Post News Network
Cuttack, Dec 19: The Orissa High Court Friday issued a show-cause notice to film producer and director Sushanta Mani and ordered him to respond by January 4 in connection with a biopic on legendary music director and singer late Akshaya Kumar Mohanty.
Earlier, a session’s court here had stayed the release of a film on the basis of a petition filed by the music director’s family. The late singer’s family alleged the film is being made without consulting them.
Mohanty’s family members moved the court contending that Oriya movie Smruti Tume, being produced by Midstream Cinema, is based on Mohanty’s life.
Mohanty’s 68- year-old widow Prabina Mohanty who holds the copyright of the autobiography claimed her family was not consulted before making the movie. “I am disturbed because no permission has been sought to use the literary works of Akshaya Mohanty,” she said.
Mohanty’s autobiography was published as Aryadas Ra Atmalipi in 2002 and it was renamed Aryadas Ra Seshalipi in 2003 after the singer’s death November 17, 2002.
Smruti Tume’s director Sushanta Mani, on the other hand, said: “My film, has a singer and music director as protagonist, but it has nothing to do with the personal life of Akshaya Mohanty” and added the movie is on the floor and shooting of one-third of the film has been completed.
The late singer’s family is unhappy as the filmmaker has gone ahead with the movie despite a legal notice. “There was no response to the legal notice served on the producer a year ago. But reports in August have indicated that shooting of the film was in progress with MP Siddhant Mohapatra in the lead. That’s why we have sought the HC intervention,” said Mitrabhanu Mohanty, son of the singer.
