Film industry banks on Durga Puja profits

BHUBANESWAR: If plans for this Durga puja have already been made, then think again and reschedule, for this festival season will bring more entertainment than wished for. Three Odiya films - ACP Ranveer, Parshuram and Love Master - are lined up for release next week
"Durga puja is a major festival… people want to enjoy. Producers also get a good response during the festival as people throng cinema halls in large numbers," said director of Love Master Chandi Parija.
The first, an action thriller, is a big budget film with Anubhav Mohanty in the lead role. It will open in 80 screens across India on October 19. Directed by Sudhakar Basant and produced by Mohanty, the film will also release in Bangalore, Surat, Kolkata.
Sarthak Production's multi-starrer Parshuram features Arindam and Barsha, the popular silver screen sweethearts. With music by Manmath Mishra, the film looks at reaping profits during the festival season.
The season's romantic twist comes with Love Master that has Babushan in the lead role, along with Riya and Punam. "The film definitely has all ingredients of total entertainment and I am quite hopeful that the audience will like the movie," said Punam.
Though the local films face a tough competition from Bollywood releases like Ajay Devgn's Son of Sardar and Shah Rukh Khan's Jab Tak Hai Jaan, expectations are high among people here. "During Puja, along with pandal-hopping, watching movies with friends and relatives is a great fun. This year we are expecting some good Odiya movies," said Ajit Biswal, a movie buff.