Urmila Mahanta is an Indian actress. A student of the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, Mahanta appeared in various plays, short films, and television series before making her feature film debut in the critically acclaimed 2012 Tamil crime thriller Vazhakku Enn 18/9, which was later remade in Bengali as Chirodini Tumi Je Amar 2. She has acted in Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, and Malayalam films.
Early and personal life Mahanta was born to Giridhar Mahanta and Ramala Mahanta in Sonapur, Assam; she has three siblings: Jutika Mahanta, Munmi Mahanta, and Munindra Mahanta. Mahanta completed her schooling in Sonapur and later graduated from Dimoria College in Khetri, Kamrup. She spent the major part of her life in Mumbai, Maharashtra, and later enrolled at the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune.
Career Mahanta had been acting in plays since her childhood and won many awards. Afterwards, she was featured in several television serials such as Murder and Tejimola for Doordarshan (NE), which were followed by appearances in various critically acclaimed short films including Aaliya, that won the Special Critic Award at the 2012 Mumbai International Film Festival, Their Story and Cheng Kurthy. Mahanta was also seen in Assamese singer Tarali Sarma's album Henguliya.
While attending the International Film Festival of India at Goa, she was spotted and selected among few others following a lengthy process lasting two years including multiple auditions conducted by director Balaji Sakthivel for his drama-thriller Vazhakku Enn 18/9. Mahanta has received notable praise for portraying the character of a slum dweller, Jyothi, who works as a housemaid. The Times of India critic M. Suganth wrote: "It is Urmila Mahanta's understated performance as Jothi that is the film's pivot". Similarly, a reviewer from IndiaGlitz.com noted that Mahanta was "impressive as a short poetry on screen", further adding that she "bubbles with energy and emotes at ease", while another critic quoted: "Urmila is a treat to watch. She delivers what Balaji Sakthivel wants from her. She is cool and passes the test with ease and elan". The film itself received widespread acclaim, with reviewers calling it "excellent", a "must-watch", and even "the film of the year". Mahanta ultimately went on to state that Vazhakku Enn 18/9 was the best decision she had ever made.
She then shot for her first Bollywood project, Pareshaanpur directed Dilip K. Mukharia. She played a supporting role in Ajita Suchitra Veera's Ballad of Rustom (Rustom Ki Dastaan) that fetched Veera the Best Director Award at the 12th Osian's Cinefan Festival of Asian and Arab Cinema, and was shortlisted in the Best Picture category at the 86th Academy Awards. In 2014, she made her debut in the Bengali language with the remake of Vazhakku Enn 18/9, Chirodini Tumi Je Amar 2, and in her mother tongue Assamese with TRP Aru. Due to the delay in Pareshaanpurs release, her maiden Hindi release became Manjhi - The Mountain Man.
In 2015, she began work on her first Malayalam film Udal and AR Murugadoss' Hindi directorial Akira.
Filmography
Films Year Film Role Language Notes2012 Vazhakku Enn 18/9 Jyothi Tamil Tamil Debut Ballad of Rustom Hindi-English 2014 Chirodini Tumi Je Amar 2 Jyoti Bengali Remake of Vazhakku Enn 18/9 TRP Aru... Pallavi Assamese 2015 Manjhi - The Mountain Man Lauki Hindi Pareshaanpur Radhika 2016 Kothanodi- The river of Fables Keteki Assamese Bokul Bokul Akira Anna Hindi Udal Malayalam 2017 Purab Ki Awaaz Kanaklata Barua and Urmila Hindi, Assamese Antareen Torali Assamese Chakallashpur Champa Hindi Viraam Matun Beyond the Clouds Unknown 2018 Pad Man Savitri 2021 Dial 100 Gayatri ZEE5 film 2022 Guwahati Diaries Jenifer Assamese2023 Oru Vattam Koodi Dr. Chandni Malayalam2024 Sikaar English-Assamese First Indo-British film2025 Swahid Pranaam Kanakalata Assamese
Awards and nominations
Year Award Film Category Result20122nd SIIMA AwardsVazhakku Enn 18/9 Best actress in a supporting role Best actress in Female Debutant 7th Vijay Awards Best Debut actress 2016 Patna International Film Festival Bokul Best actor female Sailadhar Baruah Film Awards Best artist Antareen Best actress Prag Cine Awards North-East 2016 Best actress
Other awards
"Young Achievers" 2017 ' by Dalmia Bharat Cement Ltd. "Youth of the year " 2016 by NEEDS NGO "Youth Icone, Dimoria" 2017 Best Actor (Female) : Assam State Film Awards (2015–16)
References
External links
Articles on Urmila Mahanta (01, 02 and 03) on Prabhat Khabar