Bhubaneswar, Dec 17: Renowned Odia film producer Rabindra Mohan Sahoo passed away while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. He was 81.

Apart from being a prolific producer, Sahoo was also a talented actor, story writer and lyricist, leaving a lasting imprint on the Odia film industry through his multifaceted contributions.

A prominent figure in Odia cinema, Sahoo produced several landmark films, including the first Odia film ‘Eie Ta T Dunia’ (1987). His other notable productions include ‘Bastra Haran’, ‘Bohu Hebo Emiti’, ‘Pacheri Uthila Majhi Duaru’, ‘Naga Panchami’, ‘Mani Nageswari’, ‘Sasu Hata Kari Bhauja Bedi’, ‘Kulanandan’, ‘Rasik Nagara’ and ‘Aalo Mora Kandhei’. His works continue to be remembered for their strong storytelling and cultural relevance.

Beyond cinema, Sahoo also had a brief political career. In the 1980s, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and was elected as a councillor of the Kendrapada Municipal Corporation. He later contested the Kendrapada Assembly constituency as a BJP candidate, though he did not succeed.

Rabindra Mohan Sahoo is survived by his wife, five sons and a daughter. His demise has been widely mourned by members of the film fraternity and admirers, who remember him as a pioneer who played a key role in shaping Odia cinema