Bhubaneswar: Dev Mandal, a native of MV-2 village, a Dandakaranya rehabilitation project colony in Malkangiri district, has emerged as the topper in the BCAT (cinematography, sound recording and sound design) examination conducted as part of the Odisha Joint Entrance Examination (OJEE). The results were announced on Monday.
Academic Journey
A student of Odisha Adarsh Vidyalaya in Malkangiri, Dev is currently preparing for the NEET-UG re-examination, which is scheduled for June 21. His dual interest in medicine and filmmaking has placed him at a crossroads, where he must decide his future path.
Family Background
Dev is the son of farmers Ashutosh and Sanjukta Mandal. Speaking about his preparation, Dev said he prepared for BCAT because of his keen interest in cinematography and filmmaking. He added that he would wait for the results of the NEET-UG re-examination before deciding whether to pursue a career in medicine or seek admission to undergraduate programmes at the Biju Patnaik Film and Television Institute of Odisha.
Father's Perspective
His father, Ashutosh, noted that medicine has long been Dev's first choice. "He has been preparing for NEET for the past two years. At the same time, he is also drawn to films. We are hoping that whichever path he chooses, it will ultimately serve his future well," said Ashutosh, who owns a small plot of land in MV-2 village.
About the Author
Diana Sahu is an Assistant Editor with the Times of India. With a professional career spanning nearly two decades, she has been writing extensively on education, livelihood, child rights, gender, heritage and culture, tourism, and disability rights. She is also known for her data-driven investigative reports and compelling human interest stories. Her in-depth story on 'Women in Higher Education' won her the Best Feature Award at the Laadli Media Awards and a Laadli National Fellowship on 'Gender and Disability'. She also received the WNCB Fellowship on Child Rights. Apart from her core reporting interests, she loves documenting the many aspects of Odisha's culture and heritage.
