertainment, masala, fun, laughter, drama, emotional outbursts, with soulful melodies of love and life. Oscar Movies's second production "Balunga Toka" has almost all the ingredients to enthrall the audience in the hall. Sudhakara Basant, director of Balunga Toka, has not only added a style and unique flavor in the song sequences and choreography, but also he added a touch of romantic sensitivity, humor, little realistic drama which will surely attract and draw the audience to theatres and give a jolting competition to the other movies of the season. The film, Balunga Toka starts with a bang as all the balungas are introduced. The claps, the whistles and the shouts in the hall guarantees, how popular and stylistic opening make the audience jump and dance with sheer joy which proves to be a paisa vasool from the very start. Balunga Toka is a simple story of some balungas or unemployed students who has been headache of the colony they are living, the society they are facing. Chiku(Anubhav) is a final year commerce student who is the leader of this balunga gang. The gang has Babli (Papu Pampam) and others including really huge fat boy called Thin, as chiku's friends. From the very start, these loafers has presented a distinct impression about themselves by doing all the indecent things which generally considered as bad. Chiku's father(Minaketana) is very hopeless about Chiku and continuously nagging him as the film progreses. Some days after, a new tenant has arrived at the apartment in which Chiku family residing. Chiku has fallen in love with the tenant's educated and cultured daughter Preeti(Barsa Priyadarshini). The story then progresses with the activities Chiku doing to impress his dream fairy Preeti. But to add to more tension Preeti is already engaged with a boy who is taking care of her family after his father underwent heavy loss in business. Liking a loafer like Chiku is out of question for Preeti. But gradually situations makes such a way, in which Preeti has fallen for Chiku. Here the movie takes twist as Preeti has made condition with Chiku to marry him ony if he succeeds in getting a job and do great in life. After much effort and a 'I love you' from Preeti, to father's dismay, Chiku finally succeds in getting a job. But things get more complicated rather than happier as Preeti's mother accidentally witnessed the warm and young romance of the couple. Here, the story marches towards the climax. Whether Chiku gets his fairy queen or not, and proves that a Balunga or loafer even has talent to succeed and do great in life, is a thing you will see when you enjoy the movie yourself. With the gigantic entertaining masala punch and some serious drama, Balunga Toka is expected to do well in the puja-cinema race. Crowd will surely enjoy this emotional roller-coaster ride to a great extent. Anubhab has done a tremendous job displaying multilayered character of Chiku. Doing comic, angry, romantic, sad act simultaneously, he has given a topnotch eccentric performance which is vital to his characterisation. Television comedy king Papu Pompam has displayed truly a matured acting skill which is unbelievable from an actor doing cinema for the first time. Barsa is as sweet and gorgeous as all the colorful sceneries in the movie. Her acting has improved dramatically from the last some of the movies and striking a perfect chemistry with Anubhav. Minaketana's role is highly realistic and praiseworthy as well. Nizam and Nirmal Nayak's beautiful lyrics and Abhijit Mazumdar's sweet and melodious rendering of music has really made the songs of the movie worth enjoying. The feet thumping title track is already a smash hit in the puja market and apart from that, the tu kie ki sapana pari is worth listening. All the song sequences are shot at varied beautifully dreamy scenic places which audience can watch with sheer excitement. Though slightly faulty sound mixing can be marked, as the well crafted dialogues are out of sync at times, it can be guessed the editing may be rushed with a target to release the film in the festive season. With the banging music, dance, humour, masala and fun, the movie will sure be a true money spinner in the boxoffice. With the presence of front line actors, mixture of comedy, action, romance, lovely music, Balunga Toka will go far ahead in the Puja ladhei. Courtsey-odiaone.com
The movie Chocolate as Savoury as Chocolates By Sikha Sashirekha "Chocolate” the word itself sounds eagerness not only among the children as well as the oldies. The desire for the chocolate is always high. Relax... Take it easy...... here we are talking about Falcon movies upcoming film ‘Chocolate’, to see not to eat.......... It’s a triangular love story between two girls falling in love with the same guy. And the journey of love, friendship and sacrifice ensues. The actors in the leading roles are Babushaan, Archita, Ankita, Mihir Das, Aparajita, Samresh & Pradyumna Lenka. When lovers reciprocate with each others, rarely they address by name, because they calls themselves in pet names flavoured with love. Like Bunty (Babushaan) uses chocolate for Jasmine (Archita). She is as savoury as chocolate and also adorable. Jasmine tries her best to help naughty Bunty to overhaul his all mischief. During this, a relationship blossoms between them. But the twist comes when Baby, the girl next door, feels the same emotion for Bunty... So an intense rivalry between the girls ensues....leaving the audience to guess who will emerge winner........?
Theme of friendship spins magic By Sikha Sashirekha Dost, Dosti, Dostana Yarana… these words are always work as casting spell in movies. And in coming puja festival audience are going to witness a film on ‘Dosti’ with two hunks of Oriya film industry Babushaan and Sabyasachi in leading role. “Dosti” is directed by young director Ashok Pati while it is produced by Bijay Kandoi.Besides family sentiments and comic relief, it gives more priority in friendship. It’s a buddy type movie.The other characters are played by Ushashi Mishra, Hari Mohapatra. And the female actors in leading role are Megha and Priya. Pintu Nanda is also playing an important role in the film.Under the banner of Bidisha Craft it will be the 8th movie. While Malay Mishra has composed the songs the dialogues are written by Chinmay Daspattnaik.Shooting of the songs will be done both in Orissa and out of the state, reveals producer Bijay Kandoi.On last puja while his production house has produced romantic movie “Deewana”. Lets the finger crossed , what magic is going to create in movie ‘Dosti’ by the young director Pati.

A Poem on Page of Purple Heart
By Sukant Rout

A heart on fire of love heeds no copyright rules while plagiarizing passion.

Secrets of a lover boy’s heart encrypted in lyrical lines, while waiting to be unwrapped in the next issue of a journal, is, surprisingly, brought out by another with a strange by-line.

Was the poem purloined?

The lover boy began hunting for the culprit. For nobody could bear to see anybody getting away with his sweet heart or sweet creations of his heart. Scouting places he came across a cute girl who now, lay claim on him as her paramour apart from his poem as her possession. Instead of being annoyed at the loss of ownership over the poem the boy exulted in finding his fairy-queen in the girl.

How could it happen? Fantasies turn facts and facts are counter-parts? How come a boy and girl, away from each other and unknown to each other, yet fancy fervently for each other?

Are lovers paired in heaven?

Anubhav, the teen-age heart-throb, and Barsha, Ollywood’s darling are essaying roles of lovebirds in this film that is being produced by Manjari Movies and presented by Eastern Media Entertainment Division. Bijay Mohanty, Mihir, Somesh are also in the cast of this film directed by Sudhakar Basant. While Malaya Mishra has penned the story and composed the music for it, Hara Barik has written the dialogue.

Ollywood ropes in Kashmira Shah for item song
By Subrat Pati

Famous Bollywood item queen, Kashmira Shah is now in Ollywood. She is
appearing in an item number 'Kiese Dakuchhi Kouthi Mote' for an upcoming Oriya feature film produced by Manjari Movies of Eastern Media Limited. Kashmira will be seen in a rapchik getup dancing to the tune of front-ranking music director Malaya Mishra. She will be dancing with dashing Anubhab Mohanty. Famous Ollywood singer Ira Mohanty has lent her voice for the item number 'Kanta lagi chiri gala lo chunira ghagara'.

In 1993 Kashmira won the 'Miss World University India' and won 'Miss Talent Award' in a national contest in South Korea. In 1995, she won the 'Miss Globe India' and was ranked in the top 5 of the Best National Costume awards. She did theatres too. Except expertise in dance (especially item numbers) she has also played important role in Hindi movies like 'Yes Boss', 'Pyar to Hona Hi Tha', 'Aakhen', 'Vaastav' and 'Jungle'. Her performance in item songs like 'Dilpe mat le yaar', 'Jawani se jung ye choli meri ab tang' and many others has made her fans crazy. Hosting famous reality shows like Nach Baliye and Big Boss is one among her numerous achievements.
Odia cine lovers are waiting to enjoy her performance in the upcoming movie.

Prem Weds Priya casts cool effect in hot summer
By Sukant Rout

Modern man may have been laden with plenty more of mundane materials, …thanks to the evolution in every branch of science and technology, but is, virtually, poor in possessing the pelf indispensable in life
.The expensive jewel we all, now-a-days, miss, is giggle and guffaw. We fail to remember any occasion in our lives when we have ever burst into hilarious laughter. Cheers, pals, let’s go hand in hand and watch “Prem weds Priya” running in theatres here and laugh all the way to the end. Under the banner Q and R film production, the romantic comedy “Prem Weds Priya” produced and directed by Umashankar has been released on May 6 with a Mumbai model Subena Singh in female lead. Besides, Ranu Pandey, Hari, Chakradhar Jena and Minaketan are essaying other roles The songs in the picture are composed by Premananda with dialogue by Nizam.

‘Ekalabya’ set to preach non-violence By Sukanta Rout

Non- violence is the majestic might with which one can even fight the mightiest. This is the concept the director Nilamani Sahoo constructs the film “Ekalabya” with.“Exit from the usual a boy-meets the girl trend in Odiya movie making, will, surely, catch the fancy of the buffs,” hopes the director in
this time of resurgence of Gandhism in the wake of the agitation of Anna Hazare.

A production of Darshan Music and Film , “Eklabya” of Gyanaranjan Priyadarshan ropes in Ajit Das, Ashrumochan ,Puspanjali, Pravati, Samaresh , Akshaya Bastia , Pintu Nanda, Minaketan Das, Hari, Ananta Mishra and Chakradhar Jena to essay the roles.

Based on a story penned by Jyotsna Mishra Priyadarshan, the film has dialogues by Dr Rajaniranjan , music by Bikas Sukla. Lyrics written by Nizam, Basanta Raj Samal , Dr Nirmal Nayak, Nigam Mishra, are lent voice by Bibhukishore , Kumar Bapi, Shricharan , Tapu Mishra, Sailabhama and Pami. The identity of the male and femal lead in the picture is kept in abeyance for the time being for reasons not assigned.

Tale of the Sahari Bahu

A tomboy turns a blushing bride

By Sukanta Rout

A city-bred girl is dragged out of her world of dating, flirting, partying against her will and thrown into a dark corner of country house by her beau with an unrequited love. Away from her naked life in the sizzling city she seethes under a veil, a precious jewel every Indian bride is proud of putting on. What follows thereafter….?

These are the loglines of the story of the film,”Sahari Bahu”, really an unconventional venture in an industry intoxicated with romances these days.

The film is produced under the banner of Veer Bajarangbali Production, Balasore by Bibhuti Bhusan Mahapatra and directed by well-known theatre director and a long time editor of film journal Madhav Parida who also enriched the screenplay with addition over the original by Nizam.

The film scheduled to be released during Dushara festivities has Biswambar Das as associate director, dialogue and song by Nizam, music by Avijit Mazumdar, dance by Kala Dhirum (Madras), fight by Kundu Taru and Raja.

It ropes in a great many stars from our domestic Ollywood as well as the neighboring Tollywood.
The seasoned artist like Bijay Mohanty, Ajit Das, Asit Pati, Anup Saha, Premaranjan Parida, Salil Mitra, Baby Barik, Samaj Pati, Puspa Panda, Dazzy, essay different roles. Suave and serious Akash is pitted against Amrita Chatterjee and Kalyani Mandal, both Bengali models.

The film has eight songs, a trend setting venture as films, now-a-days, are usually made with four or five songs.

The titillating factor about the film is that legendary Bijay Mohanty have lent his voice to a song along with James, Govinda, Mamata Sahoo, Pami, Sailabhama, Madhab. Dr Siba Rath and Binod Rathore, Babul Suprio, Srijit from Mumbai.

The original story is penned by its producer Bibhuti Bhusan Mohapatra.

A maverick’s journey to success
Meet director Choudhury Bikas Das
By Sukanta Rout

“Mote Jhuribuni Madhumalati” can well be translated into English as “I beg you

to stop bemoaning me, my beloved!”

Anybody who has ever chanced to behold the visualization of this number could not but keep bemoaning him. Him…the beau earnestly asks his beloved to go seek happiness elsewhere. Since he is blind, he could never bring himself to amuse a beautiful belle... nor does he want to see her youth and beauty wilt away in the absence of an eager admirer in his blindfold life.

This poignant story of parting is not so much told by lines of lyric, or by notes of singer as by body language of the actor. And the actor is no less than charismatic Choudhury Bikas Das, a maverick artist in movie world, a doyen of theatre directors.

To a question how it all began, he shines up, “I just cherish a family legacy passed on to me from generations joined...my uncle was an avid violinist...my grandfather was a theatre actor...my mother would, gladly, give me money if I ever insisted on buying a typical shirt with metal button, a possession every boy bragged about in those days and that I felt to wear as an actor in village theatre.”
The arduous road of the art world that seems to have no stop and that many dread to tread lest they should live livelong in hunger, titillated him as a preteen boy out of his village to his uncle’s home in the neighborhood and beyond. “In the run-up days to Raja festivities, during Durga Puja vacation and days before holy, my maternal uncle Er. Guruprasad Mohanty would arrive at our home and take me with him to his village to act as a child artist in the plays he directed for the entertainment of village people on these occasions,” he recounts delightedly.

The trips to his uncle’s home sitting on the carrier in the back or on the frame bar in the front of the bicycle that his uncle rode along a rough narrow country lane amid vast tracts of paddy fields, perhaps, whispered in his ear the first words of initiation into this austere world of theatrics and cinema. Since then he has never looked back while carving niches, one after another, - those are envy of every other people engaged in this ordeal.
He worked with theatre troupes like Nata of Dola Gobinda Rath, Rangamancha of Bijaya Mohanty, Nabika of Tapan Kanungo, Mukti Theatre of surya Mohanty and Rangamancha of Ajit Das after graduating from Sangeet Natak Mahabidyalaya and also assisted Nirad Mohapatra, Raju Mishra, Mohammed Mahousin, Biplab Roy Choudhry, Sabyasachi Mohapatra, Pankaj Pani for the films such as Janani, Jagahatare Pagha, Sahari Bagha, Mamata Mage Mula, Jor Jar Mulak Tar and Sagara Ganga.

Born to Dr Choudhry Surendra Nath Das and Suruchibala Das in 1960 in a nondescript village called Baranga in Jagatsinghpur district, Mr Das had his schooling in Utkal Hindu Bidyapitha and college education at Nayagarh College and SCS College, Puri. As a sophomore, he had good company of reputed Oriya playwright Harihar Mishra, and theatre director, educationist Prafulla Mohanty that helped him grow.

“My father took me on a tour to famous Rishi Valley Studio where I encountered Imtiaz Khan on the sets of Sarabi and happened to sea rotating stage while he was still in school. “It at least, consoles me that my father is not angry with me for being an actor instead of a doctor that he dreamed,” he reveals candidly.
He has acted in Hakim Baboo of Pranab Das, Nirbachan of Biplab Roy Choudhury, Tamashatire of Nirad Mohaparta, Jianta Saba of Apurba Bir and Prasanta Nanda, Sunya Purush, Kathantar, Matira Bandhan of Himanshu Khatua, E Kahani Nehin, and in a lot of mainstream movies and serials. He has also directed several serials like Panatakani, I Love You, Bapnaha Bapnar of Nirad Mohapatra, besides Oriya classic stories written by Tarunakanti Mishra, Faturananda, Gourahari Das for the production house owned by Nirad Mahapatra.

He has directed ,”Parimahal” an art house bilingual film for a Indo- Bangladeshi venture and his other commercial film,” Mote Bohu kari Nei Ja” is up for release. Now, he is busy in serializing legendary Kanhucharan’s Ka while dreams of sliming Manoj Das’s “Dhumarv Diganta.”

When asked why he maintains a low key profile, he shrewdly, evades answer. It is, perhaps, such roles written in a strip-tease bar like industry to pit him against them.

Ollywood set to regale audience with love, lyrics and passion

Announced to open in auditoriums in March with about sixty or seventy prints, a record number

"Mote Bohu Kari Neija", is being made with a mammoth budget of Rs 2.50 crore, also unheard of in Orissa. Produced by Jnana Ranjna Priyadarshan, this debut picture of Darshan Music is directed by Choudhary Bikas Das. It has been shot on 435 Arri 3 camera, first ever used in movie making here.
Seashore Films has already made its maiden foray into the movie making market with "Matira Bandhan", telling about tides and tribulations the potter community has to get on with to survive. Directed by Himansu Khatua, a recipient of national award, the film features Aparajita, Mihir Das, Anu Choudhary, Choudhary Bikas Das, Choudhary Jaya Prakash Dash, Pravu, Hadu and child artiste Aryan.
Sri Sai Cine Vision is going to pack up shooting of its cinema, "Puni Dekha Heba Aara janamare," shortly after a long tiring schedule spreading over past months. It is produced and directed by Ashok Mohanty of "Sakhi Rahiba Mo Sankha Sindura" fame. Boby Mishra, Sumeet Sethia, Pintu Nanda, Pruthwija, Rally Nanda, Madhusmita, Priyanka, Runu and Braja, crowd the cast. Prolific producer Anam Sahoo has really, many tricks up his sleeve. He as much pleases all by pron

ouncing making of five movies concurrently as he surprises by calling shots behind the camera. His directorial debut, "Mana Mora Prajapati" will hit the theatres soon.

Television Media 16's second stint "Anjali" is in the row to be released. It is produced by Mohan Sahoo and directed by cameraman-turned-director Biswa Bhuban Mahapatra.
"Sapanara Arapari Gaon" the fifth film of producer Niranjana Rana is going to be shot soon this month. Directed by Tapash Saragharia this movie has dialogues by Bijaya Mishra and music by Rabinarayan Nanda. The titillating title is a luscious line lifted from a lyric of legendary lyricist Debadas Chhotaray.

For Aakash, sky is not the limit

After his first foray into Oriya film industry through Kalinga Putra in 2006, he has swiftly graduated from a budding artist to a busy star. Now, this fair-skinned handsome actor is sharing his schedule with two films, ‘Sangam’ and ‘Asibu Kebe Saji Mo Rani’.

Q. What is the title of the film you are now busy shooting?

A. Asibu Kebe Saji Mo Rani

Q. Would you brief about its cast?

A. The film is being produced by Anurag Sahoo and Priti Bhatia from Mumbai and directed by Manoranjan Pal. Popular Oriya actors like Mihir Das, Raimohan, Bina Moharana, Braja Singh, Akshya Bastia, Jyoti and others. The film has roped in Mumbai starlet Khushi for the female lead.

Q. How did you begin your career in film?

A. When I was pursuing journalism and mass communication in Delhi, I was well into modeling. I was chosen as one among the five finalists for Mr and Miss Bollywood contest from the eastern zone organized by Sahara TV. I was the only candidate from Orissa and it as the turning point in my career. After completing law from Utkal University, I thought of doing something different instead of becoming a lawyer. I began acting on stage. As a member of Satabdira Kalakar, I acted in plays like ‘Ruddha Dwar’, ‘Baishi Pahacha’, etc.

Q. Name some of your films in which you have acted.

A. Kalinga Putra, Satyameba Jayate, Satru Sanghar, Subha Vivaha, Alo Mora Kandhei.
u
Q. Which is your best film till date as far as your acting is concerned?

A. ‘Aalo Mora Kandhei’. In the film, I have played two roles—the role of a lecturer and that of a lunatic.

Q. How do you understand acting?

A. Soul searching. I discard my own self and imbibe the soul of the character I play. Acting is impersonating.

Q. What do you fancy about our Oriya film industry?

A. There should be dramatic hike in budget. Fresh stories and flawless screenplays are the backbones of a film. Similarly there should be more and more theatres to help a film producer get back his money. Now there are only 120 halls, which is much less than the number of halls ten years ago.

Q. You are well settled in your career now. How do you see yourself in the coming years?

A. I act to amuse others. It is just a tiny part of a long agenda of social work. It pains me a lot when I find very few people knowing about our state. I must do something for my state.

Q. What would you like to tell your fans?

A. Let’s dare dream and labour to realize the dream. Hard work has no substitute.

Meet Orissa’s nightingale Ira Mohanty

Subrat Pati

Orissa rocks in tune with her honeyed song, ‘Mu to dream girl’. Rock or rap, Odissi or classical, bhajan or modern, she delivers it deftly. Meet Orissa’s nightingale, Ira Mohanty. A performer with panache, she pours passion into her performance that fixes her fans pirouetting in the dream domain. Born to be a singer, she sprang a surprise by singing at the tender age of two when a baby begins to babble. Madhulita Mohanty, popularly known as Ira Mohanty, is now a household name who astonishingly intoned without flaw the strains of ‘Hrudayara ei sunyataku’ at the tender age of four.

When the sole familiar female voice of Trupti Das went missing leaving behind a raucous monotony in the

ensemble of Oriya song and music in the late 1990s, a titillating timbre of an unusual kind possessed by this prolific singing bird is heard rippling through the void. Unlike others gradually graduating from album notes, she made her debut directly in a film entitled ‘Sakal Tirtha To Charane’ in 1996. Back and back, she went on singing in films like Mana Rahigala Tumari Thare (2000), Mo Kola To Jhulana (2003), Rakhi Bandhili Mo Rakhiba Mana (2003), Bahudibe Mo Jaga Balia (2004), O My Love (2006) and Tu Thile Mo Dara Kahaku (2010), besides many other films, devotional (bhajan) and modern albums.

She was born in Bhubaneswar. Her father, Jitendra Mohanty of Balakati in Khurda was working as a supervisor in the Orissa Assembly. Shuttling between Bhubaneswar and Balakati as a child she imbibed and embellished her aptitude earnestly. The advantage of being born at Balakati, the birthplace of legendary singer-composer Sangeet Sudhakar Balakrushna Dash as much inspired her as her uncle Sarat Rath and her mother Kalpana Mohanty, both of whom hailed from a musically inclined family.

She was fascinated by the sweet south Indian and Hindi songs while she was a student at Subhadra Mahtab Girls’ High School in Bhubaneswar. She could, in those days, ape all Bollywood singers like Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhonsle, Subha Mudgal and other legends, and inspire awe and admiration among her friends. This love for songs rendered by the stalwarts pulled her to perform on stage which has always proved mesmerizing with fresh nuances from her delivery and disposition.

When she joined BJB College in Bhubaneswar for doing +2, she took music as one of her combinations. This brought her in close contact with her music teacher Guru Sri Chittaranjan Pani, a front-ranking exponent of Odissi and classical music.

The perfect musical chemistry with noted composer Malaya Mishra bought the best out of her, although she has sung compositions of almost all eminent music directors of Orissa.

She has won innumerable awards in her singing career spanning a little more than a decade. Besides being honoured by Zee TV Saregama, she has bagged the prestigious Cine Critic Association Award, Chalachitra Jagat Samman and Banichitra Samman several times, besides innumerable awards for her inimitable singing. She has also been bestowed with OMPTWA Award, ETV Best Playback Singer Award 2010, Taranga Cine Award 2010 and many other prestigious awards.

Aalo Mora Kandhei was challenging role: Archita Charming tomboy or blusing belle, the forte of this young artiste is really prolific. Oriya actress Archita in a tete-a-tete with Subrat Pati Q: Would you kindly tell about the movie you lately acted in? A: ‘Aalo Mora Kandhei’. It is now running in theatres successfully. Q: What are the highlights of this movie to attract the audience? A: It has a strong storyline …family story with a lot of sentiments. It must and surely catch the fancy of the audience. Q: Tell about your character in it. A: I play the role of an advocate, a very well-known and professional person. It is a challenging role in my career. Q: What was your experience during shooting of this film? A: Initially I was terribly afraid of it. I had no experience of a lawyer’s job. They have a total different disposition I am unfamiliar with. There was a long dialogue running pages. I had to get it by heart. It was also fun to beat Mihir and Siddhant, my co-artists with witty arguments in the made-up court room. Q: ‘Aalo Mora Kandhei’ is one of the four films released in this Rajo festival. Will your film fair well financially? A: More films releasing on one occasion is certainly a good sign for our Oriya film industry. The number does not matter, only excellence counts. All these films are well advanced technically. Q: How do you land a role in film? A: I was well into modeling before I acted in my first film, ‘Oh, My Love’ in 2005. Q: Who are your favourite stars? A: Shahrukh Khan, Kajol, Kareena Kapoor, Anubhav, Barsha, Priya. Q: Who do you love to act with? A: (She ruminates) I am very comfortable with Anubhav and Sabyasachi. I feel at ease with Akash also. Q: What would you have been, were you not a film actress? A: I am doing B Tech now. After one year, I will be an engineer. Q: As the reigning queen of the Oriya film industry, what is your message to your fans? A: Many thanks for your commendation. My message to my fans, “Watch my film, Aalo Mora Kandhei”.
THE IDEAL ACTRESS: Frontline Oriya actress Ushasi Mishra is a busy person today. Apart from her regular and routine schedules in the Ollywood, she has been undertaking a lot of social welfare programmes for women and weaker sections of the society. Keep it up Ushasi! God will certainly bless you!
Barsha Priyadarshini and Budhaditya in Balunkeswar Films Private Limited’s Tu Thile Mo Dar Kahaku. Tu Thile Mora Dar Kahaku is about self-less love and sacrifice. It also glorifies the power of divinity and spiritualism to overcome injustice and evils. The starcast – among others – includes Bijay Mohanty, Mahasweta Ray, Rali Nanda, Ajit Mishra, Raimohan Parida, Hari, Pradyumna Lenka, Salil Mitra, Milan, Babu Pradhan, Priya and Namrata Das. Directed by Dilip Panda, the film promises to be yet another hit from Balunkeswar Films with music director Malaya Nayak giving his best with ace singers Ira Mohanty, Udit Narayan, Mohammad Aziz and Ujjal.
I am an activist Sidhanta Mahapatra With more than 100 odd films in Oriya films and 30 films in different languages (Bhojpuri, Hindi, Bengali, Telugu and Bangladesi) in 17 years, actor Sidhanta Mahapatra commonly known as Muna needs no introduction. Eyebrows were raised when Muna was against Congress heavyweight and former Union minister Chandrasekhar Sahoo as the BJD candidate for the Berhampur Lok Sabha segment. But this maverick actor, who is “just-two-month-old” in politics – sprang a surprise by winning the seat. In a face to face interview with Baboo Panda, Sidhanta speaks his mind on politics and future plans. Q. You are an actor. Why did you join politics? Ans: I never intended to join politics although I have been a political person. When I was acting, I was with the people and today also I am with the people. Yesterday people liked me and today they also like me.
When Naveen babu and Pyari babu wanted me to contest election, I was bit nervous. I can’t speak political language. My language is that of an activist. But they were adamant. They convinced me that I should take up the cause of Orissa in the Parliament. Q. How difficult was the contest? Ans: Very difficult. But from the day I filled nomination papers, I was determined that I will never belie the hope and faith Naveen Babu and Pyari Babu have reposed on me. But frankly speaking the fight was very interesting. My opponent Chandrasekhar Sahoo of Congress was a Central minister and working president of the party. I was slandered left and right. Cock-and-bull stories about me were circulated in the constituency. But God is there and the people rejected Congress. Q. What will be your priorities? Ans: As you know Ganjam is worst affected by AIDS. Special care will be taken to check this. Apart from this, care will be taken for improving communication facility. There is acute shortage of ground water in my constituency. Steps will be take to solve this problem. Apart from all these development of irrigation, education will be taken care of. Q.Are you going to leave cinema? Ans: No. No.
Actress Priya (left) with co-star Sabyasachi	Priya - A pure, perfect actress By Debasmista Biswal & Nibedita Mohanty Priyadarshini Choudhury popularly known as Priya is an upcoming actress of Oriya Cinema. She possesses everything that a winner requires. A fair amount talent, an attractive face and a breath taking figure. A perfect combination of beauty and talent, her mission in life is to be a news-reader in NDTV and open a play school.
Daughter of a state government officer, Priya made an entry into the Ollywood by bagging the lead role in the super hit Oriya Cinema Dream Girl. So far she has anchored the Sangeeta Suravi and Mitatia Geetatia programme for ETV Oriya besides Hip Hip Hure for OTV and Apanaka Pasanda programme for ETV. She has also anchored programmes in All India Radio. Negotiation is going on for a bilingual (Bengali-Oriya) feature film, said the 20-year-old actress. Priya gives all credit for success to her parents who gave great support in pursuing her interest. She exudes confidence that she would one day definitely make it big in the world of Oriya Cinema."I love to portray romantic scene," she says. Commenting on the deteriorating quality of Oriya cinema, Priya is of the opinion that we are distancing ourselves from reality, which gives a bad signal. A complete vegetarian, Priya loves reading Shakesphere's novels, wear kurta-pyjama and have candlelight dinner.

Oriya girl Nandita etches history in direction
By R.N. Gochhayat

Oriya girl Nandita Das' much talked about directorial debut Firaaq is releasing all over India on the 20th of March 2009. The film has had an overwhelming response from both, audiences and critics in festivals across the world.

Firaaq had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and since then has been to several acclaimed festivals across the world.

Firaaq is a work of fiction, based on a thousand true stories and is set a month after the Gujarat carnage in 2002. It is an ensemble film that interweaves multiple stories over a 24 hour period, as the characters from different strata of society, grapple with the lingering effects of violence. The film traces the emotional journeys of ordinary people- some who were victims, some perpetrators and some who chose to watch

The film's stellar cast includes Naseeruddin Shah, Raghubir Yadav, Paresh Rawal, Deepti Naval, Sanjay Suri, Tisca Chopra, Shahana Goswami and Nowaz. Firaaq is an Urdu word that means both separation and quest. Like this courageous film, the word acknowledges divisions while pointing a way forward to hope. The film got a good review in the leading USA newspaper The Washington Post. The IVT presents the review in its original form for the Indian readers.