Life & Career

Hemant Das started his career as a news reader in All India Radio in New Delhi and then moved to Odisha. Das’ maiden entry into the Odia film began with “Bhai Bhai” directed by Nitai Palit in 1956. After that he did not look back. He possessed no great looks. Rather he was like an everyman in most of the movies, where he played the roles of a vagabond in Jajabara (1975) or a ordinary villager in Chilika Teerey (1978). But without him no movie could be complete as viewers identified with him over last 5 decades. Starting with his debut movie Bhai Bhai (1956) to his last film Tume Hi Sathi Mora (2009), he made the ordinary man famous something like RK Laxman’s common man.

He had won national and State awards, including Jaydev award in 1991, for outstanding performance. Among films in which he showed his acting prowess are Jajabara (1975), Chilika Teerey (1978), Maa O Mamata (1980), Sesha Shrabana (1976), Danda Balunga (1984), Seeta Rati (1981), Hakim Babu (1985), Hisab Nikas (1982), Nirab Jhada (1984) and Kichhi Smruti Kichhi Anubhuti (1988). He even acted in Hindi National Award winning movie “Shodh”.

He was part of the directors-trio “Trimurti” with singer Akshaya Mohanty and playwright Bijay Mishra. The team directed the hit movie Jajabara (1975). Hemant Das was also well-known as a radio artist and a director. He worked in the news section of AIR, Katak and acted in television serials.

Last Phase of Life

The 76-year-old versatile actor died on 27 April 2010 after after a prolonged illness. The veteran actor suffered much pain and agony in the last phase of his life. He was financially distressed and was not keeping well after the death of his wife and son. He shifted to his native place Khamaranga village of Banki from Katak in 1995 and was staying there with his sister, Sebati.

“He had many dreams in his eyes. He wanted to complete his unfinished works, but was unable to do. In his last days, he wanted to meet his colleagues with whom he shared the golden years of his life. All his dreams remained unfulfilled,” said Sebati, who was taking care of Das for the last 30 years. “His last wish was to complete the movie Sulochana, based on Fakir Mohan Senapati’s famous story Patent Medicine’. Due to paucity of funds and his illness he could not complete it. He always discussed the project. But nothing could be done,” said his nephew Jajati Patnaik.

Das was very fond of his native village Khamaranga hence he was cremated there. “He had dedicated his entire life to Odia films and theatre. He was a versatile actor and his death has created a vacuum in the Odia film industry, which can never be filled up,” said Prashant Nanda, noted actor and politician.