Bhubaneswar Film Festival 2025 Opens with Cinematic Grandeur
Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Film Festival (BFF) returned for its second edition on Friday, bringing four days of cinematic celebration to Soochana Bhawan. Organised by the Bhubaneswar Film Circle, the 2025 edition opened with a strong lineup of classic films and welcomed several distinguished personalities from the film industry.
The four-day celebration of cinematic excellence began with the screening of *Matira Manisha* (1966), a landmark Odia film by Mrinal Sen that delves into the disintegration of familial ties amid property disputes. Also featured on the opening day was *Ankur* (1974), the debut Hindi feature by Shyam Benegal, which explores complex social hierarchies through the story of a Dalit couple and a privileged landlord’s son.
The festival paid homage to Odia cinema with screenings of classics like *Kaa* (1965), directed by the trio Gour Prasad Ghose, Parbati Ghose, and Ram Chandra Thakur under the pseudonym Siddhartha. Based on Kanhu Charan Mohanty’s acclaimed novel, *Kaa* is hailed as a literary and cinematic milestone. Another highlight was *Bhakta Salahega* (1983), directed by Radha Panda — a cherished film rooted in devotional themes.
In a special presentation, audiences were treated to a preview of *Moods & Madness*, a new film centered on the life of a Muslim poet and his spiritual devotion to Lord Jagannath. The film stars veteran actors Uttam Mohanty and Aparajita Mohanty.
The inauguration ceremony was graced by prominent film critic and author Satya Saran, *OMG 2* director Amit Rai, legendary theatre artist Anant Mahapatra, and actor-television personality Sukant Rath, among others.
A notable moment was the release of the book *Moods and Madness*, which pays tribute to iconic contributors to Indian cinema including Guru Dutt, Raj Kapoor, Shyam Benegal, and Uttam Mohanty, celebrating their lasting impact on film artistry.
The event also honored stalwarts of the Odia film industry: music director Tansen Singh, veteran actors Shyamalendu Bhattacharya and Jaya Swami, costume designer Nirmal Dash, and art director Banchhanidhi Pattnaik, acknowledging their exceptional contributions to the industry.