Odisha to bid adieu to film icon Uttam Mohanty with State Honours; condolences pour in

The Odia film industry is mourning after the death of revered actor Uttam Mohanty. Recognising his monumental contribution, the state government, led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, has declared that his last rites will be held with full state honours.

CM Majhi lamented the profound void his loss has left in the Odia cultural landscape. “His contribution to our cinema is irreplaceable,” stated the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister also spoke to Babushaan over the phone and expressed deep grief.

Mohanty had been undergoing treatment for a prolonged illness at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram. The news of his death brought an outpouring of condolences from fellow actors, leaders and other eminent personalities across Odisha, who expressed their grief and highlighted his lasting impact on the Odia film industry.

Also Read: Ollywood actor Uttam Mohanty no more; Odisha mourns the veteran actor's death

Expressions of Sorrow Across Political Spectrum

“I am deeply saddened to learn about the demise of Odisha's famous and popular actor, Uttam Mohanty. His departure has created a huge void in the Odia art world. The impression he left in the Odia film industry will always keep him in the hearts of the audience. I pray for the eternal peace of his soul and express my deepest condolences to the bereaved family,” tweeted CM Mohan Majhi.

ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧ ତଥା ଲୋକପ୍ରିୟ ଅଭିନେତା ଉତ୍ତମ ମହାନ୍ତିଙ୍କ ଦେହାନ୍ତ ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣି ମୁଁ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଦୁଃଖିତ। ତାଙ୍କର ବିୟୋଗ ଓଡ଼ିଆ କଳା ଜଗତରେ ଏକ ବିରାଟ ଶୂନ୍ୟସ୍ଥାନ ସୃଷ୍ଟି କରିଛି। ଓଡ଼ିଆ କଳା ଜଗତରେ ସେ ଛାଡିଯାଇଥିବା ଅଭିନୟର ଛାପ ତାଙ୍କୁ ସର୍ବଦା ଦର୍ଶକଙ୍କ ହୃଦୟରେ ଅମର କରି ରଖିବ। ତାଙ୍କ ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରିବା…

— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) February 27, 2025

Likewise, many other notable political figures extended their condolences. Baijayant Panda, BJP National Vice President and Kendrapra MP, marked the moment as the end of an era for the Odia film industry in a heartfelt post on social media platform X, applauding Mohanty's significant impact.

ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଚଳଚ୍ଚିତ୍ର ଜଗତରେ ଏକ ଯୁଗର ଅନ୍ତ !
ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଘରେ ଘରେ ପରିଚିତ, ଲୋକପ୍ରିୟ ଅଭିନେତା ଉତ୍ତମ ମହାନ୍ତିଙ୍କ ବିୟୋଗ ଖବର ଶୁଣି ମୁଁ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଦୁଃଖିତ ଏବଂ ମର୍ମାହତ। ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଚଳଚ୍ଚିତ୍ର ଜଗତ ପ୍ରତି ତାଙ୍କର ଅତୁଳନୀୟ ଅବଦାନ ପାଇଁ ସେ ଚିର ସ୍ମରଣୀୟ ହୋଇ ରହିବେ। ଦିବଙ୍ଗତ ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରିବା ସହ ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାର… pic.twitter.com/1eFl3rWYsp

— Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) February 27, 2025

“End of an era in Odia cinema! I am deeply saddened and shocked to hear the news of the demise of popular actor Uttam Mohanty, who was known in every household in Odisha. He will be forever remembered for his unique contribution to the world of Odia cinema. I pray for the repose of the departed soul and express my deepest condolences to the bereaved family. Om Shanti,” Panda tweeted.

Manmohan Samal, the BJP's state president, also shared his sentiments on X, assuring that Mohanty's legacy will remain eternal in the hearts of Odisha's people. He offered prayers for his soul's peace under the watchful eyes of Lord Jagannath.

ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଚଳଚ୍ଚିତ୍ର ଜଗତର ସର୍ବାଧିକ ଲୋକପ୍ରିୟ କଳାକାର ଉତ୍ତମ ମହାନ୍ତିଙ୍କ ପରଲୋକ ଖବର ଶୁଣି ମୁଁ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଦୁଃଖିତ ଓ ମର୍ମାହତ । ତାଙ୍କର ଜୀବନ୍ତ ଅଭିନୟ ମାଧ୍ୟମରେ ଓଡ଼ିଶାବାସୀଙ୍କ ହୃଦୟରେ ସେ ଯେଉଁ ସ୍ଥାନ ଅଧିକୃତ କରିଛନ୍ତି ତାହା ଚିର କାଳ ପାଇଁ ଅମର । ଓଡ଼ିଶାରେ ଚଳଚ୍ଚିତ୍ର ମାଧ୍ୟମରେ ଦର୍ଶକଙ୍କୁ ମନୋରଞ୍ଜନର ଏକ ଖୋରାକ୍ ଯୋଗାଇଥିଲା… pic.twitter.com/wmqIz9tRLD

— Manmohan Samal (@SamalManmohan7) February 27, 2025

The Culture and Sports Minister Suryabanshi Suraj and senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MLA Ranendra Pratap Swain were among others who expressed their sorrow. They extended their sympathies to Mohanty's family, venerating his enduring legacy.

The Odisha unit of BJP also extended its condolences to the bereaved family, reflecting the actor's profound influence across different facets of life in Odisha.