The Odia (ଓଡ଼ିଆ), formerly spelled Oriya, are an Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group native to the Indian state of Odisha who speak the Odia language. They constitute a majority in the eastern coastal state, with significant minority populations existing in the neighboring states of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
Odisha is one of the 28 states of India, located on the eastern coast. It is surrounded by the states of West Bengal to the northeast, Jharkhand to the north, Chhattisgarh to the west and northwest, and Andhra Pradesh to the south and southwest. Odia is the official and most widely spoken language, spoken by 33.2 million according to the 2001 Census. The modern state of Odisha was established on 1 April 1936, as a province in British India, and consisted predominantly of Odia-speaking regions. April 1 is celebrated as Odisha Day.
Odia cinema, also known as Ollywood, is the segment of Indian cinema, dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Odia language widely spoken in the state of Odisha. Odia Cinema is based in Bhubaneshwar and Cuttack in Odisha, India. The name Ollywood is a portmanteau of the words Odia and Hollywood.
Pagala Premi is a 2007 Indian Odia-language romantic drama film directed by Hara Patnaik and stars Sabyasachi Mishra and newcomer Arpita Mukherjee. This is a remake of Telugu movie Arya (2004).
Jai Jagannatha is a 2007 Indian Hindu mythological film directed by Sabyasachi Mohapatra, released in 15 languages. Besides Odia and Hindi, its dubbed versions were released in English, Bengali, Assamese, Chhattisgarhi, Bhojpuri, Rajasthani, Punjabi, Gujarati, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Nepali languages.
Pooja Pain Phulatie is a 2007 Indian Odia film, directed by Gadadhar Puty.The film has won the National Film Awards for Best Feature Film in Odia in 2006.
Bhukha is a 1989 Indian Sambalpuri-language film directed by Sabyasachi Mohapatra. The movie was produced by Mohapatra under the banner of Kumar Productions and had music by Ramesh Kumar Mahananda. This movie is based on the Sambalpuri play Bhukha written by Manglu Charan Biswal. It was the first film from Odisha to get an International Jury Award at the Gijón International Film Festival.
The first ever Sambalpuri movie released was Bhukha. It was released in the year 1989 and was directed by Sabyasachi Mohapatra. It was also the first film from Western Odisha to get an International Jury Award at the Gijon International Film Festival. The second film in Sambalpuri language is Ulugulan (Revolution), which was released in 2008, directed by Mahmood Hussain and produced by Purnabasi Sahu. Its story is set in the first half of the 18th century and depicts the tyrannical rule of the Nagpur rulers.
Dr. Haldhar Nag is a Sambalpuri poet and writer from Bargarh, Odisha, India. Popularly known as "Lok Kabi Ratna". He was awarded Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award of India by Government of India in 2016.
Sabyasachi Mohapatra is an Indian film director, writer, and producer in Odia cinema. He owns a production house named Mohapatra Movie Magic.
"Rangabati" is perhaps the most popular recorded song in Sambalpuri Odia. Krishna Patel, a 2023 Padma Shri awardee, is the female singer while the male singer Jitendra Haripal is a 2017 Padma Shri awardee. The song was first recorded for All India Radio in the mid-1970s. A record company from the then Calcutta, Indian Record Manufacturing Company Ltd (INRECO), re-recorded the song in 1976. The disc release was delayed due to a dispute and finally released in 1978–79. The Sambalpuri song was written by Mitrabhanu Gauntia, composed by Prabhudatta Pradhan and sung by Jitendra Haripal and Krishna Patel. In the 1970s and 1980s, the song gained popularity for being commonly played in marriage processions and Murti immersion. The song gained official recognition when it was played in the tableau of Odisha as part of the Republic Day celebrations at New Delhi in 2007. The lead singer Jitendra Haripal was also felicitated by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik later that year. It was also notably used in the celebration of victory during an international cricket match in Barabati Stadium, Cuttack. "Rangabati" was recreated in many other languages of India and has been recreated in Telugu for a movie.
Sabyasachi Mishra is an Indian actor known for his work in Odia Cinema. He is referred to as "Superstar of Ollywood". Pagala Premi was his first movie, for which he earned an Odisha State Film Awards for Best Actor. Sabyasachi got his second state award for Emiti Bi Prema Hue. He won the Filmfare Awards East as best actor for Mu Eka Tumara in 2013.
Bou is a 1998 Indian Odia-language drama film. It was directed, produced and written by Sabyasachi Mohapatra. Usasi Misra, Jyoti Misra and Akshaya Bastia debuted in the film.
Sala Budha is a 2012 Indian Kosli language feature film directed by Sabyasachi Mohapatra. The film had won awards in seven categories at Odisha State Film Awards including best film and best director.
Pahada Ra Luha is a 2015 Indian Sambalpuri language feature film directed by Sabyasachi Mohapatra. The film has won 63rd National Film Awards for Best Feature Film in Odia category.
Chini is a 2016 Indian Odia and Sambalpuri language drama film directed by Pradeep Bhol and produced by Bhabani Majhi & Snehalata Parida. The film is made under the banner of Navajiban Films. It stars Amlan Das and Patrali in lead roles while Mahasweta Ray and Mihir Das play supporting roles. Well known playback singer Asha Bhosle sang a Sambalpuri number in the upcoming Odia film "Chini" with a western Odisha flavour. Asha has sung "Uanshar andhare nai dishe sina, haji nai jai jan", in Odia language "uaansha ratire dise nahin sina haji jae nahin jaha", penned by Durga Madhab Panda and singer Tapu Mishra for the film. This film won the state film award for best film in 2016.
Sarbeswar Bhoi is an Indian folksinger from Kalahandi, India of Sambalpuri folk music. He sang songs such as "Likri Jhkri' and "Lal Jhara Jhara" for the Sambalpuri movie Aadim Vichar, which won National Award for Best Feature Film in Odia Category in 2014.
Atal Bihari Panda was an Indian actor, playwright and lyricist, known for his works in Sambalpuri odia Cinema. He was the recipient of numerous awards, including two back-to-back Odisha State Film Awards for best actor. His debut in films came at an age of 83 years. Before his debut as an actor in films, he had already written 60 plays. He also wrote lyrics in many Sambalpuri songs.
Lochani Bag is an Indian actor who works mainly in the Odia film industry, "Ollywood". She has acted in films such as Aadim Vichar, Pahada ra Luha, Sala Budha and Odisha's first biopic film Tulasi Apa.
