Uttam Mohanty

Uttam Mohanty was born and brought up in Baripada, Odisha. His grandfather settled in Baripada 150 years ago. He completed his early education from M.K.C. High School. As a child he was very naughty which brought fresh complaints from outside. After matriculation he joined Maharaja Purnachandra College, Baripada for his intermediate and bachelor's in science. During his college days he was inclined more towards acting. He always tried to play the lead part in dramas. He was equally passionate to sports like badminton and table tennis. After completing graduation, he went to Ludhiana for chartered accountancy. Thereafter he stayed with his elder brother, the late Arun Ku. Mohanty, in Kolkata for some time, enrolled in a chartered accountancy course there. Till now he is closely associated with Baripada.

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.

Uttam now opted seriously for being an actor, and slowly stabilised his position in the Odia 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 Mahasweta Ray. Then a streak of films like "Nijhum ratira sathi", "Chinha Achhinha", "Ramayana", Tapasya, Ram Balram happened. By the time he was established as a romantic star.Uttam Mohanty was especially adored for his effortless naturalism in front of the camera and a distinctively urbane charisma that broke free from the prototypical Odia screen hero of the past. He went on to form successful screen pairs with many leading ladies like Rita Chand, Sujata Ananda, Tandra Roy, Mahasweta Ray, Deepa Sahu, Subhra Pati, Aparajeeta, Baisali, Sangeeta Das even Rachana Benerjee and other non Odia actress. Often hailed as the one-man industry, Uttam Mohanty dominated Odia cinema for three decades. The 1980s were the pinnacle of his career. Many Ollywood films of the 1980s had Uttam Mohanty in them, and he dominated the Odia film industry. He excelled in various roles: Romantic, Village Lad, Character. Abhiman, Danda Balunga, Bhakta Salabega are even remembered today for his stupendous acting.[1] He also worked in around 30 Bengali films and one Hindi film - Naya Jahar, opposite Satabdi Roy.

In the early eighties he played in almost 20 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. 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 has also contributed to music albums and Bhajaans.

Uttam Mohanty now lives in Bhubaneswar. Currently, he is working for Odia tele-serials and movies, and interested in enhancing his knowledge in the area of politics. He and Aparajita Mohanty have a son named Babushan Mohanty who has established himself as one of the leading Ollywood heroes post 2010 era.

Uttam Mohanty is the only star in the Odia cinema horizon to have been at the top for nearly two decades, dominating the Odia film industry throughout the 80's and 90's. His rural fan base led him to do many films which had rustic story lines and from which intellectuals shied away. Many critics and fellow actors and seniors have often expressed in public podium that during the commercially dry days of early nineties of Odia cinema, when the Odia film industry was under heavy financial stress, it was Uttam Mohanty's efforts and charm which saved the day. He is in demand among off-mainstream filmmakers as well. He has won many Odia filmfare awards and prizes as a best actor. A number of societies and institutes have honored him as a living legend of Ollywood cinema.[2]

• Odisha Living Legend Award 2012[3]
• Orissa State Film Award for Best Actor for Phula Chandana, Jhiati Sita Pari, Danda Balunga, Suna Chadhei
• Orissa State Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for To Binu Anyagati Nahin
• Jayadeb Puraskar in 1999
• Awards from Citic Association, Chitrapuri, Banichitra, Chalachitra Jagata
• 5th FITFAT Biscope Award, 2008[4]

[5]

• Uttam Mohanty at IMDb
• Uttam Mohanty Website