Chitta Jena
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| Chitta Jena | |
|---|---|
| Native name | ଚିତ୍ତ ଜେନା |
| Born | Chitta Ranjan Jena 24 December 1941 Poparada, Cuttack district, Odisha, India |
| 💀Died | 13 November 2018 Cuttack, Odisha, India13 November 2018 |
| 🏫 Education | B.J.B. College |
| 💼 Occupation | Playback singer |
| 📆 Years active | 1970s–2018 |
| Known for | Odia film songs |
Chitta Jena (24 December 1941 – 13 November 2018), also known as Chitta Ranjan Jena, was an Indian playback singer who worked primarily in the Odia film industry.[1][2][3] He was known for his melodious voice and for his recordings in Odia films, devotional music and light music. His songs included "Mo Priya Tharu Kie Adhika Sundara", "Rupa Hoithiba Labanyabati", "Na Ja Re Na Ja Gori Balijatra Dekhi" and "Alo Alo Manika".[4][5]
Jena's career was particularly associated with music director Prafulla Kar. Their collaboration produced a number of popular songs in Odia cinema, including "Mo Priya Tharu Kie Adhika Sundara" from Sindura Bindu (1976) and songs from films such as Bandhu Mohanty (1977).[5][4]
Early life and education
Chitta Ranjan Jena was born on 24 December 1941 in Poparada near Cuttack, Odisha, to Jadumani Jena and Hemanta Kumari Devi.[4][6]
He completed his secondary education at Stewart School in Cuttack and subsequently graduated in science from B.J.B. College in Bhubaneswar.[4]
Jena developed an interest in music from childhood. After completing his college education, he became increasingly involved in music and subsequently established himself as a singer in the Odia cultural and film-music scene.[4]
Career
Early work
Jena entered Odia film playback singing during the 1970s. Contemporary accounts identify Mana Akasha (1974), whose music was composed by Upendra Kumar, among his earliest and most important film assignments. He lent his voice to songs including "E Bana Jharana Nachi Nachi Jaa Na" and "Gori Kania Suna Pania".[4][5]
Jena also sang for the earlier film Dharitri (1973). Its soundtrack included the duet "Pirati Tora Duru Juhara", performed by Chitta Jena and Sipra Bose.[7]
His early recordings established him as one of the male voices associated with the changing sound of Odia cinema during the 1970s. Contemporary accounts later described his voice as particularly suited to romantic songs.[5]
Association with Prafulla Kar
One of the most significant associations of Jena's career was his collaboration with composer and singer Prafulla Kar. Their partnership became one of the notable singer-composer collaborations in Odia film music.[5][8]
Their best-known collaboration was "Mo Priya Tharu Kie Adhika Sundara" from Sindura Bindu (1976). The song became one of the recordings most closely identified with Jena and was subsequently described in retrospective accounts as one of his signature songs.[5][9]
The soundtrack of Sindura Bindu, composed by Prafulla Kar, featured several prominent singers of the period, including Jena. The film was released on 24 September 1976.[9]
Jena subsequently worked with Kar on a number of other films. Their recordings included "Kahin Gale Shyama Ghana E Ghana Kalare" from Bandhu Mohanty (1977), as well as songs from Sesha Shrabana and other films.[5][10]
Other recordings
Jena's repertoire extended beyond romantic film songs. He recorded devotional songs and light music and was also associated with non-film recordings.[8]
His rendition of "Tume Mo Radha, Tume Mo Sita" from the Odia film Sakhi Gopinath, with music composed by Basudev Rath, was also remembered as a popular recording.[4]
His recordings consequently covered several genres, including romantic songs, devotional music and other forms of Odia popular music.[8]
All India Radio
Jena was associated with All India Radio's Cuttack station as a first-class artist. His association with broadcasting was an important part of his career alongside playback singing.[8][11]
Accounts of his career also place him within the generation of Odia singers who worked across radio, film and non-film music rather than limiting their activities to cinema.[8]
Style and reputation
Jena became particularly associated with a soft and melodious vocal style. The New Indian Express described his voice as "honey-dipped" and regarded his arrival as a distinctive development in Odia film music of the 1970s.[5]
His popularity was particularly strong in romantic songs. "Mo Priya Tharu Kie Adhika Sundara" became one of the best-known songs associated with his career, while recordings such as "Kahin Gale Shyama Ghana E Ghana Kalare" further established his reputation.[5]
Retrospective accounts have also placed Jena alongside singers such as Pranab Patnaik, Akshaya Mohanty and Sikandar Alam as part of the important generation of Odia film and popular singers who emerged during the second half of the 20th century.[5]
Honours and recognition
Jena received the Prafulla Kar Samman for his contribution to Odia music.[11][5]
He was also awarded an honorary doctorate by Utkal University, according to the obituary published by Sambad following his death.[8]
He was given the honorific title "Amrita Kantha" (voice of immortality) in recognition of his contribution to music.[8]
These honours reflected the continuing recognition of his work in Odia music beyond his film recordings.[8]
Death
Jena suffered a brain stroke in October 2018 and was admitted to a private nursing home in Cuttack. His condition subsequently deteriorated and he was placed in intensive care and later on a ventilator.[8]
He died at approximately 1:20 a.m. on 13 November 2018 at a private hospital in Cuttack. He was 76 years old.[8][5]
His death was widely reported in the Odia and Indian press. Members of the Odia film industry and other public figures visited his residence to pay their respects, and political leaders including Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed condolences.[11][5]
Jena was cremated at his native village of Poparada near Cuttack, with his elder son performing the last rites.[11]
Personal life
Jena was married to Snehalata Jena. He had four children: daughters Sangeeta and Sarita and sons Sunandan and Suchandan, according to biographical accounts published after his death.[8]
His daughter Sangeeta was married to Odia actor Mihir Das, who died in 2022.[11]
See also
References
- ↑ Rath, R.K. (2024). EVOLUTION OF ODIA CINEMA : A Historical Study (1936-2010). p. 304. ISBN 978-93-91968-86-1. Retrieved 2026-08-24. Search this book on
- ↑ "Google Books". Google. Retrieved 2026-08-24.
- ↑ "Google Books". Google. 2025-04-28. Retrieved 2026-08-24.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 "ସିନେ ସଙ୍ଗୀତରେ ଚିତ୍ତ ଜେନା" [Chitta Jena in film music]. Sambad (in Odia). 13 November 2018.CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link)
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 Sahu, Diana (14 November 2018). "Chitta Jena, the romantic singer with honey-dipped voice, passes away at 76". The New Indian Express.
- ↑ "Chitta Jena". Dharitri. 15 February 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
- ↑ "Dharitri". Odia Movie Database. 1973. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
- ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 "ଚିରନିଦ୍ରାରେ ଚିତ୍ତ ଜେନା" [Chitta Jena passes away]. Sambad (in Odia). 14 November 2018.CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link)
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "ସିନ୍ଦୁର ବିନ୍ଦୁ" [Sindura Bindu]. Odia Movies (in Odia). 2017. Retrieved 24 August 2026.CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link)
- ↑ "Bandhu Mohanty". Odia film music archive. Missing or empty
|url=(help);|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 "Noted Odia singer Chitta Jena passes away". The Daily Pioneer. 14 November 2018.
Further reading
- Dash, Sambit Prakash (2001). Orissa Reference: Glimpses of Orissa. Bhubaneswar: TechnoCAD Systems. The volume contains entries concerning Odia cinema and music and is useful for contextualising Jena's generation of film artists.
- Odisha Review. Government of Odisha, Information and Public Relations Department. The journal's digitised archive is maintained by the Government of Odisha.[1]
External links
- Chitta Jena on IMDb
- Chitta Jena at YouTube Music
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- ↑ "Odisha Review: e-Magazine archive". Government of Odisha, Information and Public Relations Department. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
