The documentary ‘Shunya: Being Prafulla Mohanti’ wins the Tongues on Fire Flame Award. Explore the journey of the Odia artist from Nanpur to the British Museum
OdishaPlus Bureau
A powerful documentary capturing the inspiring life, relentless struggle, and extraordinary artistic legacy of internationally acclaimed Odia writer and painter Prafulla Mohanti has earned international recognition at UK Asian Film Festival.
The short film, titled “Shunya: Being Prafulla Mohanti” has been honoured with prestigious Tongues on Fire Flame Award in the Best LGBTQIA+ category celebrating the remarkable cultural contribution of veteran artist to global art and literature.
Directed by India-born filmmaker Soumya Jyoti Pratihari, and produced by London-based photographer Pradipta Das, the documentary was premiered at Riverside Studios on May 6, where it received widespread appreciation for its poetic storytelling, emotional depth and courageous exploration of identity, belonging and humanity.
Speaking from London after the award-winning screening, Mohanti said his identity and creativity were shaped by the soil of Odisha. “The water, wind, the Birupa River, the moonlit sky of my village, and the vermilion on my mother’s forehead have inspired my art throughout my life,” he was quoted as saying during the event.
Born to a humble family at Nanpur in Odisha’s Jajpur district, Mohanti’s life story is a testament to the transformative power of art, identity, and perseverance. The film traces his remarkable journey from rural Odisha to Mumbai’s Sir J. J. School of Art and later to England, where he initially worked as an architect and town planner before surrendering himself completely to painting, and literature.
Over the decades, Mohanti’s work has explored timeless themes of identity, spirituality, displacement and human connection. His artworks have found a place in the world-famous British Museum, a rare honour that reflects the universal appeal of his artistic vision rooted in Indian cultural consciousness.
The approximately 15-minute documentary presents a deeply emotional and visually rich portrait of Mohanti’s life and work. It vividly captures the rural life of Nanpur village, memories from his childhood, Odisha’s traditional artistic expressions, and the cultural spirit that shaped his creative journey. The film also lays bare the painful realities he endured after moving to Britain such as racism, alienation and cultural isolation.