Filmmakers met new Secretary of OLL&C Department

Bhubaneswar: Senior IAS officer Sujata Rout Karthikeyan has taken the charge as new Commissioner-Cum-Secretary of Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department.

Kartikeyan Wednesday met Odia film fraternity members and members of Mo Cinema, a group created protest to save Odia film industry, who welcome the new secretary.

The members who met her are eminent filmmaker Sabyasachi Mohapatra, eminent actress Mahasweta Ray, Aparajita Mohanty, music director Prem Anand, producer Pranay Jeth, Sanjay Patel.

Karthikeyan discussed various issues of the film industry and sought cooperation from the makers.

The Mo Cinema members recently met industry secretary Industry secretary Hemant Sharma and Odisha Film Development Corporation chairman Kuna Tripathy and discussed the issues and raised several demands to be fulfilled which include one cinema hall in each block headquarters, mandatory screening of Odia films in every theatre for a certain period, and the formation of a regulatory body to address producers’ grievances, among others. It also includes streamlining distribution systems and ensuring the security of films and makers, both on and offline.

The secretary had assured them of looking at the matter and decision will be taken soon.