Bhubaneswar,October 19: Veteran Odia filmmaker Amiya Ranjan Patnaik today passed away following illness at a private hospital in New Delhi.

Entire Ollywood was shocked when the news broke in media.

Patnaik made his directorial debut with the film ‘Mamata Mage Mula’ (1985). It was also his first movie as a producer.

Later, he rose to height in Odia film industry by producing blockbusters like ‘Hakim Babu’ (1985), ‘Raja Rani’ (1989), Asuchi Mo Kalia Suna (1989), ‘Paradeshi Babu’ (1999) and Babu I Love You’ (2005).

Patnaik again returned as the director with ‘Tulasi Apa’ in 2015. The movie, based on veteran social activist and Padma Shri awardee Tulasi Munda, received multiple awards. It was released last year.