Odia Filmmaker Amiya Patnaik No More

Patnaik made his foray into the Odisha film industry as director and producer with the film, ‘Mamata Mage Mula’ (1985).

He excelled as an actor, director and producer in the realm of Odia theatre. In 1978, he was adjudged the Best Director at the Lok Natak Mahotsav.

He was known for blockbusters such as ‘Hakim Babu’ (1985), ‘Raja Rani’ (1989), Asuchi Mo Kalia Suna (1989), ‘Paradeshi Babu’ (1999) and ‘Babu I Love You’ (2005).

‘Hakim Babu’, depicting land acquisition and displacement, won him the National Award in 1985. ‘Paradeshi Babu’, a trilingual movie, was released in Odia, Bangla and Bangladeshi languages in 1998.

Patnaik donned the director’s hat again in ‘Tulasi Apa’, a film based on the life of social activist Tulasi Munda. This first Odia biopic that released last year won him the state award in six categories.

He also left an impression on the small screen with ‘Jagte Raho’ and ‘Anni’ in Hindi, ‘Maya Ra Sansara’, ‘Gotie Manara Kotie Swapna’ and ‘Sasti’.

A multi-faceted personality, Patnaik was president of the Odisha Producers’ Association and founder member of Eastern Media Private Ltd, a leading media house of Odisha.