After Verdict in Patnagarh Parcel Bomb Case, Crime Thriller Mindgame Set for Re-Release

Bhubaneswar : Seven years after the shocking Patnagarh parcel bomb case rocked Odisha, justice has finally been delivered. Punjilal Meher, a former college principal, was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the Additional District and Sessions Judge’s Court in Bolangir for orchestrating the deadly attack that killed newlywed Soumya Sekhar Sahu and his grandmother Jemamani Sahu in February 2018.

In the wake of the court’s verdict, actor and co-producer Manoj Mishra has announced plans to re-release the Odia crime thriller *Mindgame*, which was inspired by this chilling real-life incident. Taking to social media, Mishra stated, *”The whole of Odisha wants to see the film ‘Mindgame’. What happened? Everyone wants to see it… Very soon, your village will be blessed with the film ‘Mindgame’.”

Originally released on October 6, 2023, the film did not garner widespread attention at the time. However, with renewed public interest following the verdict, the filmmakers are optimistic about its reception this time around.

Directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Rajesh Touchriver and produced by Sridhar Maartha, Mindgame delves into the dark psychology of revenge and crime. The plot centers on a newlywed couple who receive a parcel five days after their wedding—only to discover it’s a bomb that kills the groom and his grandmother, while seriously injuring the bride. What follows is an intense investigative thriller that unravels the mind of a killer hiding in plain sight.

The film features a powerful ensemble cast including Atul Kulkarni, Yashpal Sharma**, Manoj Mishra, Anu Choudhury, Tanikella Bharani, Chinmay Mishra, Apsara Rani, Pushpa Panda, Sanju Sivara, Ishika Singh, and Chitta Ranjan Mishra.

Originally titled *Patnagarh*, the film faced delays and legal hurdles due to objections from individuals connected to the case. Despite the filmmakers’ clarification that it was a work of fiction inspired by true events, its release was postponed for years.

*Mindgame* was eventually released in Odia, Hindi, Telugu, and Sambalpuri, and the producers now hope that its message and storytelling will resonate more strongly with audiences following the case’s conclusion.