Artists Unite to Celebrate 90 Years of Odia Cinema, Seek Official Recognition of Film Day

Bhubaneswar, April 28: Marking 90 years of Odia cinema, leading artists, filmmakers, technicians, and cine lovers came together to celebrate the glorious journey of the industry while discussing its future prospects and new opportunities.

During the gathering, members of the artists’ fraternity urged Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to officially recognize this date as Odia Film Day and celebrate it annually at the government level.

Speakers at the event highlighted that despite completing nine decades, Odisha still faces a shortage of cinema halls and modern exhibition infrastructure. They stressed the need to strengthen the industry further and create more platforms for emerging talent.
Participants noted that by 2026, Odia cinema has made a significant mark at the national level, and discussions were held on how to make the industry stronger and more competitive in the years ahead.

The event was attended by several prominent personalities from the Odia film world, including senior directors, producers, actors, technicians, and enthusiasts. Those present on the dais included Sanak Devta, Sabyasachi Mahapatra, Gadadhar Puti, Niranjan Das, Dr. Rajani Ranjan, Kuna Tripathy, Sidhant Mohapatra, Debu Pattnaik and chief organiser Sukant Rath.

The programme began with the screening of a documentary prepared by Surjya Deo.
Several well-known artistes also attended the celebrations, including Papu Pom Pom, Usasi Mishra, Anu Choudhury, Jhilik Bhattacharjee and many others.

The evening also featured a vibrant musical segment, creating a festive atmosphere. Popular singers such as Sohini Mishra, Shashank, Satyajit Pradhan, Shantanu Nayak, Smaranika and Sukant Rath enthralled the audience with their performances.

Industry members expressed hope that in the coming years, this historic date would receive official recognition as Odia Film Day, honouring the rich legacy and bright future of Odia cinema.