[Watch] Know Who Plays ‘Vidrohi’ Buxi Jagabandhu In Star Plus Series On 1817 Paika Revolt

Bhubaneswar: The valour of Buxi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar Mohapatra Bhramarbar Ray, and the historic Paika Revolt of 1817 in Odisha’s Khurda, is being retold in a new series, ‘Vidrohi’.

The trailer was released by Star Plus on Tuesday. Sharad Malhotra has been cast in the role of the valiant freedom fighter from Odisha and can be seen giving a befitting reply to the forces of East India Company after being stopped from entering Jagannath Temple in Puri.

Besides Star Plus, the series will be streamed on Disney+ Hotstar next month.

The rebellion of 1817 in Khurda led by Buxi Jagabandhu took place 40 years before the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, which is considered the first Indian war of independence. 

The 1817 rebellion started from the Kondhs of Ghumsur (now in Ganjam) and subsequently spread to Banpur, Khurda, Pipli, Puri, Kujanga, Pattamundai and Keonjhar. A pluralistic people’s movement, it continued up to 1936. All sections of the people—the paikas, zamindars, malangis (salt manufacturers), peasants and tribals participated in Paika Bidroha.

Historian BC Ray, who did research on Buxi Jagabandhu’s rebellion in the School of Oriental African Studies, London, had said that the rebellion of 1817 was better organized than many such early movements in other areas of the country.