Literary and Artistic Values of the Iconic Odia Movie Lyrics and Popular Modern Songs of Love and Romance from 60s to 80s

Abstract: The profile of Odia cinema as well as popular Odia modern songs specially from the 60s to the 80s is indelible nostalgic reminiscences of artistic values for several reasons. Like commitments and movements of making movies in other Indian languages in those days, they deal with the potential socio-cultural and contemporary topics of discussion in varieties, and found to have considerable impact on audience because of the solidity of themes and literary flavour. While reflecting on social issues and realities, as usual, they reserve special position of love between the male protagonist and female protagonist. This theme of love is projected with greater literary and stylistic fervour. This is reflected in the love lyrics of the movies which is the thrust area of critical discussion of this paper. Such love lyrics bear testimonies of both contextual and independent meanings for which even now, Odishan people take the pleasure of singing these iconic songs with the sense that old is gold, and expand their meanings variously in day to day life. The themes of such love lyrics abound the background of Radha-Krishna love; the reference to the seasons and the natural movements in the surrounding; exaggeration owing to the praise of the lover; the role of dream; the metaphor of lily and the moon; the peacock and rain; reference to the love of Dushyanta and Shakuntala; relation between river and the sea; and philosophy of separation and union. The paper also considers critical literary components of the popular modern light lyrics sung during the said period. Such writings bear the testimony of emotion and aesthetic relish, and therefore can be called as Odia classics of love and romance. What’s more, these lyrics become meaningful even if related to life beyond the context in which they were written. Thus, these lyrics are not only entertainers but also bear better dialogic patterns and text dynamics.