Chitta Jena

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. 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".

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).

He completed his secondary education at Stewart School in Cuttack and subsequently graduated in science from B.J.B. College in Bhubaneswar.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.