‘Habaspuri Weaving: The Second and Last Death ???’ poster unveiled on National Handloom Day

Bhubaneswar: Marking National Handloom Day 2026, Ritupriya Productions, in association with BnR Films and MNM Entertainment, unveiled the official poster of the much-awaited Odia documentary ‘Habaspuri Weaving: The Second and Last Death ???’ on Friday.

Produced by award-winning filmmaker Atish Kumar Rout and directed by acclaimed filmmakers Biswanath Rath and Mayur Mahapatra, the documentary explores the rich but endangered Habaspuri handloom tradition of Kalahandi, tracing its history, the challenges faced by weavers and possible pathways for its revival.

The film is being positioned as a spiritual successor to Biswanath Rath’s internationally acclaimed documentary ‘Kotpad Weaving: The Story of a Race Against Time’, commissioned by DD-PSBT.

The film has received 60 awards and accolades, besides being screened in 11 countries, drawing international attention to Odisha’s Kotpad handloom tradition.

With ‘Habaspuri Weaving’, Rath continues his work of documenting Odisha’s artisan communities and examining the challenges confronting the state’s traditional crafts. He is joined by filmmaker Mayur Mahapatra and producer Atish Kumar Rout, who bring together their creative and production expertise for the project.

The documentary has already received international recognition. It was selected among the final 12 documentary project proposals from 98 international entries at the NFDC Film Bazaar Documentary Co-Production Market 2023.

The film’s first-look poster was also unveiled at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, providing a global platform to Odisha’s handloom heritage and further highlighting the state’s cultural traditions on the international stage.
The documentary’s research was conducted in multiple phases between 2019 and 2024.

The initial research began in August 2019, led by Biswanath Rath, textile designer Anupriya Mridha and US-based library director Corinn Flaherty. The project was temporarily put on hold during the Covid-19 pandemic before research resumed in August 2023.

The subsequent phase involved Mayur Mahapatra, Siddhant Swaroop and Debasish Pratihari under Rath’s guidance. The extensive research, spanning several years, forms the foundation of the documentary and seeks to provide an authentic account of the Habaspuri weaving community and its changing circumstances.

Supriya Rout is the co-producer. Siddhant Swaroop serves as Chief Assistant Director, while Debasish Pratihari is the Assistant Director. Mahapatra is also the Director of Photography, with Dilesshwar Pradhan handling sound design. Ajit Narayan Dash is responsible for editing and DI, while acclaimed composer Priyabrata Panigrahi is creating the background score.

Like ‘Kotpad Weaving’, the documentary is expected to travel to film festivals in India and abroad before its public release on television, OTT and digital platforms. BnR Films will oversee its international festival strategy and digital distribution.
Speaking about the project, producer Atish Kumar Rout said the documentary marks his second collaboration with Biswanath Rath after the success of the Odia mid-length fiction film ‘ChaariKaandha’.

“I am truly honoured to be part of a project that seeks to revive one of Odisha’s most unique yet near-extinct textile traditions from the Kalahandi region. At Ritupriya Productions, our guiding philosophy has always been local stories with global resonance. Through this documentary, we aim to showcase the cultural richness of Odisha—and India—to audiences across the world,” Rout said.

Director Biswanath Rath described the documentary as a “heartfelt dream project” that has been in the making since 2019.
“Our humble attempt is to create awareness about the beautiful yet lesser-known Habaspuri handloom tradition of Kalahandi—an art form that deserves revival, recognition and respect. With the grace of Lord Jagannath, the poster has received tremendous response from our audience and fans. We hope this film succeeds in raising meaningful awareness about the exquisite Habaspuri handloom tradition, helping open new pathways for its revival and long-term preservation,” Rath said.

Mayur Mahapatra said the response to the poster had demonstrated an immediate connection with audiences.
“Our film journeys into the heart of one of Odisha’s forgotten weaving clusters. It exposes how rapid industrialisation, lack of financial support and changing times threaten to permanently silence the iconic handlooms of Habaspuri weavers,” he said.

The poster launch comes at a time when traditional handloom communities across Odisha continue to grapple with changing markets, economic pressures and the need to preserve indigenous weaving techniques. The documentary seeks to use cinema as a means of documenting the heritage while drawing wider attention to the need for its revival and long-term preservation.

Ritupriya Productions, founded by Atish Kumar Rout, has produced socially relevant and culturally rooted films including ‘ChaariKaandha’, ‘Bhaunri’, ‘Daalcheeni’, ‘Pratibada’ and the acclaimed 2024 Odia film ‘Vote’.

BnR Films, founded by filmmaker Biswanath Rath, has represented Odisha and India at international film festivals for more than a decade, with its projects receiving over 640 international awards and accolades. MNM Entertainment, led by filmmaker Mayur Mahapatra, is known for its cinematic works, including ‘Baida’.

With extensive research, an experienced creative team and the backing of three production houses, ‘Habaspuri Weaving: The Second and Last Death ???’ aims to bring one of Odisha’s lesser-known handloom traditions to a wider national and international audience while making a case for its revival and preservation.