Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Film Development Corporation (OFDC) held a meeting on Thursday in a bid to resolve the row triggered by a two-year ban imposed on actor Manoj Mishra by some Ollywood producers.
The meeting, called by OFDC chairperson Satyabrrata Tripathy, popularly known as Kuna Tripathy, was reportedly attended by actor Arindam Roy, Film Artist Association secretary Sritam Das, producer Tutu Nayak and others from the Odia film industry. However, actor Manoj Mishra was absent during the discussion, sources said.
During the meeting, it was reportedly revealed that the Utkal Cine Chambers of Commerce (UCCC) has agreed to lift the two-year ban on actor Manoj.
Stating that the dispute should not be allowed to linger further and affect the actor adversely, Kuna Tripathy said he had spoken to the producers in the meeting and they informed that they do not harbour any ill feelings against Manoj.
They have also given an assurance that the ban will be lifted the day Manoj comes for discussion, he said.
Sritam Das told reporters after the meeting that all those present in the meeting were in favour of withdrawing the ban on Manoj and this is a positive sign. Therefore, Manoj should come forward and hold talks with the producers, he said
Expressing similar views, producer Sanjay Nayak said the chamber is ready to forget everything and lift the ban as Manoj also happens to be a member of Ollywood family.
It may be noted here that UCCC had earlier announced that it would boycott the actor for two years over a dispute relating to the screening of two Odia movies during Dussehra festival.
Manoj’s film ‘Mindgame’ clashed with actor Arindam Roy’s ‘Ram’ during the festival.
It was alleged that supporters of Manoj had had blocked the release of movie ‘Ram’ in Sambalpur and some other places in the western Odisha over some issues.
Subsequently, the UCCC had imposed a two-year ban on Mishra. However, the Odisha Film Producers and Distributors Guild, another group of producers, did not support the ban.
Secretary of the guild Arun Mohanty had made it clear that Manoj is free to work in their films.
