(Above) Launch of film Mun Premi Mun Pagala and (below) the unit. Pictures by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, April 25: Two fresh faces entered the Oriya film industry with the launch of the film Mun Premi Mun Pagala on Monday. Newcomers Harihar Dash and Anuva Sourya, along with the entire crew, attended the first day of the shooting of the film, which is a teenage love story.

After creating waves with his hip-hop moves in reality show India’s Got Talent, Harihar has become a household name in the state. He has also featured in an advertisement of a national telecom brand. But the youngster feels acting in movies would be a challenge for him.

“Dance choreographies need you to show your skills only for a few minutes. But the audience judges the actor in a film on his performance during two and half hours,” said Harihar. “This is a bigger platform and a totally different experience for me. I’m really excited to be working with actors who have years of experience behind them. It is indeed a learning experience for me,” he said.

Anuva, daughter of veteran actress Pushpa Panda, who is playing the female lead in the film, is also thrilled and looking to prove her talent.

“It is a wonderful chance for me to set foot in the industry. My mother is also playing an important role in the film along with veteran actors like Bijay Mohanty, Mihir Das and Meenaketan. I couldn’t have asked for a better start,” she said.

The teenage love story revolves around feelings of two college students who are close friends but confused if they are in love. “The plot revolves around emotional situations that teenagers face. Our film shows that parents, guardians and friends influence the decisions of youngsters. Sometimes their advice seems like adding to the confusion or burden, but then they also suggest a way out,” said director Sudhanshu Mohan Sahu.

Sahu said that the shooting of the film that began on Monday, has been scheduled for 45 days and the locations include spots both within the state and outside. The film is being produced by Lutu Mohanty and Pratap Sahu. Prasant Padhi has composed the music while lyricists like Arun Mantri and Panchanan Nayak have penned the songs.

“With dancing star Harihar in the film, the viewers should expect some grooving dance numbers that will be choreographed by him,” said Sahu. The film is scheduled to release in July.