A FLAWED SCRIPT

Cuttack, June 17: The Utkal Cine Chamber of Commerce (UCCC) today suspended membership of six film producers, who had been arrested for allegedly duping investors.

It also decided to enforce measures to check production of Odia films with finance garnered by duping people through various deposit collection schemes. The six producers are Narayan Chandra Nayak (Umamani Visuals), Ratikanta Kanungo (Shivani Pictures), Triveni Mohanty (Dharani Star Movies), Niranjan Rana (Maa Tarini Film Production & Distribution), Gayadhar Jena (Sarala Movies) and Prabhas Rout (Oscar Movies).

The UCCC executive committee was worried that in the past few years, several Ponzi companies had intruded into film production and ushered in a trend of unabashed remaking and dubbing of films of other languages into Odia films.

"With the entry of easy money into Odia films, financers have become producers, who lack the passion of a film-maker. Consequently, Odia film-making, in the real sense of the term, has been on the downslide," UCCC joint secretary Pravanshu Samantaray told The Telegraph.

Normally, all Odia film producers become members of the UCCC by paying one-time fee of Rs 20,000 and have the benefit of its influence as it is the apex body in the state for film producers, technicians, distributors and exhibitors.

"But now, submission of the voter identity card, PAN card and the bank account statements will be made mandatory for all Odia film producers to become its members," UCCC chairman Dilip Kumar Mishra told The Telegraph.

"If necessary, we will also seek no objection certificates from the police," Mishra said.

"A deterrent rule is essential because of the nexus between Ponzi companies and Odia film. The state CID-crime branch police indicate that a significant number of Odia films have been produced by owners of these sham deposit collection companies," the UCCC chairman said.

Though diversion of money by duping gullible investors into Odia films was detected in 2013, the cine chamber of commerce's executive committee held an emergency meeting here this afternoon after the state CID-crime branch had decided to bring under the scanner certain people connected with the Odia film industry following the arrest of Oscar Group of Companies chairman Prabhas Rout.

"As an immediate action, the executive committee passed a resolution to suspend memberships of six Odia film producers, who had been arrested for allegedly duping investors. A final decision on their membership will be taken later," cine chamber of commerce's producers' section president Kusharanjan Patnaik said.

The budget for an Odia film, which had been restricted to Rs 70 lakh, now exceeds Rs 1.5 crore with the entry of Ponzi companies into film production.

"Making profit is not their aim. They pick up popular stars for their films, pay them big money to build trust among the depositors," executive committee member Keshav Rout said.

• June 3, 2016: Builder-cum-film producer Niranjan Rana arrested for duping customers of Rs 9 crore. Rana has produced a number of Odia movies, including Gote Sua Gote Sari, Target, Hari Bhai Harena
• Dec. 2015: Builder Ratikanta Kanungo arrested for land fraud worth Rs 50 lakh. Kanungo has invested in a few Odia movies, including Rakhee Bandhili Mo Rakhiba Maan
• June 2015: Builder Gayadhar Jena arrested for cheating around 250 customers of Rs 20 crore on the pretext of providing lands. He has produced an Odia movie Chauka Chhaka
• March 2015: Builder Kalia Sahoo arrested for allegedly circulating an MMS with sexual content. Sahoo has invested in few Odia song albums
• June 2013: Builder Narayan Nayak arrested for cheating around Rs 50 crore on the pretext of providing houses. Nayak has produced two Odia movies — Prem Rogi and Prema Adhei Akshara
• May 2013: AT Group director Jagabandhu Panda arrested in connection with multi-crore Ponzi scam. He has invested nearly Rs 30 lakh in two Odia song albums
• April 2011: Star Consultancy Service Ltd managing director Triveni Mohanty arrested for duping investors on the pretext of giving high returns. Mohanty has produced few Odia movies, including Tu Tha Mu Jauchi Rushi