Hits and misses of Ollywood in 2017

Bhubaneswar: With 2017 almost bidding farewell, another year has flown by in Ollywood, which marked 81 years of its inception. The year weathered the ups and downs with hits and misses, peppered with controversies here and there.

Odisha Sun Times looks at the year that has been:

Releases

With 30-odd Odia movies released this year, Odisha film industry has had an event-filled 12 months. Beginning with the much-hyped Siddhant Mohapatra starrer Godfather, the industry saw some power-packed performances by leading actors of the industry. While Babusan’s Sister Sridevi and Anubhav’s Abhaya tussled for eyeballs during Raja, three megastarrer Odia films clashed at the box office during Dussehra this year, namely Anubhav’s Kabula Barabula, Arindam’s Shiva Not Out and Babusan’s Hero No. 1.

Ollywood insiders revealed that movies casting Babusan and Anubhav make a cut above rest as far as the cash register is concerned. While the actor-turned-politician’s movies have a good opening, the chocolate boy of Ollywood makes moolah throughout the screening duration. Similarly, a few movies are screened for just a day and sometimes for a single show only.

The movies released this year in Ollywood are: Godfather, Nijhum Ratira Sathi, Dil Diwana Heigala, Tumaku Dekhila Pare, Dil Ka Raja, Katha Deithili Matha Chuin, The End, Aakhi Kholile Tu Hi Tu, Sita Rama nka Bahaghare Kali Jugare, Tu Mo Love Story, Tapori, Tike Khara Tike Chaai, Bhakta O Bhagaban, Tulasi Apa, Mitha Mitha, Sister Sridevi, Abhaya, Romeo Juliet, Suna Pila Tike Screw Dhila, Katha Nuhe Ae Katha, Just Mohabbat, Sapana Ra Pathe Pathe, Mu Khanti Odia Jhia, Bhairav, Badmas Toka, Hero No.1, Shiva Not Out, Kabula Barabula, Tu Mo Hero, Bajrangi, Mu Gote Dusta Pila, To Premare Padila Pare, Tike Anadi Pura Khiladi, Jagannath Dham Puri and Luv U Jessica.

Controversies

Ollywood had its fair share of controversies this year and some major headliners were:

1. Rumour mills were abuzz with the news of budding romance between superstar Anubhav and his co-star Elina. Anubhav’s wife Varsha, was grilled in interviews by the media about their marital troubles to which she responded to be mere gossip. She later took to social media to state that their relationship was as strong as a rock.

2. Actor Buddhaditya Mohanty landed in a major controversy as a girl accused him of sending “filthy messages” to her on Facebook after she commented on his post regarding Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra’s dressing sense during her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Berlin.

3. A youth had posted a photo on Facebook mentioning that Jairam Samal had passed away which left thousands of his fans and several artists of Odia film and television industry in shock. It later came to fore that the post was a rumour after some mediapersons and artists enquired about Samal and came to know that he is alive. The youth later apologised to Samal.

4. Actor Anupam Panda was arrested and forwarded to court on charges of defaming and intimidating his alleged ex-girlfriend on social networking site.

5. 28th State Film Awards were not spared as eminent actor Mahasweta Ray who won the best supporting actor for Dele Dhara Katha Sare expressed displeasure over the judgement because she felt her role in Chini, was far more deserving from all aspects.

Awards and recognition

1. Popular actor Sabyasachi Mohapatra was named ambassador for Blind Cricket in Odisha.

2. Filmmakers Nila Madhab Panda and Lipika Singh Darai, hailing from Odisha, bagged National Film Awards this year.

3. Odisha Film Producers Association (OFPA) felicitated veteran actor Uttam Mohanty with Lifetime Achievement Award and gave awards in 34 categories to the artists and technicians for performances and contributions to Odia cinema.

4. Similarly, Odisha State Film Awards were conferred upon in 27 categories by the Department of Culture of the Government of Odisha, where legendary singer Pranab Patnaik received the prestigious Jayadev Puraskar, lifetime achievement award for contribution to the Odia film industry.

5. Furthermore, veteran Ollywood actress Aparajita Mohanty received 14th Swadist Bioscope Award for her contribution to Odia film industry for the past 35 years.

Obituary

Celebrated artists such as noted actor Minaketan Das, laughter king of the 60-70s cinema Sagar Das, veteran film director, story writer and lyricist Binod Nanda and eminent playwright Subodh Patnaik left for their heavenly abode this year.

Firsts

The year saw young actors such as Bhoomika and Swaraj in Tu Mo Love Story, as lead actors debuting in the film industry. Sunmeera Nagesh too bagged her first project in Ollywood in Sapanara Pathe Pathe. Actor Babusan donned the hat of being a producer for the first time with the project Suna Pila Tike Screw Dhila. The first-ever Odia biopic Tulasi Apa was produced this year and won international accolades. Amazon Adventures became the first Bengali film to release a trailer in Odia language.

Other newsmakers

1. Yesteryear director Avtar Singh made a comeback with Mu Khanti Odia Jhia, produced by his production house.

2. An exclusive exhibition of rare photographs of musical recordings of Odia films of 50 years, titled Geetichaya was held in the State Museum that also had an evening of soulful Akshaya Mohanty music.

3. Sony Music tied up with Eastern Media Entertainment for distribution of their Ollywood and Jollywood content.

4. First Odia movie Sita Bibaha was resurrected as a book on the occasion of 81 years of Odia cinema industry with the efforts of Odisha Cine Critics Association.