Remembering a legend today is the birthday of late Smt. Jharana Das, a legendary actress who made Odisha proud by winning the National Award for acting. Born into a humble family in Cuttack with three brothers and a sister, she embraced a motherly role early in life. With her own mother working in rural parts of Odisha, she cared for her siblings while pursuing her academic career. She later joined All India Radio as an announcer, and with drama flowing naturally in her veins, she produced and acted in countless plays, including the iconic Odia classic Tapoi. With her father and brother associated with the Odia film industry and the legendary singer Akshaya Mohanty being a close family friend, destiny was already guiding her path.
One day, Akshaya Mohanty asked if she would be interested in acting in films—and the rest became history. She delivered her unforgettable masterpiece in the Odia film Mala Jhana and went on to act in numerous movies during what is fondly remembered as the golden era of Odia cinema. Her journey then took her from All India Radio to Doordarshan, where her deep understanding of cinema helped her rise to the position of Director. She created meaningful youth programs and contributed significantly to the mega-serial era in both Odia and Bengali Doordarshan. After taking a sabbatical to raise her three children, she made a powerful return to the small screen through acclaimed works like the Tulasi mega serial and the spiritual program Sakala Trirhta To Charana on ETV. She also penned her autobiography, capturing her life, passion, and devotion to the world of audio and visual storytelling.
I, Sombit Das, son of this legendary actress, along with my family, my sister, my brother, and the entire state of Odisha, deeply miss the Actress, the Director, and above all, the wonderful human being and proud Odia that she was—especially on her birthday today.
