Sita Bibaha

Sita Bibaha premiered on April 28, 1936 at the Laxmi Talkies of Puri. It was the first complete Odia film and an important part of the struggle for a manifestation of Odia cultural identity in celluloid form. The film was a commercial success. The two-hour movie was subsequently released at Cinema Palace in Cuttack. It also drew numerous crowds at several touring assignments such as the ‘Radhakishen Chamelia Touring Cinema’.

Directed by: Mohan Sundar Deb Goswami
Produced by: Mohan Sundar Deb Goswami
Production Co.: Kali Films
Assistant Director: Bhagaban Mohanty
Writer: Kamapal Mishra
Dialogues: Adwaita Charana Mohanty
Music: Radharaman Ray
Production: The film was sponsored by the Calcutta-based Kali Film Studio and cost Rs. 30,000 (Thirty thousand).
Cast: Adwaita Charan Mohanty, Ganeswar Rath, Krishnamohan Singh, Lala Ramachandra Ray, Mahendra Bose, Makhanlal Banerjee, Mohan Sundar Deb Goswami, Radharaman Ray, Nrusingha Nanda Sharma, Prabhabati Devi, Radharani Sarkar and others

Note:

Mohan Sundar as the producer then had to seek loans to pay the artists. According to the vouchers signed by the artists, Makhanlal (Ram) had received Rs 120 on 30 October 1935. Adwaita Charana Mohanty (Laxman) was paid just Rs 35 as a conveyance fee. Actress Miss Prabhabati (Sita) received the highest among the lot, Rs 150. The total expenditure incurred to make the first commercial movie in the history of Odisha was Rs. 29,781 and 10 anna. The picture was subjected to Bengal Board of Film Certificate and the police commissioner of Lal Bazaar awarded it the censor certificate.

Songs:

The film had 14 song sequences.

• Ehi Je Ashrama Dekhuchhu Sri Rama (Singer: Unknown)
• Kahniki Go Priya Sakhi (Singer: Unknown)
• Debanka Tarane, Danuja Marane (Singer: Unknown)
• Apurba Kumari Tripura Sundari (Singer: Unknown)
• Kali Dekhithili Madhura Chaliki (Singer: Unknown)

Performance:

The performance of Narasingha Nanda Sharma as the boatman as well as Makhanlal Banerjee as Sri Ram were well received. Fourteen songs encapsulated in the movie amidst mythological interpretations were written by Mohan Sundar and Nanda Sharma. All singers for the movie were from Odisha and Mohan Sundar maintained traditional music of the land in the cinema. The settings of the songs and dances were carefully chosen.

Rishi Biswamitra arrives at the court of King Dasaratha to seek help of Ram and Laxman to combat the Asuras. A group song envelopes the durbar. Both the princes follow Biswamitra to an Ashram where a jagnya is underway. Tadaka and Subahu who then arrive to disrupt have to face the wrath of Ram. Tadaka dies while Subahu flees. A contented Biswamitra then welcomes the brother duo to Rishi Goutam’s Ashram. A major welcome song is then played in the cinema: ‘Ei je Ashrama Dekhuchha Sri Ram, Ei je Banabaasa’ , Post welcome, another song is sung in praise of Ram, ‘Debanka Tarane, Danuja Marane’. Among other songs in the film are ‘Apurba Kumari Tripura Sundari’ as an ode to Janaki’s beauty. Miss Prava in role of Sita, likewise, sings ‘Kali Dekhithili Madhura Chaliki’ which is jovially joined in by Sita’s Sakhis who sing ‘Kahniki Go Priya Sakhi’.

Image Credit: Sita Bibaha poster and ad images courtesy eminent cine researcher and writer Surya Deo.