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Bhubaneswar: Concerned over allegations of casting couch and chit fund links in Ollywood flying thick and fast, the Odisha Film Directors’ Association on Sunday said the Odia film industry should not be defamed for the misdemeanours of a few irresponsible people.
The association said the complainants should have come forward much earlier and raised an alarm when they faced harassment.
Sanjay Naik, secretary, Odisha Film Directors’ Association, said, “TV channels are featuring anyone covering their faces and leveling casting couch allegations without verifying the veracity of the information to gain TRP .”
Regarding the Ollywood-chit fund link, Naik said, “If a few weeds grow in a paddy field, we should throw them out, not destroy the entire farmland. Oollywood was thriving even when Pravas Rout and Niranjan Rana were not involved with the industry and it will continue to thrive long after they left.”
Expressing similar views, Ashok Pati, director, said, “I have been working since 1997 and have worked on 22 cinemas. However, I have not heard about casting couch. Why are successful and front line actresses not coming to the media and levelling such allegations?”
Meanwhile, the Odisha Cine Artists’ association has also jumped on to the bash-media bandwagon and said it should tell the complete and true story. As the matter is under investigation, everyone should wait for the outcome, it said.
Kuna Tripathy, secretary of the association, said, “We are condemning the casting couch practice. If anyone is involved in it, the concerned person should be punished. We are from cultured families and our parents have not taught us to be involved in such acts. If any artistes are doing this, he/she should be punished as per the law.”
