''Matira Manisha'' (Man of the Soil) is a 1966

Odia film The Odia film industry, colloquially known as Ollywood, is the Odia language Indian film industry, based in Bhubaneshwar and Cuttack in Odisha, India. The name Ollywood is a portmanteau of the words Odia and Hollywood. Industry In 1974, th ...

directed by

Mrinal Sen Mrinal Sen (''Beng.'' মৃণাল সেন; 14 May 1923 – 30 December 2018) was an Indian film director, and screenwriter known for his work primarily in Bengali, and few Hindi and Telugu language films. Regarded as one of the finest Ind ...

. Based on the novel by

Kalindi Charan Panigrahi Kalindi Charan Panigrahi (2 July 1901 – 15 May 1991) was a noted Odia poet, novelist, story writer, dramatist, and essayist. He is famous for his magnum opus ''Matira Manisha''. He has been awarded Padma Bhushan and Sahitya Akademi award for ...

of the same name, the film contrasts traditional and modern values as exemplified by the different attitudes of two brothers towards their inherited family land. The plot explores human relationships using a wide range of themes, including

Gandhian The followers of Mahatma Gandhi, the greatest figure of the Indian independence movement, are called Gandhians. Gandhi's legacy includes a wide range of ideas ranging from his dream of ideal India (or ''Rama Rajya)'', economics, environmentalism, ...

and

Marxist Marxism is a Left-wing politics, left-wing to Far-left politics, far-left method of socioeconomic analysis that uses a Materialism, materialist interpretation of historical development, better known as historical materialism, to understand S ...

ideologies, postwar social conditions, agrarian culture, rustic life, and traditional family values.

Synopsis

The plot revolves round the family of Shama Pradhan, a rural farmer, and his two sons, Baraju (played by

Sarat Pujari Sarat Pujari (8 August 1934 – 12 May 2014) was an Indian actor, director and producer in Odia film industry (Ollywood). He was originally from Jhaduapada, Sambalpur. Early life and background Sarat Pujari was born on 8 August 1934 at Khand ...

) and Chakadi (played by

Prashanta Nanda Prashanta Nanda (born 2 May 1947) is an Indian director, actor and politician from the state of Odisha. Actor-director duo Siddhanta Mahapatra and Prashanta Nanda Given 8 all time blockbuster Movies to Ollywood. He is currently a Member of Parl ...

), and disagreements over the family home and land after his death. On his death, Shama Pradhan entrusts his elder son Baraju with the responsibility of looking after his younger son Chakadi, and entreats him to keep the family land and home together, and not split it between the two brothers. Baraju is a peace-loving person who commands respect from the villagers for his idealistic way of life, and Baraju's wife Harabou (played by

Bhanumati Devi Bhanumati Devi (15 May 1934 – 4 January 2013) was a Burmese-born Indian film and theater actress. Devi was born in British Burma on 15 May 1934. She moved to Puri, Odisha, India, with her Indian family following World War II. Devi began ac ...

) is portrayed as an ideal housewife, who is very caring and affectionate towards Chakadi, his wife Netramani (played by

Sujata Anand Sujata or Sujatha may refer to: People * Sujata (name), a Hindu/Sanskrit Indian feminine given name ''includes list of name-holders'' Persons known by the single name * Sujatha (actress) (1952-2011), Indian actress *Sujata (actress) ( 1963–1980 ...

) and their two children. Chakadi, in contrast, is shown as carefree and irresponsible, happy to loaf around the village. His wife, Netramani, who is envious of Harabou, insists that the property should be split between the two brothers. A local troublemaker, Hari Mishra (played by

Dukhiram Swain Dukhiram Swain (died 18 January 1995) was an Indian film and television actor. He was one of the most popular villains in Odia cinema and played a variety of roles most notably as the antagonist in many Odia films and various roles in television ...

), also tries to sow discord between the two brothers. Swayed by the designs of his wife Netramani, and of troublemaker Hari Mishra, Chakadi asks his elder brother to divide the property between them. Baraju is shocked, and is torn between his respect for his father's wishes and his affection for his brother. His solution is to hand over the land and the house to Chakadi, satisfying Chakadi's desire, while respecting his promise to his father not to partition the property. Baraju leaves the house with his wife Harabou and their two children, without regret or rancour. After Baraju's departure, Chakadi feels miserable, is nostalgic about the old times, and wants his brother and family back. He goes to Baraju and begs him to return home. But Baraju, who is committed to the spirit of sacrifice, non-attachment, and love, advises Chakadi to go back home and take care of all that he has left behind.

Cast

as Baraju *

as Chakadi *

as Harabou *

as Hari Mishra *Sujata Anand as Netramani *Ram Manya *Kartick Ghosh *Bhim Singh * Snehalata *Meeta *Aloka Kanungo

Crew

*Producer - Babulal Doshi *Director -

*Story -

*Screanplay & Dialogue - Gopal Chhotaray *Camera - Sailaja Chatterjee *Music - Bhubaneswar Mishra *Director Of Photography - Sailaja Chatterjee *Editor - Gangadhar Naskar *Art Direction - B. Kalyan

Awards

National Film Awards The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it has been administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorat ...

1967 (Silver Lotus for Best

)

Music

*''Rama Bibha Ghare Ho Lakhmana Bara Jaatri'' (sung by

Akshaya Mohanty Akshaya Mohanty, also known as ''Khoka Bhai'', was an Indian singer, lyricist, composer, musician and writer in Odia. He has contributed Odia bhajans, Odissi songs, folk songs, film and non-film modern light songs in Odisha on contemporary ...

) *''Udigale Gendalia Jhadidele Para'' (sung by

)

References

External links

*
''Review of'' 'Matira Manisha in www.citwf.com''''Review of'' 'Matira Manisha in movies.msn.com''of'' 'Matira Manisha in www.showbizdata.com''
{{Mrinal Sen 1966 films Films directed by Mrinal Sen 1960s Odia-language films