Mantu Chhuria

Early life and education

Chhuria's given name is Jhasketan. OrissaPOST reported in 2018 that his grandfather, Ramprasad Chhuria, first inspired him to sing, and that he began as a schoolboy in village kirtan groups. He has said the high-pitched kirtan style taught him vocal control. His classical training came from Guru Gyana Ranjan Mohapatra, which he credits with improving his Odia pronunciation, and he plays the tabla, dhol, nishan and keyboard.

He took a one-year electrical trade course at Government Polytechnic, Rengali. By 2018 he was studying sound engineering at the Biju Pattnaik Film and Television Institute of Odisha, hoping to help improve recording facilities in Sambalpur.

Music career

Encouraged by the Sambalpuri singers Bapi Singh and Khirod Bag, Chhuria moved from devotional singing into commercial music. His first Sambalpuri album, Sambalpuri Bihu, was recorded at Sairam Studios and was popular with young listeners. He has worked with the singers Aseema Panda, Diptirekha Padhi and Lipsa, and his duet with Panda, "Jigarwala", was a major success.

He has said that he prefers original songs to cover versions and wants to be known as an Odia singer. He has named Jitendra Haripal and Humane Sagar among the singers he admires. By 2023 Kalinga TV was describing him as a popular Sambalpuri singer, and that year he sang "Aaila Re Malyabanta", the promotional song for the Malyabanta Mahotsav 2023, with Aseema Panda.

Film playback

In 2018 Chhuria told OrissaPOST he hoped to be offered film work. Our database lists him in 14 Odia films from 2019 onward, among them Golmaal Love (2019), Abhiman (2019), Baishali (2019), Mo Mummy Papanka Bahaghara 2 (2025), Simili (2025), Delivery Boy 2 (2025) and Shikar (2026).