Akshaya Mohanty and Susant Mani

Bhubaneswar, Dec. 8: A proposed biopic on celebrated singer Akshaya Mohanty has hit a legal hurdle with the legend’s widow seeking to restrain filmmaker Susant Mani from making the movie.

Prabina Mohanty has threatened to move court if Mani went ahead with the film Smruti Tume (In your memory) for which he has not allegedly taken necessary permission under laws of intellectual property from the family. She fears that the movie, which would feature veteran star-cum-politician Siddhant Mohapatra and three actresses, might denigrate the image and reputation of the late singer.

The plan to make a film on a legendary figure without permission was illegal, she contended in her legal notice sent through Orissa High Court lawyer Prabhat Ranjan Das. She has mentioned that the family had sought legal intervention in cases where people made commercial use of his name or music.

“When we formed the Akshaya Mohanty Trust after the death of my father on November 7, 2002. Many people approached us to organise charity programmes and events in his name and with due permission. However, Mani never consulted us or took permission for this film. It won’t be a fundraiser, but a commercial venture. We will not allow that,” said the legend’s son Mitrabhanu Mohanty.

He said he had come across media reports that the filmmaker had initially titled his upcoming project as Smruti Tume Akshaya.

“When Saregama HMV or All India Radio play his songs, they give us royalty for that. But as far as Mani’s film is concerned, we are not asking for money. We don’t need a single penny. We just want him to follow the rules and regulations and desist from indulging in unethical practices,” Mohanty said.

Copies of the legal notice have also been sent to the secretary of Utkal Cine Chamber of Commerce and chairperson of the censor board’s office in Cuttack.

Defending himself, Mani said: “My film has nothing to do with the personal life of Akshaya Mohanty. He is just the inspiration. I had never named my film after his name. And I would never attempt a biopic for the audience here. I have utmost respect for him and the sentiments of his family.”

The movie goes on the floor tomorrow. Sources said the filmmaker had approached four actresses — Anu Choudhary, Archita Sahu, Varsha Priyadarshini and Riya Dey — for the project.

However, none of them agreed to be part of a multi-actress project.