‘Randi Pua Ananta’ Row: Actor Manoj Mishra Seeks Apology From People Of Odisha, Says ‘No Intention To Question Fakir Mohan’

Bhubaneswar: Maintaining his opinion regarding the title of Sabyasachi Mohapatra’s upcoming film, ‘Randi Pua Ananta’— based on the novel of Vyasakabi Fakir Mohan Senapati— actor Manoj Mishra apologized to the people of Odisha on Monday stating that he had no intention to question the writings and literary works of the legendary Odia writer and poet.

“I want to tell the people of Odisha that I have no intention to question writings of Vyasakabi Fakir Mohan Senapati. In fact, I don’t have the audacity to do so as I don’t have full knowledge on Odia literature. I haven’t read all works of Fakir Mohan Senapati. I know Odia literature as much as it is expected from an actor or may be, as I feel sometimes, I don’t have that much knowledge. But a few people dragged me into a debate surrounding Odia literature after learning about some of my comments. So, if my comments have hurt the people of Odisha, I beg your pardon with folded hands from the bottom of my heart,” he said in a video message shared on Facebook.

The Mindgame actor also clarified that he had even referred to Fakir Mohan Senapati as ‘God’ in one of his previous podcasts.

He urged people — without naming anyone — to not drag him into literature and debates surrounding it as he was only an actor and producer. “But I have an issue with the title and it will stay. I wanted to say that in the present times, when the film is being made, we are talking about safeguarding a woman’s dignity, women safety and gender equality. And in such times, a film is being made and the title has a word that raises doubt and a question in my mind. The question is how the present generation will react to the use of this word,” he added, explaining that he had an objection to the use of that word and not regarding writings of the poet.

Manoj’s previous comment over the film’s titled had sparked a row and its award-wining director Sabyasachi Mohapatra then dubbed the actor as an ‘attention seeker’. Mohapatra said he had received five national and 14 international awards and therefore, did not need a certificate from the actor on his film-making ability.

The actor had questioned title of Mohapatra’s film and its acceptability in the present times during a recent press briefing following a complaint by the Odia Film and Television Directors’ Association, alleging that his statement on directors in Odisha are not only derogatory but also defamatory.

He questioned whether people are okay about a widow being called a ‘randi’. “Is it acceptable for women of this generation? If Fakir Mohan Senapati was alive now, I don’t think he would have gone with this title for his book. Now, addressing a physically challenged as anything other than Divyang is considered derogatory. The world has changed,” he said.