-By Joyeeta Bej, MACJ, 1st Semester

A special film promotion and interaction programme with the team of Odia film, Dahaan: The Evil Within, was hosted by the School of Mass Communication (KSMC), School of Film & Media Sciences (KSFMS) and School of Fashion Technology (KSFT) on 16 September, 2026. Held at the Campus 7 Auditorium, the 90-minute programme brought director Anupam Patnaik and members of the film’s cast together with students and university officials for an engaging session on the film and its making.

The formal session began with a welcome address by Dr Rajeev Kumar Panda, Dean, KSMC, KSFMS and KSOFT, followed by words of appreciation by Prof. Debashis Bandyopadhyay, Pro-Vice Chancellor, KIIT-DU and Prof. Jnyana Ranjan Mohanty, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Admin)-cum-Registrar, KIIT-DU. The session concluded with a vote of thanks by Prof. Ganeswara Mohapatra, Associate Dean, KSFMS.

Then, the guests were called on stage and Mr. Patnaik spoke about the making of Dahaan, sharing that he conceived the idea for the horror-thriller in 2022 and chose real locations while shooting the film. The interaction from the film crew offered students an opportunity to understand the creative process behind contemporary Odia cinema and get firsthand information from professionals involved in the production. The film’s teaser and trailer were also screened for the audience, drawing an enthusiastic and energetic response from the students as they got a glimpse into its horror-thriller narrative.

Actors, Aurosikha Mishra, who is also a KIIT alumni, Barsha Patnaik, Sanoj Kumar and Partha Sarathi Ray also shared experiences. One of the evening’s most engaging moments involved Aurosikha recalling an incident from a horror sequence where she continued screaming for several moments even after the director had called cut, creating an eerie atmosphere on set. She later demonstrated an evil laugh that her character performs in the film, encouraging students to visit the theatres for a more real experience.

The programme also featured interactive games, including identifying horror films through their songs and guessing characters from popular horror movies. Winners received small tokens of appreciation for every right answer. During the Q and A session, a student asked Mr. Patnaik about the possibility of a third season of Gangs of Puri. Responding to the question, he indicated that the ending of Season 2 leaves room for the series to continue.

Bringing filmmakers into direct conversation with students, the programme went beyond film promotion, creating a space for young audiences to engage with the people, ideas and creative processes behind contemporary cinema.