Balasore: Literary and cultural circles in Balasore have raised objections over the naming and word separation in a recently produced film based on the timeless Odia story ‘Randa Pua Ananta’ by Byasakabi Fakir Mohan Senapati, the savior of the Odia language. The concern is particularly regarding how the words in the title were split during the naming of the movie, reportedly altered to ‘Randa Pua Ananta’, which changes the tone and meaning.
According to these literary voices, separating the words in this manner dilutes the original sentiment and literary integrity of Fakir Mohan’s renowned creation from the 19th century. The story, rooted deeply in Odia culture and literature, was previously popularized through a song rendered by legendary singer Akshaya Mohanty, which won the hearts of listeners and honored the essence of Fakir Mohan’s work.
Writers and intellectuals from Balasore have strongly questioned the rationale behind altering such a respected literary title, calling it a blow to cultural identity. They emphasize that someone like Fakir Mohan, who played a pivotal role in shaping the battlefield of Odia literature, should not be misrepresented or disrespected through such distortions.
Prominent figures like Radhananda Pattnaik, Banshidhar Choudhury, Jaban Agana Das, poet Samarendra Mahapatra, Krishna Numan Mahanty, poet Purushottam Panda, and Abhimanyu Janusare have all voiced concerns. They argue that if a film is produced using a distorted title or altered narrative that deviates from Fakir Mohan’s original work, it will be considered an insult to his legacy.
They warn that such misrepresentations, if allowed to continue, may lead to wider cultural degradation