RIP Anupam Shyam: Know His Odisha Connect; The Film, Actors & Director

Bhubaneswar: Anupam Shyam’s death is a big loss for the film and television industry, said Odia director Susant Misra, who directed him in the film ‘Dharini’.

Anupam died of multiorgan failure on Monday while undergoing treatment for kidney-related issues at a hospital in Mumbai on Monday.

“It came as a shock to me,” he said.

Recollecting the shooting days of ‘Dharini’, which he helmed for Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Susant said that Anupam, a theatre actor, had auditioned to play the patriarchal figure in a middle-class traditional household.

“We shot the movie in Benaras for 60 to 70 days in 2001-02. For Anupam, who belonged to Pratapgrah, it was sort of homecoming. He would visit his home whenever he got a few days off from shooting,” he said.

The director said Anupam had a ‘loud’ presence in this movie, which revolved around four women – Sarala, Kamala, Shweta and Nandini- and their fight for dignity. “Being a theatre artist, he was adept in dialogue delivery and had good diction. It was a challenging role and he played it well,” he said.

Susant further said that he was a thorough professional and very supportive towards his co-stars. “The cast included many people from National School of Drama and theatres. Kirti Kulhari was a new face in the movie,” he said.

Anant Mahapatra, the doyen of Odia theatre, and Robin Das, who became famous for his role as the father of Priyanka Chopra in ‘Mary Kom’, also acted in this film, which was released in 2002 and distributed by the Films Division of India.

Akshaya Mohanty had also composed music for ‘Dharini’.

“Anupam was among few theatre artists who adapted well to the cameras and created a niche for himself both in films and the world of television,” Susant added.