Odisha does not seem to be lagging behind the rest of the country when it comes to matching the prevailing trend of films on politicians ahead of the upcoming general election.
When movies such as The Accidental Prime Minister , NTR Kathanayakudu , Thackeray and PM Narendra Modi are hitting headlines across the nation, two Odia feature films – Nimki and Biju Babu – are in the pipeline for release in Odisha where Assembly and Lok Sabha polls are scheduled to be held simultaneously.
The upcoming films are not exactly biopics on Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik and his late father Biju Patnaik. The posters of the two films, however, are prominently featuring the photographs of the two leaders.
While Nimki , with the tag line Nimpur Ru Naveen Niwas (From Nimpur to Naveen Niwas), will be released in the State on January 23, Biju Babu is likely to hit screens in April first week.
Nimki is a story of a village girl, Nimki, who is inspired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and overcomes all hurdles to travel from her village Nimpur to reach Naveen Niwas, the residence of Mr. Patnaik in Bhubaneswar, to solve the problems being faced by her village. Biju Patnaik had built Naveen Niwas and named it after his younger son.
The BJD connect
Coincidentally, the lead role of Nimki has been played by Barsha Priyadarshini, one of the leading actresses of Odisha, and the lead role in Biju Babu is being played by her husband Anubhav Mohanty – popular Odia actor and sitting Rajya Sabha Member of the BJD.
Biju Babu will highlight some important aspects of the life of Biju Patnaik, former Odisha Chief Minister after whom the BJD has been named. The poster of Biju Babu , which is being produced by well-known film producer Nila Madhab Panda and others, was released outside Anand Bhavan, Biju Patnaik’s ancestral house in Cuttack on Tuesday.
According to political analysts, both the films may encourage young BJD workers and supporters and help the party draw political mileage in the run-up to the polls. They may attract the Opposition's criticism too.
As the elections are nearing, parties and politicians are busy churning films, video clips and commentaries about themselves. Those who cannot afford videos are taking to the social media for self-publicity.
Most of the actors, actresses and artistes of the State who have already joined different parties, primarily the BJD and the BJP, are being seen both on and off the screen.
