Summary
Prashanta Nanda (born 2 May 1947[1]) is an Indian director, actor and politician from the state of Odisha. He is currently a Member of Parliament at Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament, for Odisha.[2] He had worked predominantly in Odia film industry but also worked in Bengali film industry and Hindi film industry extensively. He was also a former minister in Odisha state.[3][4]
Prashanta Nanda | |
|---|---|
 Nanda in TeachAids interview, 2013 | |
| MP of Rajya Sabha for Odisha | |
| Assumed office 4 April 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Dilip Kumar Tirkey, BJD |
| Member: 12th and 14th Odisha Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 2009–2014 | |
| Preceded by | Janaki Ballabh Patnaik |
| Succeeded by | Prasanta Kumar Jagadev |
| Constituency | Begunia |
| In office 2000–2004 | |
| Preceded by | Harihara Sahoo |
| Succeeded by | Janaki Ballabh Patnaik |
| Constituency | Begunia |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Prashanta Nanda 2 May 1947 Cuttack, Orissa, British India |
| Political party | Biju Janata Dal |
| Other political affiliations | Nationalist Congress Party Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Spouse | Anupama Nanda |
| Children | Rhishav Nanda |
| Alma mater | Ravenshaw Collegiate School Ravenshaw College Utkal University Madhusudan Law College |
| Occupation | Actor, director, screenplay writer, lyricist, playback singer, politician |
Early life edit
Prashanta Nanda was born in Cuttack, Odisha on 2 May 1947 to Kanchan and Jagannath Nanda.
He did his schooling from Ravenshaw Collegiate School. His B.Sc. from Ravenshaw College, M.A. and Ph.D from Utkal University, LL.B. from Madhusudan Law College, and have D.Litt. from MIT University, Pune.
From his childhood, he showed an interest in acting by participating in different dramas from his school days. He performed in a children’s program named Sishu Sansar for Cuttack's All India Radio with the character named Bulu.
Career edit
He started his acting career from early young age. While performing in a drama at Kala Vikash Kendra of Cuttack, Kaviraj Krushna Chandra Tripathy and Dhira Biswal choose him for the Odia movie Dasyu Ratnakar.
As actor edit
In 1962, he debuted as a lead actor with Odia movie Nua Bou. His three movies, Nua Bou (1962), Matira Manisha (1966) and Adina Megha (1970) got three times National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Odia within just eight years. He has worked under veteran directors like Prabhat Mukherjee, Mrinal Sen, Amit Maitra.
As director edit
At first he has given direction to 1975 Odia movie Mamata. But due to his young age, the producer suggested not to disclose his name. So he has given veteran actor Byomkesh Tripathy's name in the credits.
The 1976 movie Shesha Shrabana became his directorial debut in the industry, where the versatile actress Mahasweta Ray made her debut with the movie. Movies like, Shesha Shrabana, Hisab Nikas, Balidan, Swapna Sagara, Maa O Mamata, Dora are some of his milestone classics for Odia film industry.
While screening of his film Shesha Shrabana at IFFI, New Delhi, Tarachand Barjatya of Rajshri Productions, approached him to make the movie in Hindi. Subsequently, Nanda directed and acted as male lead in Naiyya released in the year 1979 alongside Zarina Wahab and the veteran actor Amrish Puri.
The whole shooting of the movie Naiyya was done in the bank of Mahanadi near Cuttack. The film’s music was given by the legendary musician Ravindra Jain. He again collaborated with Rajshri Productions with movie Paheli. He has also given his direction in 1984 Hindi movie, Grahasthi starring Yogeeta Bali, Suresh Oberoi and Ashok Kumar.
The Odia movie Maa O Mamata, based on a short story written by him while he was in his 9th standard. His mother found out his story diary and showed to his father. They were worried about his future, because of the content of story written by a school going boy. For that they punished him.
Later, in 1980, Nanda made a movie named Maa O Mamata, where he was the lead actor along with Mahasweta Ray, Hemant Das and Anita Das. The movie was a blockbuster at that time. His father never saw his films, but by hearing a lot of appreciation from everyone’s mouth, he asked him about the movie and showed interest to watch it. After watching the movie, he was surprised and asked where he found this kind of story. In reply, Prashanta said, the story was the same as what he had written in that dairy in his childhood for which they had punished him and hid that dairy. After that, his father got emotional with happiness and told him, As a parent, sometimes we behave more protective towards our children, and we never want our child to go the wrong way but it is difficult to find what talents our child has gifted by god.
While sharing the story of Maa O Mamata, Nanda has shared one of the songs Jane Radha Jane Meera and some parts of the film with the veteran Bollywood actor Raj Kapoor. Later, the song lyrics and theme of the movie Maa O Mamata reflects in his 1985 film Ram Teri Ganga Maili.
In 2008, his film Jianta Bhoota was conferred Best Film on Environment Conservation/Preservation in 56th National Film Awards.
Actor-director duo Sidhant Mohapatra and Prashanta Nanda have given 8 all time blockbuster Movies to Ollywood.
In 2007, he awarded with the Lifetime achievement award in Odisha Filmfare Award.[5]
As Politician edit
He was the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) leader and Odisha state Vice President. He resigned from his membership in August 2007.[6] After that he joined the Nationalist Congress Party and then became a member of Biju Janata Dal.
Charitable work edit
In 2013, it was announced that he had joined other Bollywood and international celebrities in the TeachAids initiative, a state-of-the-art approach to worldwide HIV prevention, developed at Stanford University.[7]
Filmography edit
As a director edit
Actor edit
- Ghara Sansara
- Mana Akasa
- Pooja
- Heera Neela
- Bagula Baguli
- Jaa Devi Sarva Bhuteshu
- Emiti Bhai Jagate Nahin
- Bohu Haba Emiti
- Bapa (1997)
- Panchu Pandav (1989)
- Laal Paan Bibi (1988)
- Golamgiri (1987)
- Paka Kambal Pot Chhota (1986)
- Jaga Balia (1984)
- Dora (1984)
- Swapna Sagara (1983)
- Hisab Nikaas (1982)
- Maa O Mamata (1980)
- Naiyya (1979) .... Sonu
- Balidan (1978)
- Naga Phasa (1977)
- Sindura Bindu (1976)
- Shesha Shrabana (1976) .... Sania
- Samaya (1975)
- Mamata (1975)
- Dharitri (1973)
- Adina Megha (1970) .... Suresh
- Matira Manisha (1966) .... Chakkadi
- Nua Bou (1960)
Music Director edit
- Ghara Sansara (1993)
Recognition edit
- In 1962 his debut movie Nua Bou was awarded National Film Awards.[10]
- FitFat Bioscope award, 2005[11]
- Odisha Filmfare Award, 2015 (Lifetime achievement)[12]
Notes edit
- ^ "Members Information System". Archived from the original on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 14 November 2008.
- ^ "Three BJD MPS Prashanta Nanda, Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, Achyuta Samanta take oath in Rajya Sabha". 4 April 2018. Archived from the original on 26 August 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
- ^ "Actor Prashanta new BJP vice-president". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 13 March 2007. Archived from the original on 15 March 2007. Retrieved 20 September 2008.
- ^ "Orissa Uncensored". Archived from the original on 3 June 2008. Retrieved 20 September 2008.
- ^ "Odia Actor Prashanta Nanda biography, Lifestyles, Height, Weight Wallpapers 2018". MysmartOdisha - Odisha News, Government / Private Jobs, Odisha Jobs, Biography, Events, Odia Movies. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
- ^ "Orissa News Online: Crisis in Orissa BJP: Prashant Nanda resigned". orissatimes.net. Archived from the original on 21 November 2008.
- ^ "Former Minister of State, Prashanta Nanda, donates his voice for Odia animated software". TeachAIDS Blog. 2013. Archived from the original on 3 July 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
- ^ "Prashanta Nanda". IMDb. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
- ^ "Maa". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 24 December 2009. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- ^ "Ollywood History and list of Odia films, cinema, movies". www.insideorissa.co.in. Archived from the original on 30 June 2009. Retrieved 17 March 2009.
- ^ "Other States / Orissa News : FitFat-2008 award for Uttam Mohanty". The Hindu. 2008. Archived from the original on 15 March 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
director and producer Prashant Nanda received the award in 2005
- ^ "Prashant Nanda conferred with lifetime achievement award". No. 14 February 2016. Odisha Sun Times. Archived from the original on 8 January 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
External links edit
- Prashanta Nanda at IMDb