The recently released Odia movie “Mantramugdha”, for the Cinelover of Kalahandi in particular, appears to be more a revival of Kalahandi’s cinematic voice than merely a film on the silver screen, marked by the emergence of a promising actor from a remote village of the land.What is weighty enough for the people of Kalahandi is that the movie is poised to show case yet again the cinematic talent of the land, that owes its Origin during the late 70s and beginning of 80s in the wake of making of the movie-“Samarpana”,the maiden venture for silver screen on behalf of Kalahandi in 1978, followed by Palataka in 1983.Both films were directed by the worthy son of Kalahandi soil, Natyarashmi Prafulla Rath, an iconic odia Playwright as well as play and film director whose contribution once illuminated the cultural landscape of Odisha. It was Mr. Rath who introduced Sri Ram Narayan Mund, ( Entitled as the first ever proud son of Kalahandi to portray a lead role/Hero in mainstream Odia cinema) of Bhegiguda in Jayapatna block in the lead in his film “Samarpana”.
Years late, in what seems like a continuation of that unfinished cinematic journey, Sarthak Bharadwaj of Gatabandh in Koksara Block has emerged as the 2nd proud son of Kalahandi to step into a leading role in Odia Cinema-“Mantramugdha” released on 01.05.2026. His rise is not merely a personal achievement ;it carries with it the aspirations, talents and artistic heartbeats of entire Kalahandi District that has long waited to see its stories and sons shine once again in silver screen.
MORNING SHOWS THE DAY:
Descended from the fabulous family with the legacy of Late Prof. Bhubaneswar Behera,a renowned engineer and celebrated writer of bygone Odisha as well as Grand parents Late Surya Prasad Behera,a celebrated lawyer and Smt Sneha Lata Behera, Sarthak Bhardwaj was born on 19 July 2000 at Gatabandh, a small village in Koksara block of Kalahandi district, Odisha to Father, Subrat Kumar Behera, Lecturer in Economics, P. S College, Koksara and Mother, Smt. Mrunmai Behera, house wife, manifested “Morning shows the day” as he had passionate love for theatre, story telling and performance since his childhood.During his school days at Kendriya Vidyalaya,Bhawanipatna, he participated actively in theatre, cultural activities and even represented school teams at zonal and national level theatre and cultural events encompassing themes like communal harmony and social awareness
CONTENT CREATION FOR DIGITAL PRESENCE:
The young Sarthak Bhardwaj, as turned 20 during 2020 that witnessed the horrible period of Lockdown, unlocked himself in the digital world and started creating digital content that reflected India’s rich cultural diversity and linguistic beauty. His videos mainly focused on Indian languages, accents, and the unique similarities shared among people from different regions. By blending humour with empathy and awareness, he successfully connected with audiences across the country.
Through his relatable and informative content, Sarthak built a strong digital presence on social media platforms. His work celebrated the unity in diversity of India and highlighted the linguistic connections among various communities. As his popularity grew, his videos gained millions of views and attracted collaborations with major brands such as Spotify, Britannia, Google, OnePlus, KFC India, and Garnier India.
THEATRICAL JOURNEY :
Sarthak’s artistic journey is deeply rooted in theatre, which gradually shaped his identity as a performer.
Over the years, he acted in several notable plays including “Chanakya, “Andha Yug ” and “Gandhinka Odisha”, portraying roles that ranged from mythological characters to socially relevant themes. These performances helped him develop emotional depth, expression and confidence as an actor.
PARTICIPATION IN THEATRICAL TRAINING AND WORK SHOP:
In order to attain perfection in performing art, Sarthak is invariably passionate about exploring all possible source and means. Such a quest for learning led him to ‘Story Theatre ’ in Bengaluru, known mainly for improvisational theatre, story telling and actor-training workshop.It enriched his understanding of spontaneous and realistic performance. There after he got associated with Last Coin production, Mumbai and Natya Kshetra , Bhawanipatna which helped broaden his artistic exposure and experience while keeping him in touch with his roots.
Driven by constant desire to refine his craft, the young Sarthak participated in acting workshops conducted by the renowned actor and theatre- mentor,Neeraj Kabi and also received training at the famous Adishakti Laboratory Theatre Art Research, Puducherry. These experiences added discipline and maturity to his acting journey.
TRANSITION FROM DIGITAL CONTENT CREATOR TO SCREEN PERFORMER
Mr.Sarthak Bhardwaj gradually expanded his career from digital content creation to screen performance in both Odia and Hindi entertainment industries.His journey on screen reflects passion, dedication and artistic versatility. He won appreciation for his appearance in the Disney + Hot star show ‘Shanti’ where his natural performance touched the hearts of viewers.He further showcased his acting talent in the telefilm ‘Rasagola kaharo’ adding emotional depth and authenticity to his character. His growing popularity also led him to feature in odia web series such as ‘Cheat fund’ and ‘Ritukha’.
His constant desire to go beyond regional projects entitled him to work in Hindi entertainment platforms with projects such as MTV Nishedh Season 3 and College friends.Through every role, he continues to leave a lasting impression with his touchy expressions, effortless acting and deep connection with the audience.
FILM DEBUT:
Being reared & nurtured in rustic ambience of Kalahandi and daring to dream for film debut was never a overnight miracle for Sarthak Bhardwaj ;rather it was a gradual fulfilment of a long-cherished aspiration built on patience, dedication and relentless hard work. From creating meaningful digital content rooted in culture and humour to winning the admiration of millions online, his artistic journey gradually paved the way towards silver screen.
His dream finally blossomed into reality when he made theatrical lead debut in the Odia horror-comedy film-“Mantramugdha” released on 1st May 2026. Directed by National Award winning film maker Anupam Pattnaik,the film turned out to be a significant milestone in his career.What is more, sharing screen space with talented actors of Odisha like Dipanwit Dashmohapatra, Sanoj Kumar, Manmay Dey, Bhumika Dash, and Suryamayee Mohapatra, the young actor from Kalahandi has been able to impress the audiences with his expressive acting and natural screen presence.
The film blends suspense, humour, mystery and super natural elements. The story keeps the audience entertained with unexpected twist, spooky moments and light-hearted comedy from beginning to end. In such a vibrant cinematic atmosphere , Sarthak Bhardwaj portrayed the role of Chintamani(C. M) in tune with other characters and situation quite perfectly. Particularly by the climax of the film, his portrayal of a ghost speaking in Marathi, Hindi,Telegu Chhatishgadi languages and even in Kalahandi dilect created waves of laughters,resounding whistling,thunderous applause and continuous clapping of the audience. Such impact is especially overwhelming in the cinema halls of Kalahandi, for the local audience on hearing his iconic dialogue in Kalahandi dilect-“A dada moke nein marna/ ଏଦଦାମୋକେନେଇଁମାରନା ( Elder brother, Don’t beat me)”, amused overwhelmingly, burst into laughter. When asked about the Kalahandia dialogue and his impeccable portryal of ghost, Sarthak said,
“ The climax scene was not in the sequence of the movie. The Director being aware of my content creation skill with such stuffs, suggested me for such a super natural scene and the result is before you. Infact, the gost scene is an outcome of my personal experience of my rural life where I personally witnessed ghost or spirit getting infused into Kalishi(A virgin girl) and in some cases, some villagers possessed by the spirit used to pierce their ears, lips and cheeks with iron nails and engage themselves in wild dance to the wild thumping of the drums”
These real-life observation added authenticity, intensity and emotional realism to his performance, making the scene both haunting and captivating
Mantramugdha is not merely the story of a young actor entering the film industry; it is the inspiring tale of a dream nurtured with courage, creativity, and unwavering determination. From the quiet soil of Kalahandi to the bright lights of the silver screen, his journey reflects the power of passion and perseverance. With his natural acting talent and ability to connect deeply with audiences, Sarthak has emerged as one of the most promising faces of contemporary Odia cinema, carrying with him the hopes and pride of his homeland.-Kalahandi.
Bankim Mund
Lecturer in English
Dharmgarh Women’s Jr. College, Dharamgrh, Kalahandi Mob 8327717672
You can reach to him : bankim.mund@gmail.com