Bhubaneswar: The much-anticipated Odia horror-comedy “Mantramuugdha” has finally hit the big screens, releasing across 70 theatres nationwide and leaving audiences both thrilled and tickled.
Living up to the pre-release buzz, the film has come out swinging, winning hearts right from its very first show.
Directed by Anupam Patnaik under the Amiya Patnaik Productions banner, ‘Mantramuugdha’ marks his fourth outing after ‘Pratiksha’, ‘Trikanya’, and ‘Karma’. The film had its premiere at Vrundavan Cinema Hall in Cuttack and Maharaja Cinema Hall in Bhubaneswar, where members of the Ollywood fraternity—producers, directors, actors, and critics—gathered under one roof to watch the film together.
Instead of bringing tears to the eyes, Anupam serves up a cocktail of chills and chuckles, proving that fear and fun can go hand in hand. With spine-tingling horror sequences paired with laugh-out-loud moments, the film keeps audiences on the edge of their seats while also cracking them up.
Set against the backdrop of the ancient Dharakote royal palace, the story weaves a gripping fictional tale where a corporate company sets its sight on buying the palace and converting it into a luxury hotel.
Four staff of the company-Mantra (Sanoj Kumar), Sunny (Manmay Dey), Chintamani (Sarthak Bharadwaj) and Ankita (Suryamayee Mohaptra)- are sent to the palace to negotiate with the present king.
What starts as a routine business trip soon turn into nightmarish for the four. From the moment they step into the palace, they find themselves caught in a series of bone-chilling incidents that refuse to let up, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats and biting nails.
Besides entertaining people, the director has also tried to shed light on the fact that if the neglected palaces across the state are restored, they could become the goldmines for tourism instead of fading into oblivion.
On the performance front, Sanoj, Manmay, Dipanwit, Sarthak, and Hara Rath along with actresses Bhumika and Suryamayee have done their best and struck a chord with viewers, giving them an engrossing viewing experience.
The excitement surrounding the film has doubled post-release, as evident from the overwhelming response to the first shows.
Produced by Varsha Patnaik and Anupam Patnaik, the film’s story is penned by Anupam along with Rohan Bishoyi, while dialogues are crafted by Pranab and Nishant Majithia. The music, composed by a talented team including Ashish Pradhan, Anurag Patnaik, Anurag Panda, Sangit Patnaik, and Romiyaz Pradhan, complements the film’s mood perfectly.
Cinematography by Deepak Kumar adds visual depth, while Gopal Chandra Ghadai serves as executive producer. The film’s promotions are helmed by media planner and creative head Pranay Jethi.
All in all, Mantramuugdha’ is a rollercoaster ride of fear and laughter—a cinematic experience that proves you can be scared stiff and still laugh your heart out.
