User:Cyber265/Pranab Das

Pranab Das (born 1952) is an Odia filmmaker, screenwriter, producer, lyricist and music composer. His directorial feature film ‘Hakim Babu’ was awarded the National Film Award for Best Film (in Odia) in the year 1986 and he won the Silver Lotus award for the Best Director. In 2011, he was on the board of Jury for the 58th National Film Awards for the Directorate of Film Festivals organized by the Govt. of India.

Early life & Education
Das was born at Cuttack town. He attended St Joseph's School, Bhubaneswar, Ravenshaw Collegiate School, Cuttack and BK Bidyapitha, Banki. He was actively involved in theatre. An alumnus of the prestigious institution BJB College in Bhubaneswar, 1971, Das, as the Secretary of the Dramatic Societystarted the modern drama movement there and went on to direct a number of stage plays. Presenting the stories in a visual medium always appealed him and was always fascinated by foreign films. He started attending film festivals and was amazed by the craft of what the foreign filmmakers bring to the table.

Career
By 1976, he started writing reviews for films in the leading newspaper columns and thronged the film festival venues to satiate his hunger for art. His rendezvous with international filmmakers at Czechoslovakia Film Festival impressed him so much that he quit his high flying job at the Govt. Of Odisha and decided to take a plunge in the backwaters of tinsel town.



His first directorial debut was in 1985 parallel film, ‘SeshaPratikshya’. The film went on to win state awards for ‘Best Child Artist’, ‘Best Story’ and Special Jury Award for ‘Best Actress’. Das was adjudged as the best story writer.

His second directorial venture, Hakim Babu, a highly acclaimed feature film, bagged him the prestigious National award at the 33rd National Film Festival, 1986. Due to its compelling storyline based on the domestic resistance to a destabilization issue and it’s devastating socio economic impact, the film was awarded 5 state awards and went on to win multiple awards like Akhi Award for Best Scriptwriter and Director, Odisha Film Journalists Association Award for Best Director. Hakim Babu is by far one of the few films to be made on destabilisation. The film was aired on the National Network of Doordarshan, Delhi.



In a career spanning more than four decades, his work has encompassed many themes and genres. He believes the script in his films is the hero first.

Das’s works bear a diverse treatment. He has worked as screenwriter for films like BadhuNirupama and Bhulihuena which were commercially successful films that established him as a force to reckon with in the era.

In 1992, Das’sfilm ÁgniSanketa’ won 8 State Awards, the maximum number of awards any Odia film has won in a row. Das was awarded for the Best Director and Best Script writer. Agni Sanketa was aired on the National Network for Doordarshan, Delhi.

He has worked as the News Editor cum Technical Director for the bi weekly news program ‘Ódisha Today’ for Doordarshan Bhubaneswar. Produced by Doordarshan, he scripted, and directed 3 tele films, SabhyaJamindar, Sunabohu and Dhuliababa [Indian Classics] which were notable works of legendary poet Fakir Mohan Senapati. He also wrote the screenplay of TithiAtithi, a telefilm, another adaptation from the classics by Academy Award winner Smt. BinapaniMohanty and produced and directed it for Doordarshan.



Das has scripted and directed documentaries for Govt. of Odisha and Govt. of India. He believes that a documentary film unlike other non-fiction films is a great medium for expression of opinions, specific messages, along with the facts it comes along with. His other notable works are ‘ChhabiraManisha’, ‘JuaraBhatta’ and ‘Mashaal’. He has also made cameo appearances in his films, ‘ChhabiraManisha’ and ‘Agni Sanketa’.

Currently he has scripted for a web series titled ÁkeleNahiHainAap’ for DD National. He is also writing film and entertainment based features and columns (Sunday special columns) for a leading regional newspaper.

Filmography

 * Feature Film


 * Documentary Film


 * TeleFilm


 * TV Serial


 * Others