'Maya Miriga' Director Nirad Narayan Mohapatra Passes Away

Veteran Odia filmmaker Nirad Narayan Mohapatra breathed his last on Thursday in Mumbai. The award winning director and producer was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Mumbai, where he passed away. He was 67.

The director of "Maya Miriga" was admitted at Fortis Hiranandani Hospital in Mumbai, where he was operated twice for suspected cancer, his younger brother Sampad Mohapatra told IANS.

Nirad's condition deteriorated on Thursday and he took his last breath at 6 am, he said.

The director is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.

In 1968, Nirad left his post graduate studies in political science and joined Film and Television Institute of India, Pune (FTII) to pursue a direction course. In 1973, he joined as a faculty in Film and Television institute.

Several noted filmmakers, including Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Ketan Mehta were his students at FTII.

He started his career as a director in 1974 with "Dhauligiri Shanti Stupa", but shot to fame a decade after that with "Maya Miriga" movie.

"Maya Miriga" won second best National Film Award in 1984 and was also honoured as the best third world film at Mannheim-Hiedelberg International Film Festival.

It has also won the special jury award at Hawaii Film Festival, US and was also a part of 'Critics Week' section of Cannes Film Festival in France.