Bhubaneswar, April 27: Friday marks the 81st anniversary of Sita Bibaha, the first Odia film that was released in theatres on that day.

To celebrate the momentous journey of the industry, members of the Odia film fraternity have taken up initiatives to preserve the film.

The members of Odisha Cine Critic Association have come together to publish the film's screenplay in the form of a book. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik will unveil the book at an event here tomorrow.

Sita Bibaha was given limited release at Laxmi Talkies in Puri. Directed by Mohan Sunder Deb Goswami, the film was made on a budget of Rs 29,000, a princely sum in those days. Based on the marriage of Ram and Sita and adapted from the Ramayan, the film had 29 scenes and 14 songs.

However, a freak fire destroyed the reel of the film shortly after its release. "The film had become very popular and was being screened at various places in and around Odisha. While the team was touring Calcutta, it got destroyed in a fire. There was no scope to revive it with the technology available in those days," said association secretary and noted film critic Dilip Halli.

Realising the urgency to save its legacy, members of the Odia film fraternity got hold of the script from the director's family members.

"Fortunately, the script was still there. His grandson, who is also an actor and a theatre director, helped us in the process," said Halli.

He said: "If the government helps, a film can be made again based on the script."

Last year, an exhibition of Odia film posters was hosted at the state museum to mark the occasion. Around 80 posters of classic films made from 1936 to 1986 were put up.

"The cast and crew of the films overcame many challenges to give Odisha its first film. So, it is necessary that steps be taken to preserve whatever is left of the film," said filmmaker Susant Mani.

The Odisha Cine Critic Association is also hosting a monthly event - Sanskruti - to promote discussions on various issues related to the film industry.

A number of filmmakers, researchers, artistes, scholars and academics are invited to seminars. The first such session was hosted in January 7.

The association hosts a number of events, including film screenings, star nights and felicitation ceremonies every year to promote Odia films.

"We want the common man to be involved in our activities so that the connection with Odia films increase. We are hopeful that the initiative will boost the idea," said Halli.