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| Dukhiram Swain |
Dukhiram Swain was one of the most popular villains of Odia Cinema. He was a National Film Awards winning actor (Shesha Shrabana)
and played a variety of roles, most notably as the antagonist in many
Odia films, as well as roles in television serials and various roles in
the small screen.
He
was considered to be one amongst the club of natural actors. He was
honoured with the Jayadeva Purashkar (Highest State Award for Excellence
in Art & Literature) from Odisha State Film Awards and several
"Best Villain" awards from State Film Awards and Odisha Sangeet Natak
Akademi.
Life and Career
Late
Dukhiram Swain was born in Daraba, Jagatsinghpur district, Odisha. He
was a linguist and could speak several languages fluently. He started
his acting career from Annapurna Theatre (Katak). His first movie was
Sri Loknath (1960). He was mostly offered negative roles and over the
years he developed a cult status in this genre of acting. On contrary to
the villainous characters he portrayed in his films, he was very social
& generous and was also member of various organizations. Matira Manisha (1967), Jajabar (1975), Shesha Shrabana (1976), Phula Chandana (1982), Sashti (1989), Paradeshi Chadhei (1991)
and Rana Bhumi (1994) are some of his most notable films. He has acted
almost all kinds of roles ranging from hero, villain, comedian,
character roles etc.
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| Still from Mamata Mage Mula (Image courtesy: Pragyan Paramita Das - Wikipedia) |
From Newspaper Columns
Circa
1976, Shesha Shrabana was on the floor. Mahasweta Roy, enacting a
village lass, had to take bath in a pond and the local bad man was
supposed to attempt rape. The camera cranked. The fiendishness with
which the character, Nidhi Mishra, went about the scene; the evil stare
and rolling eyeballs; caused Mahasweta to faint. The rest is history.
The film among all its glory will forever be remembered for Nidhi
Mishra’s villainy essayed by Dukhiram Swain.
Thirty-three years have passed after Shesha Shrabana (1976)
became a big hit, and Dukhiram Swain is no more today. Odia Film
Industry has since seen many brutes on the screen, but he still remains
the ultimate in the industry.
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| Still from Mamata Mage Mula (Image courtesy: Pragyan Paramita Das - Wikipedia) |
Evil
zamindars have been the villains of the cinema since its beginning. The
concept, naturally, found its source from Hindi films. But it was
Mrinal Sen’s Matira Manisha (1967)
that gave Odia film viewers the first peek into sheer villainy on
celluloid. Dukhiram Swain shone like fire in his role as a village tout
who tries to wedge a divide between two brothers.
The
cinema in the state did see many other villains later. Krushna Chandra
Pandey, Pira Mishra, Netrananda Mishra, Asit Pati, Niranjan Satpathy,
Raimohan Parida, Mihir Das, Minaketan, Hara Patnaik - Each one had a
unique style and gave the art of villainy varied shades. But none could
leap above the bar Dukhiram Swain set. Be it the avaricious money lender
or the capricious henchman plotting and scheming, people just loved to
hate his presence. Gone are Dukhiram Swain’s days; today no actor has a
permanent slot for villain or hero. The audience expects versatility.
Not
surprisingly, the audience looks forward to versatility from an actor,
that regular excellence in a role; even of that of a villain. Notes
editor-director Susant Mani: It’s good to watch young actors like Manoj
Mishra, Bobby Mishra and Sabyasachi Mishra performing all shades of a
character. But even he doesn’t seem to believe that their villainous
roles matched Dukhiram Swain’s.
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| Still from Mamata Mage Mula (Image courtesy: Pragyan Paramita Das - Wikipedia) |
Awards and Honours
- Orissa Sangeet Nataka Akademi Award for the Year 1984-85 in the Acting category
- Orissa State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor: Bhuli Huena in 1987
- Jayadev Award (posthumous) (1994) for outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Odia cinema
Personal life
He was married to the late Mrs. Hemalata Swain. He is survived by two sons and one daughter.
Filmography
- Lakhe Siba Puji Paichi Pua (1994)
- Rana Bhumi (1994) as Pradhan
- Akuha Katha (1994)
- Rakhile Siba Mariba Kie (1994)
- Sagar Ganga (1994) as Bhabhani Rai
- Suna Bhauja (1994)
- Bhagya Hate Dori (1993) as Mahendra
- Anti Churi Tanti Kate (1993)
- Dadagiri (1992) as S.P. Abinash
- Ghara Mora Swarga (1992)
- Maa Jahara Saha (1992) as Nishakar
- Hisab Kariba Kalia (1992) as Chowdhury
- Kapala Likhana (1992)
- To Binu Anya Gati Nahin (1991) as Satura
- Ama Ghara Ama Sansar (1991)
- Bastra Haran (1991) as Magistrate/ Abhijit's father
- Drishti (1990) (Hindi film directed by Govind Nihalani)
- Chakadola Karuchi Leela (1990)
- Daiba Daudi (1990) as Jailor / Bobby's father
- Maa Mate Shakti De (1990)
- Paradeshi Chadhei (1991)
- Asuchi Mo Kalia Suna (1989)
- Pratisodha Aparadh Nuhen (1989)
- Sashti (1989)
- Akashara Aakhi (1989)
- Chaka Aakhi Sabu Dekhuchi (1989)
- Jahaku Rakhibe Ananta (1988) as Jagdish Rai
- Pua Moro Kala Thakura (1988)
- Kanyadaan (1988) as Kailash Chowdhury
- Jor Jar Mulak Tar (1987) as Rudra Narayan
- Chaka Bhaunri (1986)
- Gruhalakshmi (1985) as Ashok's father
- Hakim Babu (1985)
- Mamata Mage Mula (1985)
- School Master (1985)
- Dora (1984) as Wine Vendor
- Swapna Sagara (1983) as Sardar
- Phula Chandan (1982)
- Samay Bada Balban (1982) as D. J.
- Batasi Jhada (1981)
- Bilwa Mangala (1981)
- Sei Sura (1981)
- Balidan (1979)
- Jhilmil (1978)
- Saakhi Gopinath (1978)
- Shesha Shrabana (1976) as Nidhi Misra
- Jajabar (1975) as Rashbihari Samantrai
- Adina Megha (1970)
- Matira Manisha (1967) as Hari Mishra
- Sri Loknath (1960)
Reference: Wikipedia
