Anubhav Mohanty Appeals to CM Majhi Over Odia Films’ Removal From Theatres

Bhubaneswar: On the occasion of Dussehra, Ollywood superstar Anubhav Mohanty raised a strong concern over the treatment of Odia films in the state’s theatres. Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the actor shared his disappointment after his latest film Charidham, released during Durga Puja, was removed from several theatres despite houseful shows.

https://x.com/AnubhavMohanty_/status/1973725105919234219

Tagging Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi in his post, Anubhav wrote: “Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri @MohanMOdisha Ji, On this sacred Dussehra, Odia Cinema faced its darkest day – houseful Odia movies were removed from theatres to make way for other regional & Hindi films. This is gross injustice to Odisha’s own art, culture, and people. We humbly appeal to you to stand with the Odia Cinema Family and ensure that our films get their rightful respect and equal space in Odisha’s theatres.”

The actor’s statement comes amid growing discontent in the Odia film industry, where artistes and producers have often alleged that regional movies are sidelined by theatre chains in favour of Hindi and other language films, especially during festive seasons.

Industry insiders believe Anubhav’s appeal to the Chief Minister could reignite the long-standing demand for a policy to protect Odia cinema and guarantee fair screening opportunities within Odisha.