Rath Yatra Box Office Gets Bigger with Three Major Releases and Animated Tribute to Mahaprabhu Jagannath

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s biggest festival, Rath Yatra, is set to deliver one of the biggest festive line-ups for cinema lovers, with three live-action films and an animated mythological feature arriving in theatres between July 16 and 17.

The festive race begins on July 16 with two major Odia releases—The Millet Diary and Ganda Bhairav—while the successful family entertainer Bara Badhu returns to theatres through a special Rath Yatra re-release.

Directed by Rajendra Mohanta, The Millet Diary blends Odisha’s rich millet heritage, Kabiraji healing traditions and the legacy of ancient Kalinga with an emotional love story. Produced under the Infyson Entertainment banner, the film stars Sidhanta Mahapatra, Abhishek Panda, Sivani Sangita, Raj Rajesh and Sritam Das. The recently released trailer has generated interest for its unique mix of history, culture and romance.

Sharing the festive release date is Ganda Bhairav, directed by Sudhanshu Mohan Sahoo and based on Sankar Tripathy’s acclaimed Odia novel. The action drama stars State Film Award-winning actor Devasis Patra alongside Sivani Sangita, Ananya Mishra, Jayprakash Mohanty, KK and others. The film’s teaser promises an action-packed entertainer with a strong literary foundation.

Adding to the festive excitement, Bara Badhu is making a return to theatres after its successful theatrical run earlier this year. The re-release also gives actress Sivani Sangita a rare triple presence during the festival, as she features in The Millet Diary, Ganda Bhairav and Bara Badhu.

The celebrations will continue on July 17 with the nationwide release of Mahaprabhu Jagannath, billed as India’s first animated feature film dedicated to Lord Jagannath. Releasing in Odia, Hindi and Telugu, the multilingual film is being launched during the Rath Yatra festivities after its release date was shifted to make it coincide with the auspicious occasion.

The film follows Mahaprabhu Jagannath, Balabhadra and Garuda on a divine adventure that celebrates faith, devotion and Indian cultural values, while also marking the beginning of Ele Animations’ planned “Sanatan Universe.” It is slated for release across more than 300 screens nationwide.

With The Millet Diary, Ganda Bhairav, Bara Badhu, and Mahaprabhu Jagannath arriving during the festive period, this year’s Rath Yatra promises to be one of the biggest celebrations for Odia cinema in recent years, offering audiences a blend of culture, mythology, action, literature and family entertainment.