Romantic Thriller ‘Luv U Jessica’ Unveiled On Television

Romantic Thriller ‘Luv U Jessica’ Unveiled On Television

In a time when filmmakers in Ollywood are taking film promotions to the next level, the makers of the movie ‘Luv U Jessica’ took an unprecedented step by releasing the film on television instead of the theatres.

Talking about the movie’s premier on television, director Susant Mani said, “It is a fact that few people go to the theatres to watch Odia movies. In Odisha, television has a far wider reach than films. I definitely wanted more people to see this film and be aware that films such as ‘Luv U Jessica’ are also being made in Ollywood. As expected, releasing the film on television helped us get more response than it would have received if it were released in a theatre.”

The film had certainly built up an intrigue about itself since it was announced but the decision to officially release it on TV was indeed a daring strategy adopted by the filmmakers.

Story wise, the film is similar in format to few movies made earlier in Ollywood, that depicted real life incidents and characters. ‘Luv U Jessica’ is based on the life of Odia television actor Pralipta Priyadarsini alias Jessy, who came under harsh glare of the media and public following the mysterious death of another television actor Ranjit Patnaik alias Raja. However, unlike the earlier films, actor Jessy is playing herself in the movie.

Even as the production team states that, the film is not an imitation of the real life circumstances of Raja’s death but a depiction of the impact of the situation on Jessy’s life and career, following his death. Jessy who was an accused in the case plays the key role in the film, while actor Sanu of ‘Hello’ fame also appears as a lead character ‘Siddharth’ opposite Jessy.

Director Susant Mani,who is also the writer, said, “When I saw the news of Jessy on TV, the thought of this incident’s aftermath on her life immediately gripped me. Her future laid under the uncertain shadows of endless controversies. That motivated me to do research on the case, which unveiled some interesting facts. I, then, decided to do a movie on the story and started working on the script and screenplay. Many producers rejected the script before Akshaya Sir agreed to produce the movie. I can confidently claim that it is for the first time in the world of feature films that a real life person is playing herself in the film.”

“Though the film revolves around the puzzle of the death of a struggling actor, I have tried to deliver a message through the movie that is profoundly expressed in the sequence where Jessy is seen sharpening two pieces of a broken pencil and gives to little girl Jessica. Failure and setbacks should not defeat us. We can always get up on our feet and start afresh with a new hope,” added Mani.

The sequences in this movie are carefully arranged and pacy to hold the audiences’ attention. One can find two more characters added to punch in a twist to the climax. They are the characters of a wildlife photographer (played popular Actor Hara Rath) and a little girl Jessica. Besides them,a character that stood apart was that of the investigating police officer and alcoholic, played by actor SamareshRoutray. His pairing with Pandit, a forensic expert in the film, was entertaining and worth appreciation.

While the film works on the circumstances surrounding the mysterious death, the climax takes an unexpected turn as all the accused in the case are proved innocent in the end.

“The film is a technical marvel,” says producer Akshay Parija. He further explains that contrary to audiences’expectation that the film deals with the much talked about controversy of Raja and Jessy’s love story and Raja’s death; it is a very different subject. It is only that the main character in the film is Jessy, who is also entangled in a similar case in her real life. It’s just a coincidence. Broadly, the film depicts the internal conflicts of any working woman. In ‘Luv U Jessica’, it is the conflict between the reel life and real life of a woman.”

“Since the story has a lot of resemblance with the issues faced by a woman who steps outside of her home, we decided to reach a larger audience and our targeted viewers- women- through television for a premier,” added Parija.

Meanwhile, actor Sanu, Jessy’s co-star in the film, said, “I was never told that this story was influenced by Jessy’s story. Nevertheless, after listening to it, I found a similarity between the stories. Although, I initially apprehended that the film might run into controversies, Susant Sir asked me to concentrate on my job and let him do his job as a director. If Jessy would have declined the role, Elina Samantray would have been taken on board to play the character.”

“Susant Sir had strictly instructed me not to imitate Raja’s character. He clearly told me that I will be playing Siddharth’s character, not Raja’s. Both are completely different characters. Even though this story was influenced by Jessy’s story, it is not her story. As for me, I was always game for unusual scripts,” said Sanu.