Ollywood Stands in Solidarity with Actor Partha Sarathi Ray Following Arrest
Bhubaneswar: The Odia film industry, popularly known as Ollywood, has come out in strong support of actor Partha Sarathi Ray, who was recently arrested by the Badagada Town Police in Bhubaneswar.
The arrest was made following the issuance of a Non-Bailable Warrant (NBW) by the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Court, citing his repeated failure to comply with court summons in connection with a pending criminal case.
Despite the legal circumstances, many from the Odia film fraternity have spoken out in defense of the actor, questioning the media’s portrayal of the case and expressing concern over what they describe as trial by media.
Actress Bm Baisali, Partha’s co-star in Phalguna Charitra, Dear Purusha expressed her frustration at the media coverage, saying “Mere TRP stunts can’t take away your credibility as an actor, wonderful human being, and a true gentleman. Sadly, what we see in the media today is not journalism anymore. Rather than stating facts, the media conducts trials without a second thought about the mental trauma and permanent damage it can cause to a person’s reputation and well-being. Stay strong, Partha.”
Filmmaker Geeta Dash also condemned the media for what she termed as defamation for TRPs, emphasizing the absence of any proven guilt “The media has no right to malign a decent man and his simple family, especially without any evidence. If a person is unable to appear in court due to serious medical reasons in his family or himself, that doesn’t make him a criminal. The media has forgotten its basic ethics. As someone from both media and film, it pains me to witness the current degradation of Odisha’s media standards.”
Dash added “News channels must focus on facts and deliver accurate information to the public instead of sensationalizing the life of a respected actor from a highly educated family. Why inflict trauma on him and his innocent family?”
She also questioned the silence of prominent figures in the industry:
“Where are the important voices of our film fraternity now? Don’t we have the unity and humanity to stand by one of our own? Thankfully, a few courageous individuals have spoken up for Partha in his darkest hour.”
Veteran filmmaker Akshaya Parija described the situation as a personal and legal complication that is being blown out of proportion:
“As usual, it’s a field day for the media and social media, using hard and sensational language. This is a personal family dispute coupled with a procedural lapse. It should not be given a sensational twist. Having worked with Partha on many projects, I know him as a decent, polished, and articulate individual. I strongly stand by him during this difficult time and urge the media to practice responsible reporting. Let the law take its own course.”
Director and producer Stitha Patnaik echoed the sentiment, calling Partha “a good man” who has been “trapped by conspiracies.”
The outpouring of support from the industry highlights a growing concern about the role of media in high-profile cases and the importance of maintaining ethical standards while reporting. As the legal proceedings continue, Partha Sarathi Ray’s peers and well-wishers continue to stand firmly beside him, urging fairness, compassion, and truth.
Let me know if you’d like this in Odia or if you want to add quotes from Partha himself or legal commentary.