Banner : Mohapatra Movie Magic Pvt ltd.
Produced: B. Chintu Mohapatra
Writer & Director : Sabyasachi Mohapatra
Starring: Sadhu Meher, Jyoti Mishra, Sreetham Das, Pinto, Shila Lipi, Sarat Poojari and Devashish
Jai Jagannath is his first multi-lingual socio – mythological feature film to be made in Oriya, Hindi, and 13 other languages simultaneously.
Today regional cinema has come of age. An Oriya film, Jai Jagannath, has been dubbed in 13 different regional languages apart from Oriya and English . The film has been shot using the DTS technique. The best of industry people have come together to make this project like; director Sabyasachi Mohapatra is a highly respected and successful Oriya filmmaker, B Chintu Mohapatra who is the producer of Jai Jagannath has worked as line producer to Mani Ratnam, and Prakash introduced the remote control screen in Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani and others. Both are specialised cinematographers who have worked on several big-budget bonanzas.
The film Jai Jagannath is releasing all over India on Laxmi Pooja Day—November 9.
The era of mythological films is coming back. Sabyasachi Mohapatra has directed Jai Jagannath a film based on the ancient scripture Lakshmi Puran.
Though Jagannath’s realm is restricted primarily to Orrisa, the film has been made in 13 other regional languages besides Oriya and English as this way the socially-relevant film will be able to take the message of reform for progress across the country and maybe through the world too. The film Jai Jagannath is as much social as it’s mythological.
Puri is an important pilgrim town in India, one of the four sacred dhaams of the Hindus. Legend has it that after Krishna left his mortal body; his naabhi (navel) did not turn into ashes. So Arjun immersed it in the ocean from which it emerged transformed into wood or daru. This wood is worshipped as daru Brahma Jagannath and even today, deities of Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra are carved from wood and cremated every 12 years.
The foundation of caste division in ancient times was done as per the skills and duties of the people in those days. It is the wrong interpretation of the Varna system and the subsequent traditional practices which have divided the society further .
Sabyasachi Mohapatra is a highly respected and successful Oriya filmmaker. He has won several national and international awards including the prestigious “Utkal Jyoti” award. His sensitively handled film “Bhuka” was raved by critics both in India and abroad. He has made socially relevant movies besides box office hits and has been bridging the gap between art and the so called commercial cinema. He had been one of the film juries for National Awards and has also made noteworthy documentaries like India 24 Hours and several televisions programmes.
All his five brothers are top-ranking technicians. They all got together and arranged the finance themselves. Bharat Shah, was approached and immediately agreed to not only help with finance but will also be releasing the film all over India. The entire family has made sacrifices for this film including giving up non-vegetarian for a whole year. In fact, even the entire team turned vegetarian through the course of the film.
The story of Jai Jagannath is based on the ancient scripture Lakshmi Puran. The untouchables were not allowed to pray, worship and do rituals to god in the ancient ages. Sriya – one of the important characters in this story dares to pray and worship and wins over the support of goddess Lakshmi. The real drama begins when Lakshmi is separated by Lord Jagannath at the behest of his brother Balabhadra because she ends discrimination on earth by encouraging even untouchables to conduct rituals and worship.
As Lakshmi moves out of Jagannath’s household both Jagannath and Balabhadra undergo immense suffering so much so that they have to starve without water and food. The curse of Lakshmi had a severe impact on both the brothers that for 12 years they had a tough time. Soon they realised the importance of Lakshmi and were keen to bring her back to their abode.
Lakshmi returned to Jagannath’s abode on one condition that there will be no discrimination of caste and creed on earth. This unique story highlighted that for god everyone was equal besides it reflected the reforms and progressive stance of gods from the ancient times. Only in the end through Narad it is revealed that Jagannath to end casteism and discrimination had himself “set up” these series of events which highlighted the social message besides the strength of true spirituality.
State of the Art graphics, rich production values and divine music are the highpoints of Jai Jagannath. This socio-mythological film has six songs in all.
Lord Jagannath of Puri
Puri is one of the most auspicious and important pilgrim town of India situated on the banks of Bay of Bengal in Orissa. It is one among the four sacred dhams (sacred places) of the Hindus with a mammoth temple of Jagannath (lord of the universe). The temple architecture showcases the golden era of Utkal (ancient Orissa). The temple complex at Puri comprise has a separate temple for goddess Lakshmi. The deities of Balaram and sister Subhadra along with Jagannath symbolises the family ties of the trio and are worshipped together. Lakhs of pilgrims visit Jagannath temple where about 26 rituals are conducted and the daily routine of the lord is akin to that of normal human being. The deities are also adorned in different attires according to the seasons and festivals.
As per the legend, after Lord Krishna left his mortal body behind his “naabhi” (navel) did not turn into ashes hence Arjuna immersed the “naabhi” into the ocean which after ages transformed into wood known as “daru” which was in due course worshipped as ‘daru Brahma Jagannath”. Even today, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balaram and Subhadra’s deities are made of wood and every 12 years it is cremated.
Jagannath’s, Balaram and Subhadra’s deities have a unique appearance; it neither looks like human or animal in its fullness. It is this abstract look that signifies the form and formless (akaar & niraakar) aspect of the Hindu spirituality. Ishwara as per Hindu philosophy denotes both form and the formless. Jagannath is widely regarded as the incarnation of Lord Mahavishnu. Rath Yatra is the most significant festival at Puri. It is said it during the Yatra period (as per lunar calendar), Jagannath, Subhadra and Balaram comes out on the street to meet the devotees as an annual ritual. Lacs of people converge at Puri from all parts of India and abroad to witness the temple chariot with the deities being pulled on the wide main temple road of Puri.
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