Odia films trivia that will blow your mind

Taranisen Pattnaik*

Prescribed dose of Ollywood tidbits. Fresh, stale, recycled… The unknown and the little known facts about the Odia film industry: the movies, the times and the people. As Ollywood industry completes 80 years, here are 10 most interesting facts about Ollywood that is sure to keep you hooked till the end of the list:

1. 14 songs in one single film

The first Odia film, Sita Bibaha, released on 28 April 1936  had 14 songs in the film! It premièred exclusively at Laxmi Talkies in Puri and was produced/directed by Mohan Deb Goswami. The second Odia film, Lalita was released 13 years later in 1949 and is the first Odia film to be released post-Independence.

Must read: Once in an orphanage in Odisha, now Tiger Shroff’s gymnastic trainer

 

2. Odia film with English title

Unbelievable, but true! Rolls Two Eight (Rolls 2 8) that came to the theatres in 1951, is the first Odia film that had an English title. It was a love story with social drama in its backdrop and was adapted from Kali Charan Patnaik’s novel.

 

3. Bi-lingual film

In the Odia film industry, Aamari Gaan Jhua became the first Odia-Bengali bi-linual film. Directed by Binaya Bannarjee, it released in 1953.

 

4. In-house production

First Odia movie produced in Odisha by Aska-based Krushna Chandra Tripathy Sharma’s Utkal Chalachitra Pvt Ltd was Sri Sri Mahalaxmi Puja in 1959. Earlier, all the pre and post production procedures were conducted in Calcutta (now Kolkata).

Fun read: 7 Hilarious Misconceptions About Odias

 

5. First National Award

1960 Odia film Sri Lokanath was the first Odia film to win a National Award. This movie was also the debut film of music director Balakrushna Dash and lyricist Narasingh Mahapatra. Directed by Prafulla Sengupta, it is based on a story by Aswini Kumar Ghosh, it bagged the President’s Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Oriya.

Healthy read:8 Odia foods that help in losing weight

 

6. The origin of Dho re baya dho

The first lullaby in an Odia film was the famous song Dho re baya dho in the film, Parinama, released in 1961. The yrics of the song was written by Narasingh Mahapatra.

 

7. Debut of Lata Mangeshkar in Ollywood

The Odia movie Surjyamukhi saw the debut of Lata Mangeshkar and Manna Dey croon the lyrics of Sei chuna chuna tara… and Bandhu re… respectively. It was the same movie where the first Odia qawwali (Aei ranga rahiba naahi…) was introduced.

 

8. First outdoor shoot

Adapted from a Bengali novel of Sailesh Dey, Jibana Saathi was the first Odia movie to be shot in Shimla. Released in 1963, it was directed by Prabhat Mukherjee.

Interesting read:7 wedding planners in Odisha to watch out for

 

9. Double role

Adapted from a novel by Kanhu Charan Mohanty and directed by Amar Ganguly, the 1965 Odia gilm, Abhinetri was the first movie that introduced the concept of double roles. Ollywood veteran, then a timid-looking actor Jharana Das played the characters Chaya and Maya.

Also read: Find out why Sudarsan Pattnaik had once hinted at leaving India

 

10. Shortest title

Kaa, directed by Sharada Prasanna Nayak and released in 1966 is the Odia movie with the shortest title till date.

 

The writer is a freelancer and has compiled this article from various sources.