End Of An Era: Veteran Actor Bijay Mohanty No More

Bhubaneswar: Right from the 1970s till date, if Odia cine industry had a man for all seasons, it would be none other than Bijay Mohanty, an icon of Odia cinema and an entire acting school in himself. The veteran actor passed away today at the age of 70 not only creating a void in the cine industry but also leaving entire Odisha in a state of shock.

The Odia actor was undergoing treatment in Hyderabad after a cardiac arrest in May 2020. Mohanty was also suffering from diabetes-related disorders and had undergone surgery. On June 24, Mohanty returned to Bhubaneswar from Hyderabad after he showed signs of improvement. He was admitted to a hospital here for follow-up treatment and was later discharged following stability in his health condition.

On Monday evening, Bijay Mohanty's health condition deteriorated and he was immediately rushed to hospital, where he passed away while undergoing treatment.

Bijay Mohanty is well known for his noted performances in several movies including Naga Phasa, Jaga Hatare Pagha, Dora, Sahari Bagha, Laxman Rekha, Ki Heba Sua Posile, and Chaka Akhi Sabu Dekhuchi.

Born in the year 1950 at Pandiri in Kendrapara, Mohanty grew up in Baripada. He found his passion for acting during his school days. While working as a clerk in the transport department, he set up a theatre organisation with help of his friends. With sheer hard work he managed to get a national scholarship and a seat in the National School of Drama. Bijay Mohanty was the first to become an alumnus of the illustrious institute where his classmates were legendary actors like Naseeruddin Shah, Raj Babbar, Om Puri.

His journey to greatness began after he returned to Odisha and joined as a teacher in Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya. With a career spanning over 4 decades, Mohanty rose to stardom when his maiden film ‘Chilika Tire’ won the National Award in 1977.

After making his debut in 1977, he has worked in over 150 movies. For his contribution to the film industry, Bijay Mohanty was conferred with several accolades including a National Award, six Odisha State Film Awards, Jaydev Award (2014) and Orissa Cine Critics Award (1987).

Bijay had joined the Indian National Congress (INC) in 2014 and contested from Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha seat unsuccessfully.

Soon after his demise, condolences poured in not only from the film fraternity & his fans but also from several quarters. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, BJP National Vice-President Baijayant Panda and leaders of several political parties condoled the demise of the actor.

ବର୍ଷୀୟାନ ଅଭିନେତା ବିଜୟ ମହାନ୍ତିଙ୍କ ଦେହାନ୍ତ ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣି ମୁଁ ଦୁଃଖିତ। ଓଡ଼ିଆ କଳା ଜଗତରେ ସେ ଛାଡିଯାଇଥିବା ଅଭିନୟର ଛାପ ତାଙ୍କୁ ଅଗଣିତ କଳାପ୍ରେମୀଙ୍କ ହୃଦୟରେ ସର୍ବଦା ସ୍ମରଣୀୟ କରି ରଖିବ। ତାଙ୍କ ଅମର ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରିବା ସହ ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାରବର୍ଗଙ୍କୁ ମୋର ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଉଛି।

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) July 20, 2020

ଖ୍ୟାତିସମ୍ପନ୍ନ ଅଭିନେତା ବିଜୟ ମହାନ୍ତିଙ୍କ ବିୟୋଗରେ ମୁଁ ଗଭୀର ଭାବରେ ମର୍ମାହତ । ତାଙ୍କ ମୃତ୍ୟୁରେ ଓଡ଼ିଶା ସିନେ ଜଗତରେ ଏକ ଯୁଗର ଅନ୍ତ ଘଟିଲା । ପିଢି ପରେ ପିଢି ତାଙ୍କର ପ୍ରଶଂସକଙ୍କୁ ସେ କଳାର ଯାଦୁରେ ବାନ୍ଧି ରଖି ପାରିଥିଲେ ।

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) July 20, 2020

ଓଡିଆ ଚଳଚ୍ଚିତ୍ର ଜଗତର ବର୍ଷିୟାନ ଅଭିନେତା, ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶକ ଓ ନାଟ୍ୟକାର ବିଜୟ ମହାନ୍ତିଙ୍କ ବିୟୋଗର ଖବର ପାଇ ମୁଁ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଦୁଃଖିତ ଏବଂ ମର୍ମାହତ । ତାଙ୍କ ଅନୁପସ୍ଥିତ ଓଡିଆ ଚଳଚ୍ଚିତ୍ର ଜଗତ ପାଇଁ ଏକ ଅପୂରଣୀୟ କ୍ଷତି ।

— Pratap Sarangi (@pcsarangi) July 20, 2020

ବର୍ଷୀୟାନ ଅଭିନେତା ବିଜୟ ମହାନ୍ତିଙ୍କ ଦେହାନ୍ତ ଖବରଶୁଣି @PandaJay ଗଭୀର ଦୁଃଖ ପ୍ରକାଶ କରିଛନ୍ତି। ଓଡ଼ିଆ ସିନେ ଜଗତ ପାଇଁ ଏକ ଅପୂରଣୀୟ କ୍ଷତି। ଏକାଧାରରେ ଜଣେ ଲୋକପ୍ରିୟ ଅଭିନେତା, ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶକ ଓ ନାଟ୍ୟକାର ଶ୍ରୀ ମହାନ୍ତିଙ୍କ ଅଭାବ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ମନୋରଞ୍ଜନ ଜଗତରେ ସବୁଦିନ ରହିବ। ତାଙ୍କ ପରିବାରବର୍ଗଙ୍କୁ ଗଭୀର ସମବେଦନା। ଓଁ ଶାନ୍ତି🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/4U62L9xk0j

— Baijayant Panda Odia (@Panda_Odia) July 20, 2020

Deeply saddened by the news of untimely demise of Sri Bijay Mohanty, the veteran actor of Odisha film industry.He has left an indelible imprint on the minds of his admirers because of his acting skills.His departure is a loss to Odisha. My prayers for the departed soul.🙏 pic.twitter.com/7QPQ9pi1uF

— Aparajita Sarangi (@AprajitaSarangi) July 20, 2020

Bijay Sir, I will miss u for ever 😢 The Beautiful memories with you will always keep u alive in my heart. #RIPBijayMohanty sir #BijayMohantypic.twitter.com/uIi8n2YLTY

— SABYASACHI MISHRA 🇮🇳 (@sabyaactor) July 20, 2020

(Edited By Bikram Keshari Jena)

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