Speaking at the OTV Foresight 2023, filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri expressed his interest in collaborating with Odia filmmakers to make movies like ‘The Kashmir Files’ and ‘The Tashkent Files’.
“Odia is not a vernacular language. It is one of the finest and great languages. This is a great land. There are only two states in the Country where you feel at peace. One is Odisha and the other one is Madhya Pradesh. I am really surprised why Odia cinema is not in the mainstream yet,” he said.
“We are taking baby steps to create 100 per cent indigenous, Indian, rooted in India production house... I just offered her (OTV MD Jagi Mangat Panda) if they want to associate with 'The Vaccine War',” said the renowned director.
The National Award-winning filmmaker further said, “If there is anybody who wants to make films in Odia, they can contact me. I will help them in whatever way possible. We want our films to go everywhere. I am a huge advocator of regional cinema. But you will have to go and dig up Odia literature. Make films on your literature. You will never go wrong.”
Agnihotri also said, "If somebody wants to initiate the idea of making a global film on Konark Sun Temple, I can help take it forward."
Agnihotri has been in the limelight for making films on the genocide of Kashmiri Pandits and the alleged assassination of former Prime Minister Lalbahadur Shastri.