Bhubaneswar, May 20: The music launch of the Arindam Roy-starrer Ashok Samrat, one of the most anticipated films of the year, took place at a city hotel recently.

The film features six songs with leading composer Abhijit Majumdar scoring the music. While Bollywood sensation Javed Ali has sung one of the romantic numbers titled I love you, his colleague from Hindi music industry Babul Supriyo has crooned another love song. A number sung by Vinod Rathod will see Arindam making an entry on the big screen. Majumdar himself has sung one of the peppy numbers. This apart, the movie also has slow song and as well as an item number.

Though the title might be deceptive, Ashok Samrat, now in its post-production stage, is not a period film.

“We are taking the entertainment factor a notch higher. The protagonist has two shades — one Ashok and the other Samrat. Cine goers will be thrilled to see what happens when the two shades come together,” said director Jyotee Das.The film also features veteran actress Mahasweta Ray, Harihara Mohapatra, Jairam Samal Minaketan and Manoj Mishra. Emili Choudhary will make her Odisha debut in this film. Ranjit Pattanaik has penned the script.

Other films releasing at the same time are Anubhav Mohanty’s Hata Dhari Chalutha, Sabyasachi Mishra’s Mun Eka Tumara, Babushan’s Daha Balunga and the multi-starrer Hari Om Hari.

“Ashok Samrat is a new-age film. We are not too bothered about the competition as the others are romantic dramas. Ours is full of action and comedy. It will an something like an Odia Rowdy Rathore,” said producer Amaresh Parida.

The music of another film Sapanara Nayika was also launched recently. Choreographer Rajpradeep has donned the director’s hat for the film starring Deepak, Pinky Priyadarshini, Manoj Mishra, Sritam Das and jatra veteran Daitari Panda.

Prasant Padhee has scored the music. It has five songs — three romantic, one melancholic and an item number.