7th November, 2025: Bindusagar, one of the most awaited Odia films in recent years, has been selected for its World Premiere at the 56th Edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Goa. Produced by Shiladitya Bora’s Platoon One Films, the film will debut as part of the prestigious Gala Presentation at IFFI 2025 – a milestone not just for its creators, but for Odia cinema itself, which has been building a wave of renewal.

This film marks Platoon One Films’ first venture into Odia cinema – directed by Abhishek Swain and written by Abhishek Das, produced by Shiladitya Bora along with Vinay Reddy and Shubho Shekhar Bhattacharjee of Boundless Blackbuck Films, in association with Nikhil Chaudhary of MDC Filmworks – Bindusagar’s entry into IFFI 2025 signals a growing recognition of Odia stories in the wider cinematic landscape.

The film features a strong ensemble cast – Prakruti Mishra, Dipanwit Dashmohapatra, Sonalli Sharmisstha, and Satya Ranjan, alongside veteran performers Sukant Rath, Robin Das, and Pranab Rath – creating a rare bridge between Odisha’s cinematic past and its rapidly modernising creative present. At its core, Bindusagar is a gentle, musical romance, with an 8 songs album list – deeply rooted in Odia culture and history. It follows a young woman’s journey to reconnect with her roots, intersecting with a grieving father’s search for faith. Their paths converge in Bhubaneswar – one of India’s oldest and most spiritually resonant cities – unfolding a shared exploration of love, loss, and belonging.

Shiladitya Bora’s involvement carries particular weight – as a producer known for spotting voices from the margins and bringing them to the mainstream, his entry into Odia cinema stands as a strong endorsement of the region’s fast-evolving creative landscape. “Odisha has a rich cinematic legacy that deserves a global stage,” noted Bora, seeing Bindusagar as part of a cultural revival. Bora is known for curating acclaimed films such as Bayaan (TIFF 2025), Ghaath (Berlinale 2023), and National Award-winner Picasso. “We believe that this is the moment of rebirth for Odia storytelling. We hope to contribute to a new era where Odia films travel, win hearts, and take their rightful place internationally. This film is our humble beginning in that direction,” he said.

National Award-winning actor Prakruti Mishra, who plays Shreeja, situates the film in the emotional space of return and rediscovery. “Bindusagar isn’t just a film, it’s an emotion — a bridge between our roots and the world. For me, and for Shreeja, it’s a journey of love, loss, and rediscovery that speaks to anyone who has ever looked for a piece of home in a faraway place. As an Odia and as an artist, being part of the first Odia film to reach global audiences is both humbling and historic. It fills me with immense pride to see our stories stepping onto the world stage, carrying the fragrance, warmth, and soul of Odisha to hearts everywhere.”

“With Bindusagar, we wanted to take a hyperlocal story rooted deeply in Odia culture and present it through a universal cinematic lens,” noted director Abhishek Swain, articulating a vision that feels both local and global. “The idea was to create a film that stays true to its soil while resonating emotionally with audiences everywhere — across classes and masses alike. IFFI is the ideal platform for its first showcase, and we are grateful to premiere this story on such a prestigious global stage,” he continued. Abhishek Swain is known for the films Through the Eyes of an Artist (2019), FOUR: Vol. I (2022) and Button of Life (2018).

As Odia cinema finds itself at a new crossroads – between revival and reinvention – Bindusagar stands as both a thoughtful letter to a land, and a statement of intent. With the combined force of regional authenticity and national backing, it is set to give rise to a new chapter for cinematic representation, where Odia cinema claims its rightful space alongside the country’s most dynamic regional movements.

Bindusagar will be released in theatres early 2026.