Amlan and Riya in Pagala Karichu Tu

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 30: The Odia film industry is on a perpetual high with the onset of the festive season.

This is that time of the year when the film industry makes a bigger impact, and this time, two big-budget Odia films will battle it out at box office.

The much-loved real life couple Anubhav and Varsha-starrer’s Mental will compete with Pagala Karichu Tu starring Amlan Das and Riya Dey. Both the films will hit the theatres on October 1.

Makers of Mental are tight-lipped about the plot.

“It will be a romantic comedy. You will see me and Varsha portraying very colourful characters,” said actor-turned-politician Anubhav Mohanty.

Mental was the working title of Salman Khan’s Jai Ho, and Anubhav, being his ardent follower, chose the same name for his film.

Dilip Panda directed the film in which Prem Anand scored the music.

The story of Pagala Karichu Tu centres on two rival families, represented by Mihir Das and BijayMohanty. Amlan is the protagonist of the film and Riya plays the role of his lover.

As their relationship develops and goes public, rivalry between the two families intensifies.

The film also has Siddhanta Mahapatra in its cast. Susant Mani directed it.

The shooting of another Odia film, Paglu, began today in the city. Veteran actor Mihir Das plays the lead role and is named Paglu.

Hailing from Cuttack, the protagonist plays an instrument in a band party. There he meets a music teacher from Calcutta, whose role is essayed by another senior member of the film fraternity, Aparajita Mohanty.

Once a much-loved onscreen couple, both the actors are frequently seen playing the roles of parents of a new crop of actors. Explaining the usual casting, director Abhishek Behura said: “The story demanded so. Mihir plays the role of a ludicrous person. He is an aged bachelor, while the character of Aparajita portrays a married woman, who has a caring husband. The film is all about the trials and tribulations of one-sided love affair.”

The film also stars Mukesh Tiwari, who is known for his roles such as Bachcha Yadav in Gangaajal and Vasooli in Golmaal series and he would be playing a pivotal character in this film.

The shooting will take place in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Calcutta, Darjeeling and Hyderabad.

The film is likely to hit the theatres on Valentine’s Day next year.