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| 'Malajahna' movie artwork (Image source: ଛାୟା ପ୍ରତିଛାୟା ୨୦୧୬ by Film Journalists' Forum) |
Release Date: December 10, 1965 at Prabhat Cinema, Cuttack
Directed by: Nitai Palit
Produced by: Banabihari Dev, Sriprasad Kanunugo, Akshay Mohanty, Akshay Mohanty (Kashyap), Arabind Shadangi Mishra
Production Co: Shree Films
Distributed by: Sakha Distributors
Story: Upendra Kishore Das
Lyrics: Binodini Devi, Narasingh Mohapatra, Kabisurya Baladev Rath, Banamali
Music: Akshay Mohanty
Cast: Akshaya Mohanty (Kashyap), Geeta Dutt, Jharana Das, Bhim Singh, Laxmipriya Mahapatra, Manimala, Sharat Mohanty, Pira Mishra, Purna Singh, Shibu Singh, Rabi Ray, Mohan Mohanty, Biswanath Rao and others
Genre:Social, Drama
Note: National Film Awards (1965) - Certificate of merit for best Odia film.
Plot: Sati, who is forced into marriage by her poor parents with a rich ugly old man living with a concubine. She find the other way to overcome the mishap in her life, when a young neighbor Nath develops love interest with her. Both finally leaves the village and escape to Cuttack town. The conservative neighbors question about their relationship. Sati, unable to bear the scandal concerning her and Nath, finally commits suicide by jumping into the river.
Production Notes: The Project was started in 1962 with co-efforts of Akshaya Mohanty & Akshaya Mohanty (Kashyap). Some friends of the duo like Sarat Dev, Sriprasad Kanunugo & Arabind Shadangia Misra also supported to overcome the financial crisis. After four to five days of shooting, the project stopped due to lack of financial. In 1963 the erstwhile king of Auli, Ban Bihari Dev again poured money to continue the project. After 60 percent shooting of the project completed, the project stopped for another one year due to the same financial crisis. At last Akshaya Mohanty sought help of the producer & director Dhira Biswal. He took the responsibility on his shoulder and the film released in 1965.
Review: This poignant love story is narrated in the context of life in rural Odisha infested by superstitions, narrow caste prejudices and acute poverty. Women were like slaves with no mind and choice of their own and child marriages were widely prevalent. The agony and suffering of Sati may be seen as essentially related to the social evils that afflicted contemporary rural Odisha.
Songs:
- E Ranga Rahiba Nahin (Singer: Pranab Patnaik, Sikandar Alam, Nirmal Mishraa Mishra)
- Rakata Tala Mala Khaira Pancha Kala (Singer: Akshaya Mohanty)
- Tuchhaku Mahu (Singer: Kalyani Bhattacharya)
- Naanti Mo Naanti (Singer: Nandita Ghosh)
- Galani Ta Gala Katha (Singer: Akshaya Mohanty)
- Mun Ta Kularu Heli Bahara (Singer: Pranab Patnaik, Kalyani Bhattacharya)
- Mora Antara Mandire Rahi (Singer: Pranab Patnaik)
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| Newspaper article about 'Malajahna' |
