Sabyasachi Mohapatra to make biopic on Biju Patnaik

Bhubaneswar: Ace film director Sabyasachi Mohapatra on Saturday announced to make a biopic on legendary politician Biju Patnaik. The full length feature film, which was conceived about 25 years back, will be ready by next year, he said.

"This is my dream project. I conceived the idea of making the film in early nineties. I had also prepared a script including several aspects of the life of Biju Patnaik. When I made the budget it exceeded my limits and I had to drop the idea. Now on his birth centenary I decided to revive the plan and go ahead with it," said Mohapatra.

He said, the film will show Biju Patnik as a patriot, as a leader and as a reformer. There are several interesting anecdotes on Biju Patnaik and about his acts of bravery, which would be showcased in the film. Besides, the film will also show his love life.

"I had three meetings with him and discussed the project at that time. He shared many interesting facts about his life which many people don't know. While giving state film award for Bhukha he asked me why I did not make the film on stage," Mohapatra added.

With some modifications in the script the film will go to the floor within a couple of months. "He was a towering personality and a great human being. My team has started searching for an actor suitable to his personality and similar physical features, which is quite a challenge. Besides, a large number of scenes like the famous rescue incident of Indonesia, have to be shot in military areas," Mohapatra pointed out.

He said, the film will be a two-hour long middle-order film with very high budget, which he has targeted to complete in the next 10 months.