Demand grows for Padma Awards for Odia film veterans after Uttam Mohanty’s demise

A growing chorus of voices from Odia film lovers, cultural enthusiasts, and social activists has called for the posthumous conferral of the Padma Award on veterans of the Odia film industry. Although eminent personalities of Odisha from other fields have been honoured with the highest award, the Padma Awards still elude the acting field in the Odia film industry.

The pioneers in popularising Odia movies and the contributions of veteran actors like Mihir Das, Minaketan Das, Bijay Mohanty, and Uttam Mohanty, who passed away recently, are highly commendable. However, the veteran actors are yet to be honoured for their contributions.

The demand for a Padma Award in the honour of these veteran actors has gained momentum on social media after the demise of Uttam Mohanty, with several prominent figures lending their voices to the cause.

Anu Choudhury Urges to Recognize Work of Odia Film Industry

Actress Anu Choudhury urged the state and central governments to recognize the work of our actors and confer them with Padma Awards. 

“We have grown up watching black and white movies. There has been a lot of progress since then. Although the progress is slow, we are technically way ahead in 2025 as compared to previous years. And, we should be thankful to our ancestors who played a great role in bringing cinema to the stage that it has reached today,” Anu Choudhury said.

She continued, “Despite doing everything, our Odia film industry is still deprived of a Padma Award. I may not be the right person to comment as to why we have not got a Padma Award, but it is a very sad feeling. I have been in this industry for several years; so, I would want our industry to get the Padma award someday like people of all other industries.”

‘Respect and Appreciation for an Artist’

“For an artiste, respect and appreciation, in the form of Awards, recognition and love from audience, is most important. Hearts of artists are fulfilled when the audience enjoys the work and claps in theatres. We don’t yearn for more, other than the love and acceptance of the audience. All we want is to make a place in the hearts of the audience. It is our job to make the audience clap, laugh, enjoy, cry and feel all the feelings,” she added.

“However, I’m hopeful of a Padma Award now as the BJP-led state government is extending all kinds of support to the film industry. Instead of focusing on why we could not get a Padma Award, we should talk about what we can do to get the Award,” she concluded.