Renowned Odia Filmmaker Nirad Mohapatra dies in Mumbai

Eminent Odia filmmaker Nirad Mohapatra, breathed his last at the Fortis Hiranandani Hospital in Navi Mumbai this morning at the age of 67. He had undergone a surgery for suspected cancer on January 14. Later, he developed some infections and underwent another surgery on February 8.

Although he showed signs of improvement after the second surgery, his condition deteriorated suddenly, leading to his death. He died at around 6 AM this morning. He will be cremated in Mumbai later today. His wife and sons Sidharth and Sandeep were with him when he breathed his last. His daughter Mita, who is staying in Hyderabad, will arrive in Mumbai soon.

Nirad N. Mohapatra, who studied at Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, had shot into fame with his debut film (as a Director), ‘Maya Miriga’ in 1984. The film won a Rajat Kamal at the National Film Awards and also won a special jury award at the Cannes Film Festival.

This directorial debut went on to bag many honours and accolades. It was adjudged the Best Third World Film at International Film Festival Mannheim-Heidelberg (then West Germany). It received the Special jury award at Hawaii International Film Festival, US. It was selected for the ‘Critics Week’ of Cannes Film Festival (France), BFI London Film Festival, Locarno Film Festival, Los Angeles Film Festival and other International Film Festivals. In 1985, he was invited to visit four US Universities to lecture on films.

He made various documentaries and features on various issues and received accolade for those. He was a member of national film jury and member selection panel for Indian Panorama several times. He held the membership position at the governing council, Film and TV Institute, Pune. He was a member of NFDC script committee for Orissa. He was twice member of the Academic Council, Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata. He was also the chairman, Academic Council, Biju Patnaik Film and Television Institute, Cuttack, Orissa, and member Governing Council, SIET, Bhubaneswar.

Prior to his death, he was teaching at Film School of KIIT University, Bhubaneswar as a Guest Faculty. His famous documentaries and Tele Films included ‘Dhauligiri Shanti Stupa’, ‘Chhau Dance of Mayurbhanja’, ‘Pata Painting’, ‘Tamasa Tire’, ‘Aparajita’, ‘Chilika – A Fragile Eco-System’, ‘T.B. – A Curable Killer’, ‘Kana Mamu’ and ‘Jasoda’.