More than half a century after it was made, Odia classic film Sadhana, to be screened at the Jayadev Bhawan here on Thursday, is still causing enough excitement among the film folks, connoisseurs and researchers. The Film Journalists’ Forum (FJF) is hosting the show in association with the State’s Department of Culture.
FJF founder-secretary and well-known film historian Surya Deo informed that this would be the forum’s screening of the 13th Odia film under its popular Smruti-Chhaya series, the objective of which is to celebrate the lost glory and legacy of the Odia cinema. He said the FJF was launched on the historic day of April 28 in 2011. It was on this day that the first Oriya film Sita Vivah was released 75 years ago. “We have come together to contribute our best to the film culture and film industry of our State,” he stated.
Sadhana was the first Odia film to be made by people of Sambalpur. It was also shot at various locations in and around Sambalpur. legendary film personality Sarat Puijari was the brain behind this film that was produced under the banner of the Diamod Valley Productions formed by Pujari, Manabhanjan Hota and businessman Tofan Tripathy.
The film was an adaptation of immensely popular Bengali writer Ashapurna Devi’s novel Chhinnapatraand, which well-known filmmaker Prabhat Mukherjee had directed. Besides being the producer and lead actor, Pujari had scripted the dialogues as well. The film was released at the laxmi Talkies on September 18, 1964. It had gained both commercial and critical success by bagging President’s Award as the best regional cinema.
The cast had included Samuel Sahoo (Babi), Dhira Biswal, Ananta Mohapatra, Prashant Nanda, Minati Mishra and Radharani Sarkar who later became legends of Odia cinema, Deo said and emphasised that the film has excellent Odishi dance recital by Minati Mishra besides Sambalpuri dance by Arun and laxmi who were famed artistes of their times. legendary Balakrushna Dash had scored the music.
Actors Anant Mahapatra, Prashant Nanda, Radharani Sarkar apart, the film’s background singer Pranab Patnaik would be honoured on the occasion, the hosts informed.
