FIR lodged against Odia actor Manoj Mishra over ‘controversial remarks’

Trouble mounted for Odia actor Manoj Mishra after an FIR was lodged against him with cyber police in Cuttack by the Odisha Film & Television Directors' Association over his alleged controversial remarks on social media platforms, on Tuesday.

According to sources, Manoj Mishra on social media commented that Odisha does not have potential directors. A few people who are directing films, in fact, do not know how to work, the actor allegedly said. His statements have not gone too well with the directors' association that has filed a complaint against Manoj.

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Noted film director Sabyasachi Mohapatra expressed, “Odia film industry is around 88 years old. Odisha had several eminent directors like Nitai Palit (aka Nityananda Palit), Hemanta Das, Sourav Patnaik, Prashanta Nanda, Nirad Mohapatra, Manmohan Mohapatra and many more. They have contributed several good films which have earned fame at national and international levels.”

“Basant Babu, me, and a few others have been working for nearly the last 50 years. The way he (Manoj) has been commenting on social media is of a very low standard and it has hurt our sentiments. We gradually observed that the things are going out of limit,” he further said.

“After the Covid pandemic outbreak, there has been a great change in the Odia film industry. Several films were released with good content. If some films do not run well, it is quite natural and obvious. It is not that all films would do well at the box-office. We cannot say that the films were of low standard,” the film director stated.

“More than 25,000 persons, including technicians, artists, and others, are dependent on our film industry. His recent activity is creating a negative impression in the minds of Odia film lovers, which is unhealthy for the industry,” Sabyasachi Mohapatra added.

Worth mentioning, the views of the actor could not be obtained despite attempts.