Sai Shradha Production Announces Film on Nabakalebara, Releasing on Bahuda Yatra

Bhubaneswar – After the resounding success of their stage play, Sai Shradha Production Trust is all set to bring the powerful story of Nabakalebara to the big screen. The upcoming film, titled “Shree Jagannathanka Nabakalebara,” promises to capture the spiritual and cultural grandeur of one of Odisha’s most sacred traditions.

The film’s poster was unveiled on Wednesday, featuring a star-studded cast that includes Sidhant Mohapatra, Suryamayee Mohapatra, Jyoti Ranjan Nayak, Sivani Sangita, Pinky Pradhan, Sritam Das, Kuna Tripathy, Meghna Mishra, Navpreet Arora, among others.

Producer Bini Samal shared that the overwhelming response to the stage play—performed at Bhubaneswar’s Rabindra Mandap and in several other states—encouraged the team to adapt it into a feature film.

The film is based on the book Nabakalebara by renowned author Shankar Tripathy, who is celebrated for his work on Indian mythology, history, and cultural traditions. The book explores the deeply spiritual event of Nabakalebara, a rare and sacred ritual held in Puri, Odisha, during which the deities at the Jagannath Temple are ceremoniously given new bodies.

Scheduled for release on July 4, 2025, to coincide with the auspicious occasion of Bahuda Yatra, the film is expected to be both an emotional and cultural journey. According to the creators, the story not only sheds light on the ritual’s deep roots but also evokes the emotions and transformations experienced by those who witness it.