Bhubaneswar: The trailer of ‘Lohitaksha’, a Hindi-language feature film produced under the banner of Gana Bikash Films, has been unveiled.
For two reasons, the film will close to Odia actor-turned-filmmaker Bhupindarra. One, he has made his directorial debut in Bollywood with this film, and second, the film is a debut film of Siddhant, son of veteran Bollywood actor Puneet Issar.
The trailer launch event was attended by Bhupindarra’s childhood friends, along with actors Bobby Mishra, Jeevan Panda, Nishant Majithia, Mohan Majithia, Suman Maharana and Gaurav Mohanty. Singer Amrita Bharati and Ranjita Majumdar, wife of the late music composer Abhijit Majumdar.
The guests heaped praise on Bhupindarra and extended their best wishes for his ambitious venture.
While the event was organized by ‘Bina Doors’, more than 100 influencers also came together to promote the film, giving its publicity campaign a significant boost.
Bhupindarra’s journey from Ollywood to Bollywood has been a gradual climb built on years of experience. He began his career as an anchor and later made a name for himself as an actor in music videos and films. He also produced several Odia films, including ‘Shubha Bibaha’ and ‘Jagu Auto Wala’, before taking the plunge into direction.
With ‘Lohitaksha’, Bhupindarra has donned the caps of producer, director and screenwriter. His directorial venture features an ensemble cast of established Bollywood performers and familiar faces from the Odia film industry.Along with Siddhant, Bollywood actors Apsara and Kamlesh Sawant, along with Sukumar Tudu, are also part of the cast.
Representing Ollywood are Bobby Mishra, Bhupindarra, Gaurav Mohanty, Dipesh, Jeevan Panda, Mohan Majithia, Sushant Das Mahapatra, Dipali, Shruti Subhashree and Suman Maharana, among others.
A Murder Mystery with Roots in Odisha
‘Lohitaksha’ revolves around a murder mystery, with its story penned by Dipali Debasmita Dash. Bhupindarra has handled the screenplay, production and direction, while Nishant Majithia has written the dialogues.
The film’s cinematography and editing are handled by Sarada Krishna Sahu and Manas Kumar Sahu respectively.Late Abhijit Majumdar has composed the film’s music, Abhijit Tripathy has composed the theme song for ‘Lohitaksha’ for the first time. Nabs and Saroj have also contributed to the film’s musical direction.
Sanjay Mahakud has served as the executive professional on the project, while Pranay Jethi, Creative Head at Media Planner, is taking care of the film’s publicity and promotion.
Although the film is in Hindi, its story is rooted in Cuttack, and every scene has been shot in Odisha. According to the makers, the film also carries several social messages, bringing a local flavour to a story intended for a pan-Indian audience.
Taking Odia Talent to National Stage
For Bhupindarra, ‘Lohitaksha’ represents more than just a directorial debut. It is an opportunity to showcase Odisha’s stories, talent and creative potential to audiences across the country.
Speaking to the media, Bhupindarra gave credit to Lord Jagannath and his late parents for his journey from Ollywood to Bollywood. He said his ambition is not limited to making a Hindi film; but also to open doors for more Odia artistes to find opportunities in the Hindi film industry.
The film is scheduled for a pan-India theatrical release in November. Bhupindarra is optimistic that ‘Lohitaksha’ will win audiences’ hearts across the country, while congratulatory messages and good wishes have started pouring in from members of the Ollywood fraternity.
With its Odisha-based storyline, a diverse cast and a murder-mystery narrative, ‘Lohitaksha’ is being considered as a significant step in Bhupindarra’s career—and a proud moment for the Odia film industry.
