Akshay Kumar Parija: “We Want to Take Odisha’s Stories to the World”

Bhubaneswar: From a distinguished international banking career to becoming one of the most celebrated names in Odia cinema, Akshay Kumar Parija has carved a remarkable legacy of taking Odisha’s stories to the global stage. With two National Film Awards, 24 State Awards and more than 60 international honours to his credit, he has consistently championed Odia culture through meaningful cinema. His latest milestone came with Papa Buka (2025), which became Papua New Guinea’s official entry to the Academy Awards, making Parija the first Odia filmmaker associated with an Oscar submission in the Best International Feature Film category.

Now, Parija is set to present his most ambitious digital venture yet—”Shree Jagannath,” a multi-season web series on his OTT platform Kanccha Lannka that combines mythology, history and cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence technology.

In an exclusive interaction with Odia Celebrity, Parija spoke about the making of the series, the future of Odia cinema, recognition for filmmakers and the exciting projects lined up on his streaming platform.

“A Blessing of Lord Jagannath”

Calling Shree Jagannath a deeply personal project, Parija said the series is more than just entertainment.

“This show is a blessing of Lord Jagannath. We truly believe it is happening because of His wish and blessings. It is our humble offering to Mahaprabhu.”

The first season, consisting of 20 episodes, traces the origins of the Jagannath tradition—from the secret worship of Lord Neelamadhab by Sabar King Biswabasu to King Indradyumna’s construction of the Jagannath Temple and the consecration of the divine sibling deities. The series will premiere simultaneously in Odia and Hindi this October, with plans for release in several other languages.

“We also have plans to dub the series in English for international audiences. Our vision is to take the story of Lord Jagannath beyond Odisha and India, making it accessible to devotees and viewers across the world,” Parija said

Authenticity Above Everything

Parija said recreating one of Odisha’s most sacred stories came with enormous responsibility.

“This is a very special and challenging project because it is closely connected to the emotions of millions of people. We tried our best to remain authentic and verified every important aspect through original manuscripts and historical references.”
He stressed that every effort has been made to preserve the sanctity of the story while presenting it on a grand cinematic scale.

Technology and Story Together

One of the biggest highlights of the series is its extensive use of Artificial Intelligence, making it one of the first Odia web series to employ AI at such a scale.

“The audience will witness a unique combination of technology and storytelling. The visuals, backed by authentic history, will surprise viewers.”

According to Parija, technology has been used as a creative tool without compromising the spiritual and cultural essence of the narrative.

Odia Cinema Is Moving in the Right Direction

Sharing his views on the current state of the industry, Parija said Odia cinema has been making remarkable progress despite competition from bigger film industries.

“Odia films are doing exceptionally well in recent years despite competition from Hindi, Telugu, Tamil and English cinema. Our filmmakers are creating quality content and earning recognition at national and international platforms.”

He believes strong storytelling rooted in Odisha’s culture is the industry’s biggest strength.

National Award Winners Deserve Equal Honour

Parija also expressed disappointment over the lack of official recognition for National Award-winning Odia films.

Referring to the National Award-winning film Lahari, he said it was unfortunate that its achievement was not celebrated by the State Government.

“It is good to felicitate winners of singing reality shows, but winning a National Film Award is one of the highest honours in Indian cinema. Such achievements deserve equal, if not greater, recognition.”

He said honouring award-winning filmmakers would motivate the industry and encourage young talent.

More Original Stories Coming to Kanccha Lannka

Parija said the OTT platform will continue investing in original Odisha-based content.
Following the success of Gangs of Puri and Barang 1999, Kanccha Lannka is already working on several new projects.
“We have many shows in the pipeline, including the next season of Gangs of Puri, a new series titled Gangs of Berhampur, and several other original productions that will be announced soon.”

Taking Odisha to the World

For Akshay Kumar Parija, filmmaking has always been about preserving and promoting Odisha’s rich cultural heritage. Through Shree Jagannath, he hopes to introduce the timeless legacy of Mahaprabhu Jagannath to audiences across India and the world while demonstrating that Odia storytelling can match the finest global productions in both scale and quality.