First-look poster of upcoming film on Odisha wedding gift blast out

Bhubaneswar: The first look poster of upcoming Odia film ‘Patnagarh’, based on the sensational and widely talked-about Patnagarh wedding gift bomb blast case has been released.

Like the story of a killing that has riveted entire Odisha and India, the poster has already grabbed the attention of the Odia movie buffs.

The film, earlier titled ‘Bullet Raja’ is also being made in Telugu language.

Soon after the poster was released by the film’s producer Sridhar Martha, it went almost viral on social media and created the excitement and curiosity for the film.

The poster looks quite intriguing as it features only the face of Bollywood actor Atul Kulkarni, who is known for his firebrand acting in movies like ‘Chandini Bar’ and ‘Hey Ram’ and ‘Rang De Basanti’. The two times National award-winning actor is playing the character of Crime Branch IG Arun Bothra, who was heading the investigation nabbed the prime accused Punjilal Meher.

The ‘Chandini Bar’ actor instantly agreed to play the character of Bothra after reading the story and going through the entire incident. It will be his first Odia film.

Speaking to Odisha Sun Times, Martha said: “We are happy that the first poster of the film has been liked and accepted by film lovers, which indicates that there are always some viewers for a good movie.”

He also said that his team is working with all creative and professional people to make an original and meaningful cinema, which the Odia film industry had been missing for a long time.

Asked why he changed his previous title, Martha said there are two reasons behind it. One is there is a Bollywood movie in the same name (Bullet Raja starring Saif Ali Khan and Sonakshi Sinha). Second thing is that the incident happened at Patnagarh so the audience can easily relate with the film.

National School of Drama (NSD) alumnus and popular Odia actor Manoj Mishra is playing the character of the mastermind Punjilal Meher.

Directed by the National Award-winning filmmaker Rajesh Touchriver of ‘Na Bangaru Thalli’ fame, the crime-thriller will have some newcomers in it.

Produced under the banner of Range Royal Cine Lab, the shooting for the film is likely to begin in July and is expected to hit screens around Dussehra this year.