Kadambini Media Production’s Odia movie Krantidhara premiered in the city at the KIIT auditorium on Sunday. The feature film narrates the story of Pratignya, who struggles to discharge her duty as a sarpanch and has to face obstacles in this male-dominated society. Directed by Himanshu Khatua, the movie based on the story Jhada Parara Surya written by Iti Samanta touched the heart of every viewer. The film is about Pati Sarpanch (Husbands of women sarpanches), who are exercising unjustified influence on the work of their wives elected to power.
The protagonists of the movie Abhay played by Samaresh and Pratignya by Gargi Mohanty acted beautifully. Pratignya is a dutiful wife who loves her husband but does not approve of his deeds. Ahbaya is the sarpanch and a corrupt politician. A dedicated housewife, Pratignya works from early morning to late night, taking care of her two school-going children, looking after the aged in-laws. With a tinge of idealism in her, the God-fearing woman cannot accept the corruption her husband is involved in. She tries to convince her husband to be honest, but without success.
The position of Abhay becomes unsustainable subsequent to a Government gazette notification reserving the post sarpanch of the panchayat for women. Abhay hoists Pratignya as a proxy sarpanch for him. She wins. Being in power, Pratignya has to listen to her conscience and perform for the neglected villagers impartially having no party bias. This comes in conflict with her husband, who had thought of his wife to be a rubberstamp and him becoming the de facto sarpanch enjoying the real power.
Industrialist Babu Swain schemes a tricky plan with Abhay to take possession of the village grazing land, and the matter is raised in the panchayat meeting (Gram Sabha). Abhay urges Pratignya to go in favour of Swain in the Sabha and threatens that if she does not, not to come back home. Here also Pratignya listens to her conscience. At the end of the movie, the husband tries to destroy the documents with fire and beats the woman, but accidentally he is burnt to death. This is the story of Krantidhara.
The acting of all stars cast in the movie is quite appreciable. At a time when most Odia films are dubbed as cut-and-paste stories of Hindi or Telugu movies, this is an original Odia show that depicts the real dirty politics superbly directed by the famed director of award winning Kathantara and Sunya Swarup. Film and theatre personalities Anant Mahaptra, Tripura Mishra, Muna Khan, Dillip Hali and Shantanu Mohaptra were present as guests on the occasion and felicitated the artists. Achyuta Samanta delivered the welcome address and Himanshu Khatua gave a vote of thanks.