Internationally acclaimed Odia short film ‘Kaishora’ premieres in Bhubaneswar Film explores lost childhood dreams,

Bhubaneswar: After earning recognition and accolades at several national and international film festivals, Odia short film ‘Kaishora’, produced by M08 Studios and IOverse Productions, premiered at Jayadev Bhawan here Thursday.

Held on the eve of Children’s Day, the special screening witnessed the participation of more than 350 members of the Odia film fraternity, distinguished guests, artistes, mental health professionals and cinema enthusiasts. An interactive session with the cast and filmmakers was also organised after the screening.

Exploring themes of mental health, suicide prevention, empathy and the importance of keeping one’s inner child alive, ‘Kaishora’ presents a poignant story of lost childhood dreams and memories.

The film revolves around Prashant, a man struggling with the pressures, responsibilities and emotional conflicts of adult life. Following a tragic decision, he finds himself in a mysterious forest between life and the afterlife. There, he encounters an optimistic young boy named Shanu, who accompanies him on an emotional journey. As the story unfolds, forgotten dreams, childhood memories and the complexities of human existence come alive.

Written by Ishan Patnaik and S. Abhishek Reddy, the film has been jointly directed by Ishan Patnaik, Ankita Verma and S. Abhishek Reddy. Partha Sarathi Ray, Akash Hota and Manisha Manjari Mishra play key roles.

‘Kaishora’ has received several awards and accolades at film festivals in India and abroad. Its achievements include the Distinction Award at the Canada Shorts Film Festival, Best Short Film Fiction at the Indo Dubai Film Festival and nine awards at the fifth Tagore International Film Festival.

Actor Partha Sarathi Ray won the Best Actor award at the Indian Independent Film Festival, while the film received an Honourable Jury Mention at the 15th Delhi Shorts International Film Festival. It has also been selected for the Jaipur International Film Festival 2027, New Delhi Film Festival 2027 and Critics Society Film Festival.

Produced under the banner of M08 Studios, the film brings together independent filmmaking and creative talent from different fields. M08 Studios, founded by Rajiv Mukherjee, Ishan Patnaik and S. Abhishek Reddy, played a key role in conceptualising and producing the project.

For IOverse Productions, founded by music producers Sangeet Patnaik and Deepsha Dhal, ‘Kaishora’ marks its first film post-production project. With a creative presence in Odisha and Mumbai, the company handled the film’s music, sound design and post-production work.

Speaking on the occasion, producer Rajiv Mukherjee said, “Kaishora is not just a film but an attempt to initiate a meaningful conversation around mental health, the pressures of adult life and the dreams we gradually lose along the journey of life. After receiving international appreciation, bringing this story back to our own soil is a special experience for us.”

The organisers said the support reflected a collective commitment to independent regional cinema, youth participation and social well-being.