ANITA DAS WOULD LIVE FOR EVER
Prasanta Patnaik
Bhubaneswar:Veteran Odia film actress Anita Das breathed her last on Friday, 11th May 2018 . She was 57. She died of cardiac arrest at her residence near Shelter Chhak in Cuttack.
Anita Das was born on 1st October in 1951. The actress was best known for restraint and subtlety in portrayal of varied emotions. She was introduced to the film industry by Akshaya Mohanty, Hemant Das, and Bijay Mishra in Jajabara 1975. She paired with Gobind Tej in her next film Krusna Sudama.
She shot to fame instantly with her portrayal of a Female Leads that Make Guys Cry. Despite displaying her acting prowess through characters in films like Jajabara, krushna Sudama, Bandhu Mahanty, Naga Phasa, Tapoi, Sankha Mahuri, Sautuni, Samar Salim Saimon, Mathura Vijay, Alibha Daga, Tapasya, Ram Balram, Maa O Mamata, Akshi Tritiya, Swapna Sagara, Anita was best known for her performance in Pua Mora Kala Thakura.. She played leading roles in her early films and started playing mother roles during the 80s. Pua Mora Kala Thakura was a turning point to her career. Her acting career spanned more than 40 years, and she acted in over 100 films.
Expressing deep grief over untimely death of Anita Das, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said she will be remembered for her immense contribution to Odia film and TV industry.
Anita was known to me since her association in Jajabara in 1975 as Aksaya Mohanty and Hemanta Das were too close to me and they were also closely associated with “Chandrika” a magazine devoted to literature, film and culture which was edited by me. Subsequently she acted in “Bandhu Mohanty” produced by my fifth brother-in-law Dhiren Patnaik.
Anita was the sister-in-law of noted trade union leader Mayadhar Nayak . Her elder sister was a teacher and was very close to my wife Chndraprava who worked as the founding Head Mistress of Mangalpur Girls’ High School in Jajpur district. Therefore there was strong bond between Anita and my family and very often Maydhar babu used to speak about it.
I was extremely happy when Mayadhar babu;s son Akash made his debut in film as Akash Das Nayak and subsequently was elected to the State Assembly from B.J.D., though Assembly remained out of bounds for Mayadhar Nayak.
This month of May has proved to be too cruel to me and my friends as I lost an younger brother-like successful media persons Chandrabhanu Patnaik and Radhanath
Mohapatra on May 10th and an younger sister-like Anita only a day after.
I sincerely pray almighty to rest her immortal soul in peace and give enough strength to Akash and all other family members to bear the great loss with courage. She will live for ever for her contribution to the Odia film industry.
