Protest in Balasore Over the Word Omission from Fakir Mohan’s Timeless Story ‘Randipua Ananta’
Balasore, May 24 (Krushna Kumar Mohanty):
Controversy is gaining momentum in Balasore surrounding a recently released film adaptation of Fakir Mohan Senapati’s classic short story Randipua Ananta. The primary point of contention is the alteration of the original title by the film’s producer, who has dropped the first word Randipua and retained only Ananta, triggering a strong reaction among literary circles in Odisha.
The omission of the term Randipua—a pivotal word in the original title written in the 19th century by Fakir Mohan—is being viewed as a distortion of the original literary identity. As a result, a wave of criticism has emerged, particularly from Balasore, the birthplace of Fakir Mohan himself. Many are questioning the integrity and intentions behind tampering with the title of a story written by someone considered a crusader for Odia language and literature.
In the past, the story gained widespread popularity through a song performed by legendary vocalist Akshaya Mohanty, which captured the spirit of Fakir Mohan’s literary voice. The very mention of the song used to evoke the emotional resonance of his narrative among listeners. However, today's cinematic endeavor seems to have reduced that spirit into a commercial compromise.
Prominent literary figures—including Dr. Radharanjan Pattanaik, Dr. Bansidhar Choudhury, poets Abhaya Das and Samarendranath Mahapatra, Krushna Kumar Mohanty, Dr. Santosh Nayak, Dr. Antaryami Panda, poet Purnachandra Panda, and Dr. Abhimanyu Kanungo—have raised serious concerns about this act. They see it as a disrespect to the legacy of Fakir Mohan and a challenge to the cultural identity of Odia literature.
It is now emerging that the film is neither a telefilm nor a direct adaptation, but a feature film titled Ananta, directed by Sabyasachi Mohapatra and inspired by Randipua Ananta. If the film is merely a fictional work loosely inspired by the story, the opposition may hold less ground. However, if it is a faithful adaptation of Fakir Mohan’s narrative under a rebranded title, many argue it constitutes a symbolic affront to the author’s artistic legacy.
The film reportedly premiered this afternoon, according to sources.
