Uttam Mohanty - Life and Career

Life and Career

Knowing that a film named Abhiman was being made in Baripada, he returned home with a hope of trying his luck in films. Though there were many contenders for the lead role, the director Sadhu Meher had a special interest in his capability and looks. He was selected. Co-actress Rita Chand was also debuting in that film. On the day of shooting he turned up to the set well-dressed with best possible suits available. Sadhu told him to take the make-up of a poor guy. He was sent again to come back with old and dirty clothes and without make-up. The 1977 film was a box office hit and his acting was appreciated.

Uttam now opted seriously for being an actor, and slowly stabilised his position in the Oriya film industry. While staying in Kolkata he got an offer from director Dhir Biswal for his upcoming film titled Gouri. Later that role was given to Prasanta Nanda. The next film he did was "Pati Patni" opposite Maheswata Ray. Then the streak of films like "Nijhum ratira sathi", "Chinha Achhinha", "Ramayana", Tapasya, Ram Balram happened. By the time he was established as a romantic star, keeping pace with the then Oriya greats like Prasanta Nanda, Shriram Panda and Ajit Das.

The eighties was the best time of his career. Many Ollywood films of the 1980s had Uttam Mohanty in it, and he dominated the Oriya film industry. He excelled in all kinds of roles: romantic, village lad, character. Abhiman, Danda Balunga, Bhakta Salabega are even remembered today for his stupendous acting. He also worked in around 30 Bengali films and one Hindi film - Naya Jahar, opposite Satabdi Ray.

In the early eighties he played in almost 15 movies opposite leading actress Mahasweta Ray (Rasmi Ray). Though they fell in love and decided to marry, the love did not last long, and the pair separated. "Palatak" (1985) was their last film. Again the pair was hit in 1988 by Prashanta Nanda in the film of "Ja devi sarbavutesu". Later both came in lot of films in nineties. Still now viewers are eager to anticipate the pair. Over fifty of his films are opposite Aparajita Mohanty, his wife. They first appeared together in Astaraga (1982), and married on 17 May 1987 in Municipality Guest House, Bhubaneswar. Other heroines who have acted opposite him include Anita, Sujata, Tandra, Deepa, Baisali, Subhra pati, and Rachana Bannerje.

After 1995 he got more character roles due to his age. In films like "Jashoda", "Subhadra", kalamanika he did character roles. In the later period of his career he also took television roles. Serials like 'je pakhi Ude jete Dura', 'sara akash', Panatakani and 'uttaradayi' are most popular. His role as Bikhu bhai in Sara Akash is memorable. His Hindi serials include Palash and Bengali serial bideshini Bohu. His contribution to music albums and Bhajaas are also significant.

Uttam Mohanty now lives in Bhubaneswar. Currently, he is working for Oriya tele-serials and movies, and interested in enhancing his knowledge in the area of politics. He and Aparajita Mohanty have a son named Tanmay Mohanty (Babusan), who is a very good classical singer at the age of 10.

Uttam Mohanty is the only star in the Oriya cinema horizon to have been at the top for nearly two decades, dominating the Oriya film industry throughout the 80's and 90's. No Oriya hero has been able to sustain himself in the top position for so long and so well. His rural fan base led him to do many films which had rustic story lines and from which intellectuals shied away. But his popularity has been undeniable. Many critics and fellow actors and seniors have often expressed in public podium that during the commercially dry days of early nineties of Oriya Cinema, when the Oriya film industry was under heavy financial stress, it was Uttam Mohanty's single-minded efforts and charm to lure in the audience to Oriya cinema which saved the day. His contribution is acknowledged by one and all in Oriya film. They cannot ignore him even now because he is in demand among off-mainstream filmmakers as well. He has won many Oriya filmfare awards and prizes as a best actor. A number of societies and institutes have honored him as a living legend of Ollywood cinema.