The theme of acclaimed filmmaker Nila Madhab Panda’s next film Pallavi is to be based on cultural heritage village Raghurajpur in Puri district. The story would trace the journey of three generations of classical Odissi dancers to Moscow and Paris.
Panda is on his way to Russia and France to finalise the coproduction venture with both countries, a first-ever such endeavour pioneered in Indian cinema, more so in Odia cinema. He would also be looking to lock the foreign cast for the film, auditioning in Moscow and Paris before returning to his headquarters in New Delhi.
Pallavi would be a first for various reasons in the mainstream Indian cinema, including the first-ever crossover Odia film that would be in both Odia and English. The film would serve as a tribute to Indian history and heritage in symbiosis with Western art and culture, especially the performance arts and the various forms of dance and music starting from the Gotipua tradition from where the Odissi classical dance form originated.
Shooting would begin at the start of next year as Panda is packed with projects till then, including a mainstream Hindi film on the issue of water, for which he has roped in a big star to commence shooting this month. He is also looking for an eminent Odissi dancer and dancer or actress from Odisha.
Notably, Panda’s maiden film I Am Kalam won over 30 awards and was screened in more than 60 international film festivals. This was followed by his critically-acclaimed Jalpari: The Desert Mermaid last year. His new film love Is Not Mathematics is all set to hit the box office soon.