Vishal Mourya and Debi Prasad Lenka
Vishal Mourya and Debi Prasad Lenka | |
|---|---|
| Born | Vishal Mourya: Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India Debi Prasad Lenka: Cuttack, Odisha, India |
| Occupations | Film director, producer, screenwriter |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Notable work | DAMaN (2022) |
Vishal Mourya and Debi Prasad Lenka is an Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter, best known for co-directing the Odia film DAMaN (2022), which won the Best Odia Film at the 70th National Film Awards. He works primarily in Odia cinema.[1]
Early life
Vishal Mourya was born in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. He graduated with a degree in Information Technology from SATI, Vidisha. After completing his studies, he worked with multinational companies in Pune before transitioning into the entertainment industry. He was associated with television networks including Star Plus, Sony TV, and Zoom TV, and worked in events such as Miss India and Miss Universe. His early professional career involved production and creative roles in television and live events, which later influenced his transition into filmmaking.[2]
Debi Prasad Lenka is from Cuttack, Odisha. He completed a three-year filmmaking course and started his career as an assistant director and film editor, working with media and entertainment companies including UTV, Times of India Group, Zee Entertainment, and BAG Films across Odisha and Mumbai.[3]
Career
Mourya began his career in television with Mahayatra and Dance Premier League. Later, he collaborated with Debi Prasad Lenka with whom he later formed a director-duo. They both directed the unreleased Hindi film B-for Bundelkhand.[4] Together, they worked on several projects, including the Odia political drama Biju Babu (2019).[5]
In 2022, Mourya and Lenka co-directed and co-wrote DAMaN, an Odia-language social drama inspired by true events related to malaria eradication efforts in rural Odisha.[6] The film starred Babushaan Mohanty and Dipanwit Dashmohapatra. Made on a budget of around ₹94 lakh, it grossed approximately ₹7.5 crore at the box office. The film was subsequently dubbed in Hindi the following year.[7]
The film received widespread critical acclaim and won the Best Odia Film at the 70th National Film Awards, earning the directors the Rajat Kamal and a cash prize.[6] In an interview, Mourya expressed his hope that the Hindi version of the film would bring national attention to Odisha's cinema.[8]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Credited as | Language | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director | Writer | Editor | ||||
| 2019 | Biju Babu | Yes | Yes | No | Odia | [5] |
| 2022 | DAMaN | Yes | Yes | Debi Prasad Lenka | [1] | |
Awards and honours
- Best Odia Film – 70th National Film Awards (for DAMaN).[1]
- Rajat Kamal and cash prize from the Directorate of Film Festivals for DAMaN.[6]
References
- ^ a b c "Odia film 'DAMaN' wins Best Odia Film at 70th National Film Awards". The Times of India. 9 October 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
- ^ "Vishal Mourya – Director Profile". Odisha Talks. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ^ "Debi Prasad Lenka – Biography, Movies, News & Photos". BookMyShow. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
- ^ "It's not just Kantara: Odia film Daman is making waves nationwide, meet the directors". The Federal. 7 December 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ^ a b "Biju Babu movie details". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ^ a b c "'Daman' gets National Award as Best Odia Film". The New Indian Express. 17 August 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
- ^ "Odia-Hindi film 'Daman' to release on Feb 3, Ajay Devgn launches trailer". Punjab News Express. 13 January 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ^ "I am hoping the Hindi version of 'DaMaN' gets a lot of love from the audience – Vishal Mourya". Planet Bollywood. Retrieved 14 October 2025.