Director Susant Mani has carved a niche for himself in the Oriya film industry for his versatility in various aspects of film making. While his direction in recently released film Most Wanted has received rave response, Mani believes he is yet to go a long way.
Mani had lost his father at a tender age and was brought up by his mother along with his siblings. “I was very naughty and never had a particular ambition in life. I was a horrible student too,” he smiled. “I had never imagined I would get into the film industry,” he said.
After not doing very well in his Plus Two exams, Mani went off to Chandigarh to his relatives’ place and took time to think about his career. “Further studies was out of question for me. I was still undecided about what I wished to do while I came back to Bhubaneswar,” he reminisces. “Luckily, I came to know about a 40-day workshop by National School of Drama (NSD) that was to be conducted in Bhubaneswar,” said Mani.
The filmmaker and the actor will be pairing up for the first time in an Odia film
What happens when a talented director teams up with a passionate and diligent actor? Obviously, a good film! As filmmaker Susant Mani and actor Sabyasachi Mishra get ready to work together for the first time in Mani’s upcoming flick, Mu Eka Tumara, expectations are obviously high.
Directed by Susant Mani and produced by Litisha Mangat Panda, ‘Pade Akasha’ chronicles Dr. Mohapatra’s inspiring journey from a promising civil service aspirant to a tireless advocate for inclusivity.
The story follows her life after a tragic accident in 1987 left her paralyzed from the neck down. Mohapatra then battled discrimination, social stigma, and personal loss. Yet, she rose above her circumstances to earn an MPhil and PhD and train over 100 civil service aspirants, many of whom serve in top government roles today.
