Sarat Pujari

Sarat Pujari was one of the most versatile actors, director and producer of the Odisha film industry, Ollywood. He was born on 8 August 1934 in a small town named Khandapada in Nayagarh district of Odisha. He has acted in more than 40 films and some television serials. Pujari is also the director of some successful Oriya films, which includes Taipei and Ashanti graham. The Government of Odisha had honored him with the ‘Jayadav award.’ He had completed his early education from many different schools of Odisha. Then in the year 1954, he went to the Allahabad University for pursuing his post graduation in Economics and Diploma in Paintings. After finishing his education, he started his career as a Publicity agent and block designer.

In 1959, he became a lecturer of Economics in Panchayat College, Bargarh. But he was not satisfied with his journey till now, as he said in an interview. So he left that job soon in 1996. After doing several other works, he realized that he had a vocation in acting even from his school life. And thus, he decided to follow his inner voice and started working as a freelance film actor to learn the details of Film-making. After struggling for the next two years, he became a principal in Larambha College, Bargarh. As a result of his hard work, passion, and dedication, the Government of Odisha selected him as one of the directors of Film Development Corporation of Odisha and also as a member of the Odisha Sangeet Natak Academy.

Mr. Pujari was offered a role in Kommineni's film ‘Lakshmi puja,’ at that time when the Odisha film industry was not as progressive as it is today, producing just two to three films each year. And thus the flourishing journey of Mr. Pujari was started. After that, he has never looked back. At one time Pujari was one of the top star actors of the Odisha film industry. He has done more than 40 films including Mrinal sen's - Matira Manisha (1966), Prafulla Sengupta's Arundhati (1967) and Apurba Kishore’s Aranyaka (1994). He has also acted in some television serials. This versatile actor had also directed some Oriya films, including Ashanti Graham and Taipei. Mr. Pujari was reputed with several awards which include, the "Jayadev Award of 1985" by the Government of Odisha, Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Bio coming soon... >> Read More... Award in the year 2007 and Kadambini Samman Awards in 2010.

The first ‘Hemant Das Kala Samman Award' was also given to him. On 12th May 2014, he suffered a heart attack at around 12:30 AM and died at his home in Bhubaneshwar. But he is still remembered for his contribution to the Odisha film industry, especially for his role in the National award winning movie Aryanka and also for his negative role in the international award winning movie named Bhukha in 1989. On his death, Governor of Odisha S C Jamir said, “Pujari's death is not a loss for the state but the country.” There are two sons and two daughters of Pujari. His elder son, Soumen Pujari is also an actor.