Dikhyaa Mohanty 
During the last weekend of the Odia Cinefest 2024, four highly regarded films were screened in the Siri Fort Auditorium here, which was packed. The Odia film festival, which was organized by the Delhi-based Institute for Promotion and Research on Odisha’s Cultural Heritage (IPROCH), included two recently released, highly successful films, “Daman” and “My Sweet Housewife,” in addition to two national award-winning films, “Matira Manisha” and “Adim Vichar.”
The film “Matira Minisha,” helmed by Mrinal Sen, gained prominence on the occasion of the renowned filmmaker’s centennial birth. Sabyasachi Mohapatra’s film “Adim Vichar” tells the story of the Kondh tribe of Odisha’s ancient justice system in a captivating way.
“Daman” brought to light the valiant efforts of a young physician combating the malaria threat in the Malkangiri district, whereas “My Sweet Housewife” tells a subtle tale of problems between a middle-class Odia couple that throws their otherwise happy relationship into disarray.
Renowned Odissi dancer Guru Sharon Lowen was a distinguished guest at the festival’s January 13 opening, and the director of the National School of Drama, Chittaranjan Tripathy, and former Chief Justice of India, Deepak Mishra, attended the festival’s closing ceremony. Veteran director Sabyasachi Mohapatra, internationally acclaimed filmmaker, producer Jitendra Mishra, film critic Surya Deo, actor Pritiraj Satapathy, actress Naina Dash, and renowned sculptor Jagannath Panda were among the galaxy of artists from film, television, theater, and the arts that attended the festival.
The audience was captivated by Biswajit Mohapatra’s flute performance of well-known Odia songs during the intermission between the films. Before every movie, Charudutta Panigrahi moderated a panel discussion with the film’s director, producer, and actors. IPROCH announced a competition for short films, with prizes up for grabs and to be judged by a panel of distinguished professionals. This was IPROCH’s second Odia film festival in Delhi; the first was held in 2011 to commemorate 75 years of Odia cinema.
IPROCH president Satyagopal Rajguru and secretary Biswajit Das said that the institute is consciously making an effort to highlight the soft power of Odisha in its rich arts, culture, music, heritage, films and theatre in the national capital and promoting it worldwide.
