Amiya Ranjan Patnaik, famous film producer , director and dramatist left for his heavenly abode on October 19,2018 at New Delhi.
Amiya Patnaik is a pioneer, producer-director of Odia cinema, best known for producing the social epic film. He is highly acclaimed and commercially successful film producer whose films have a touch of class, blended with Odia family traditions. His production house, Amiya patnaik production is one of the most successful banners in the Odia film industry. Amiya patnaik production is a movie business empire spanning a famous production house, film distribution and exhibition business.
Hailing from a repute family in Keonjhar district of Odisha Amiya Patnaik, a Mechanical Engg. Graduate, dabbled in different businesses before venturing into film production. Amiya has raise into a great prominence of Odisha as a popular film and theatre personality leaving behind his career as an engineer. Now when this 60 years old thespian from Odisha looks back in the typical Maslowian self actualization mode, he sees himself a really very satisfying and at the same time an illustrious career in Odia theatre and film, if taken out, will leave a big vacuum in Odisha.s cultural terrain. His first film, Hakim babu (1985) which depicts land acquisition and displacement for industrialization, won the National film Award for the Best Odia Feature Film category. In all his films he uses a combination of stars, melodrama and melodious songs. All of his film went onto become a ‘blockbuster’.
Much before Amiya patnaik passed out from the famous Regional collage of Engineering in the year 1976, fire for theatre and film was lit in him and in every passing year hence forward the flame became more and more radiant.
Amiya has excelled as an actor, director and producer in the realm of Odia theatre. Winning the prestigious award in the all India drama competition an Allahabad in the year 1974 stands out in the long list of laurels he earned through out his career. In 1978 he was adjudged the Best director in the Lok Natak Mahostay. He shot into fame with the production of the play Tyabhichara’ in 1981. He was credited with introducing ‘slow motion’ techniques on the stage leaving his indelible mark both as an ace director and an accomplished actor. In organising theatre activities too, he broke new ground. Amiya Patnaik, started his career as a theatre personality and went on to give some great hits to the Odia film industry. Techno arts, a theatre group was formed by Amiya Patnaik in 1978. Pruthak Pruthibi, Palataka, Ekalabya, Barabadhu, Nishipadma, Mriganabhi, Rudhira Kabya, Byabhichara, Narka Re Chahala are some of the most prominent ones in the long list of dramas Amiya patnaik staged.
Into Film : Produced ‘Hakim Babu’, 1985, Directed and produced `Mamata Mage Mula’, 1985, Produced `Pua Mora Kala Thakura’ , 1988, Produced Chaka Aakshi Sabu Dekhuchhi’ 1989, Produced `Aasuchhi Mo Kalia Suna’ 1989, Produced `Chakadola karuchhi leela’ 1990, Produced `Khola chokh'( Bangla) 1990, Produced Paradeshi Babu’ 1998 ( first trilingual film: Odia, Bangla and Bangladeshi), Produced `Rajarani’ (trilingual film: Odia, Bangla and Bangladeshi) 1999, Produced `Parimahal’ 2006.
Into small screen: Amiya Patnaik ventured into small screen production in 1996 beginning with Jagte Raho (Hindi), Anni (Hindi), Maya Ra Sansaar (Odia), Sasti (Odia), Bitarkita Aparahna (Odia), Malajahna, Horrer zone and a longest running serial in the history of Odia television Gotia Mana Ra Kotie Swapna. (350 episodes)
Amiya Patnaik is a multi-faceted personality, an illustrious combination of a film celebrity, orient social service champion, a true statesman – being more than a politician and an adorable gentleman to the core. He is the president, Odisha Film Producer’s Association, Member Board of directors of Odisha Film Development Corporation, Chairman All Odisha Pharmacy Collage Association, President, ‘Panchama Veda’ a leading theatre organisation in Odisha, which takes the lead in organising Natak Mahostav every year, Founder m ember of Kanak Manjari Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Director, Eastern Media Limited, Odisha’s No.1 media conglomerate that rules space, air and time in Odisha.
Whatever the branch of activity Amiya Patnaik has taken up, he has shown exemplary efficiency, dedication and deep involvement – resulting in high rate of success, applause and admiration. Perhaps that is the prime reason he has come to stay as an outstanding personality of tremendous merit presenting himself as a rare picture of great humanity and at the same time grand professional expertise – indeed a rare combination.
Prasanta Patnaik