Director Anupam Patnaik Draws Royal Inspiration from Odisha’s Historic Palaces for Mantra Muugdha
Bhubaneswar: Acclaimed filmmaker Anupam Patnaik has revealed how the grandeur and silence of Odisha’s historic royal residences played a defining role in shaping the visual soul of his upcoming film Mantra Muugdha.
Sharing his experience from the film’s location recce, Patnaik said that while writing Mantra Muugdha, he constantly envisioned one powerful image — a grand palace that could hold two eras within a single frame. One era reflecting the present, with silent corridors, fading walls and forgotten glory; the other echoing the past, illuminated by chandeliers, resonating with music, royalty, power and pride.
To bring this vision to life, the director visited several palaces belonging to Odisha’s erstwhile rulers and zamindars. Among them were the majestic Narsinghpur Palace, the regal Hindol Palace and the heritage-rich Dharakote Palace.
Patnaik described the visits as more than just location scouting. “Walking through those halls, touching those walls and listening to stories of their lavish lives — it wasn’t merely about finding a backdrop. It felt like stepping into living history,” he shared.
According to the director, Odisha carries a royal architectural legacy that many have yet to fully explore. The intricate detailing, vintage aesthetics and the profound silence within these palaces deeply influenced the film’s atmosphere and storytelling.
The glimpses from these visits, he said, helped shape the emotional and visual world of Mantra Muugdha. For Patnaik, the cinematic journey began long before the camera started rolling — in the quiet corridors of history where the past still lingers.
With such rich inspiration drawn from Odisha’s royal heritage, audiences can expect Mantra Muugdha to blend history, emotion and visual grandeur in a uniquely evocative way.
Mantra Muugdha is an upcoming horror-comedy directed by Anupam Patnaik. The film features a multi-starrer ensemble cast, including Suryamayee Mohapatra, Bhoomika Dash, Dipanwit Das Mohapatra, Sanoj Kumar and Manmay Dey, along with several other prominent actors. The film is slated for release soon.