From ‘Nobody’ To ‘Somebody’: Journey Of National-Award-Winning Odia Filmmaker Ashutosh Pattnaik

Bhubaneswar: Like an anxious teenager waiting for the results of his board exams with fingers crossed, the lesser-known independent filmmaker from Odisha—Ashutosh Pattnaik—had curled up on his humble bed on March 22 earlier this year with his earphones plugged and eyes fixed on a computer screen. He was shivering out of anxiety. He was waiting for the results of the 67^th National Film Awards. By then, he had browsed the website of Press Information Bureau at least a thousand times. All he wanted to know was whether his ‘experiment with Odisha’s ‘Sahi Jatra’—the traditional street play of the Pilgrim Town—would be appreciated at the national level or not.

“I was so nervous that I had put on the earphones so that no one else could come to know about the fact I was listening to the press meet of 67^th National Film Awards. I didn’t want anyone to know that I had applied for the award under the Art and Culture category,” recollects Pattnaik, who won the prestigious award for his documentary ‘Shrikshetra Ru Sahijata.’

For a few seconds, after the awards were announced, the Biju Pattnaik Film and TV Institute alumnus couldn’t believe his ears. He rushed to his mother, like a kid seeking affirmation to believe in himself. And, after his mother blessed him, the filmmaker went to Puri beach—a few yards from his small house—with his friend to celebrate the victory quietly amid nature.

In a day, he had turned from a ‘nobody’ to ‘somebody’ as his phone buzzed a thousand times, delivering congratulations and regards.

Born in a middle-class family—based out of Odisha’s Puri— Pattnaik had been a storyteller since childhood. People and their stories always excited him. For him, the entire world is his canvas and every person he meets is a character for his stories. “Whenever I am talking to someone, a plot for a film runs at the back of my mind. Very often, they become the protagonists and their stories, the plot. I don’t judge human beings for their stories. Their virtues, as well as the vices, help me add elements to the plot,” explains the filmmaker-cum-cinematographer, who also has a diploma in animation and degree in BCA.

Pattanaik is attached to his roots. And, he wants to portray Odisha’s culture through his works. “If I am ever asked to make an Odia film, I will do only if it showcases the land’s culture. Even if it is a commercial film, I will still prefer it to depict Odia culture and not borrowed influences.  If this criterion is fulfilled, I will work even if I am getting less pay. If you study our culture closely, you will spot the difference in our dressing style, festivals, landscapes and much more,” he says.

In his documentary ‘Shrikshetra Ru Sahijata,’ the filmmaker has put the spotlight on various elements from Odisha’s culture, including Daskathia, Ghoda Nacha, Gotipua, Shrikshetra, among other things. For documentary films, Pattanaik feels it is very important for the filmmaker to research well. And, for fiction films, Pattanaik gives utmost importance to the preference of the audience.

After the success of his documentary, the filmmaker has been receiving a lot of offers. But, he isn’t convinced about the projects. “Whoever calls me, tells me blatantly that they want me to make a film on a less budget that would fetch an award. This is disheartening. I don’t make films to fetch awards. My heart and soul is filmmaking and people must respect that,” he says.

He also believes that the entertainment industry needs to work harder to bring a welcome change in its films. “The films being made in Ollywood are all over 10-year-old borrowed plots of Telugu films. Why will the audience watch such films? It’s time we make original films,” says Pattanaik, who has dedicated some of his films to social issues.

Some of his notable films are ‘A Race for Resistance’, ‘Khusi’, ‘Sambalpuri Weavers- knitted with hopes and dreams’ and ‘Tara Can’.