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| Gloria Mohanty |
Gloria Mohanty A multi-faceted personality, who had excelled in sports, singing, dancing and acting. Born on June 27, 1932 at Mata Sahi in Tulasipur area of Katak, Gloria Mohanty was initiated into dance and music by her aunt and eminent actress Anima Pedini when she was just a child. And it was her talent in dance that finally brought into acting at the theater and cinema.
Life & Career
While she learnt Odissi under Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, her training in music was at the National Music Association, Katak, along with her friend Sunanda Patnaik. She learnt under Gurus Kundala Adi Narayan, Balakrushna Dash, Bhubaneswar Mishra and Beena Debi. She was a singer with the All India Radio, Katak for 20 years sine its inception. Reputed companies like the HMV have brought out her records.
It was Kabichandra Kali Charan Patnaik who introduced Gloria into theatre in 1944 through the play “Bhata” in the role of lead actress opposite famed actor Goura Prasad Ghosh. She was merely 14 years old then. And for the next 16 years, this much sought after actress was featured in more than 100 plays in Odia, Bengali, Hindi, Urdu and English which were staged in major metros like Kolkata and New Delhi besides in Odisha.
Gloria had her debut in Odia cinema in 1950 with the path-breaking film 'Sri Jagannath' as the leading lady Lalita. It was a huge hit and established her as a leading actress who was quite adept in dancing, acting and horse riding. Later on, she acted in popular and acclaimed films like Kedar Gouri (1954), Sakshi Gopinath (1978), Parivar (1978), Maa, Sitarati (1981), Taa Poi (1978), Tapasya (1980), Ulka (1981), Janani (1984), Chha Mana Atha Guntha (1986) and Adi Mimansa (1991).
After staying away from movies for nearly 18 years, she had come back with a bang in a series of movies like Barsha My Darling (2004), Pratham Prema (2005), Shasughara Chalijibi (2005), Premi No. 1 (2005), Oh My Love (2005), Mahanayak (2007), Neijare Megha Mate (2008). Her role as a grandmother in the last named brought her laurels.
Apart from movies, Mohanty had also acted in Odia tele serials like Jibaku Debi Nahi, Thakura Ghara, Sara Akasha and Panata Kani.
Not many people know that Mohanty was also a promising athlete in her younger days with a penchant for horse riding and cycling and had represented the state volleyball team from 1957 to 1960.
Gloria Mohanty passed away at a Nursing home in Odisha’s Katak city on 11 December 2014. She was 83 and was suffering from protracted illness.
Awards
Gloria Mohanty has been recipient of many honours during her eventful career. Commencing with the best stage actress award in 1952 by Prajatantra Prachar Samiti, she has been honoured with the Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1992 and the Jayadev Award – Odisha’s highest honour for cinema, during the same year.
In recognition of her eminence in the field of Cinema and distinguished service to the field, she was selected for the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award for 2011 for Cinema.
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| Gloria Mohanty receiving Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award |
Source: Srjan, Odisha Sun Times
