BHUBANESWAR: Uttam Mohanty, veteran actor and Odia film industry’s evergreen star, passed away on Thursday night.
Mohanty, who dominated the silver screen for decades, breathed his last while undergoing treatment for pneumonia and liver cirrhosis at Medanta hospital in Gurugram. He was 66.
Earlier this month, he was airlifted to Medanta hospital where he was on organ support in the intensive care unit.
Born in Baripada in 1958, the yesteryear superstar began his stellar career in Odia film industry with Sadhu Meher directorial ‘Abhimaan’ which released in 1977 and became a darling of the masses. The next year, he was offered a role in MS Koti Reddy’s ‘Pati Patni’ which was based on a Telugu story. Although late Bijay Mohanty’s performance was well appreciated in the film, Uttam Mohanty’s acting did not go unnoticed.
His chocolate boy image charmed the audience and a new age of romantic films had arrived in Ollywood. His filmography included ‘Nijhum Ratira Sathi’, ‘Chinha Achinha’, ‘Ramayana’, ‘Tapasya’, ‘Ram Balaram’, ‘Palatak’, ‘Abhilasha’, ‘Danda Balunga’, ‘Pooja Phula’, ‘Jaga Hatare Paga’, ‘Sahari Bagha’, ‘Mamata Mage Mula’, ‘Sata Kebe Luchi Rahena’, ‘Chaka Bhaunri’, ‘Jor Jahara Mulak Tahara’, ‘Tunda Baida’, ‘Suna Chadhei’, ‘Pua Mora Kala Thakura’, ‘Kanyadaan’, ‘Chaka Aakhi Sabu Dekhuchi’, ‘Rajanigandha’, among others.
In fact, his stardom peaked in the 1980s when he dominated the film industry, be it as the romantic hero, a character artiste or the villain. Mohanty delivered box office hits year after year.
With his wife Aparajita, theirs turned out to be the most successful pair of the film industry. The hit pair was first seen together in Sarat Pujari’s ‘Astaraga’. The film, released in 1982, was well appreciated. After doing notable films like ‘Maa’, ‘Bidhira Bidhan’, Mohanty’s focus shifted towards character roles.
Mohanty went on to act in nearly 150 Odia and 30 Bengali films besides a Hindi movie ‘Naya Zaher’. He also had a successful stint in the small screen.
The superstar had continued acting till his health deteriorated.
His craft earned him accolades aplenty. The Odisha government had awarded him the prestigious Jaydev Puraskar in 1999 but before that he won the State Film Award as best actor for films like ‘Phula Chandana’, ‘Suna Chadhei’, ‘Jhia Ti Sita Pari’ and ‘Danda Balunga’.
The Odisha Film Producers Association had conferred upon him the OFA Film Award for his lifetime contribution to the regional film industry. He had received the Odisha Living Legend Award as well.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed grief and said Mohanty was the shining star of Ollywood. For more than two decades, he was the undisputed hero of Odia cinema and took the film industry to a higher plane through his acting, the CM said. “His death is an irreparable loss to the film and entertainment industry,” he added.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said Mohanty’s contribution towards enriching the Odia film industry is unparalleled. “His flawless acting made him popular among the masses. Odisha has lost a jewel. He will continue to reign in the hearts of Odia people for a long time,” Pradhan wrote on X.