Ekamra Walks Celebrates 51 Years of Odia Classic ‘Jajabara’

Bhubaneswar: Ekamra Walks marked a significant moment in Odisha’s cultural calendar by hosting a special screening of the legendary Odia film Jajabara Sunday, commemorating 51 years since its release in 1975. The event was organised under the Odia Film Panorama initiative at the open-air theatre of Kalabhoomi.

The evening assumed added historical importance as cinephiles witnessed the colourised version of the iconic black-and-white film, a rare presentation that drew enthusiastic response from the audience. Ekamra Walks is the flagship cultural initiative of the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA).

Considered a milestone in Odia cinema, Jajabara continues to resonate across generations and remains a powerful cultural symbol rather than just a cinematic work.

The screening paid tribute not only to the film’s enduring influence but also to the painstaking restoration process that has reintroduced the classic to modern viewers.
The colourisation of Jajabara is the result of a massive preservation project led by filmmaker Bapu Lenka. Over a period of 736 days, a team of 21 technocrats meticulously worked on nearly 2.19 lakh frames of the original film.

This effort has set a national benchmark, making Jajabara the first black-and-white regional film in India to be colourised.

The celebration was further enhanced by the presence of noted members of the film’s cast and crew, including actresses Banaja Mohanty and Tripura Mishra, singers Geeta Pattnaik and Trupti Das, along with Bapu Lenka, producer Bijaya Patnaik, and actor Shyamalendu Bhattacharya. Their interaction with the audience added warmth, nostalgia and a sense of shared heritage to the occasion.
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