: Early legends like Nitai Palit (director of Malajanha ) and Sarat Pujari were instrumental in professionalising the industry. The Golden Era (1976–2000)
Odia cinema was born on April 28, 1936, with the release of , directed by Mohan Sundar Deb Goswami . Made on a budget of ₹30,000, it laid the foundation for an industry that initially struggled with infrastructure and relied heavily on studios in Kolkata. First Film : Sita Bibaha (1936), based on the Ramayana.
4 Feb 2026 — Odia Movies you have watched & recommend? * Hisab Nikas. * Hakim Babu. * Dora. * Sesha Srabana. * Swapna Sagara. * Dhauli Express. Facebook·ମୋ ଓଡ଼ିଶା
: In 1960, Sri Lokanath , directed by Prafulla Sengupta, became the first Odia film to win a National Award.
(1976) was the first full-colour Odia film. Hisab Nikas (1982) introduced Cinemascope. Swapna Sagara (1982) was the first 70mm film in Odia.