First look of Odia Film ‘Baghuni’ unveiled at 78th Cannes Film Festival

In a landmark moment for regional Indian cinema, the first look of the Odia feature film Baghuni (Dance Like a Tiger) is officially unveiled at the ongoing 78th Cannes Film Festival, France. This historic reveal marks a significant cultural milestone, as Baghuni becomes the first-ever international co-production of its kind from Odisha to be announced at the prestigious global platform.

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Key Personalities at the Launch Event

As part of the Official program of the Bharat Pavilion at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, curated by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Govt. of India, in collaboration with FICCI and NFDC, the first-look motion Poster of the film was released on Wednesday, 15th May. The launch took place in the presence of numerous national and international film industry leaders, celebrities, and dignitaries, including the director and producer of the film Jitendra Mishra, producer Partha Panda, internationally acclaimed filmmaker and festival Director of International Film Festival of India, Shekhar Kapur, National Award-winning filmmaker Rima Das, Mr. Sreerag M, OSD (Films), Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Govt. of India, and others.

A Ground-Breaking Co-Production

Written & directed by internationally acclaimed filmmaker Jitendra Mishra, the film is a co-production among National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC), Glocal Films UK Limited (founded by Odisha-born, London-based producer Partha Panda), and Jitendra Mishra’s Cinema4Good Pvt. Ltd. Baghuni (Dance Like a Tiger) is a ground-breaking co-production—the first of its kind for any film from Odisha—with NFDC returning to the state after a remarkable 23-year gap in significant cinematic collaborations.

The Film’s Vision and Global Appeal

The film features the heartthrob superstar of the Odisha film industry, Sabyasachi Mishra, as the lead actor, and boasts a talented crew that includes multiple National Award-winning industry professionals, including Subash Sahoo as sound designer, Sukant Panigrahy as production designer, and Prem Anand as the music director. The script is written by National Award-winning filmmaker Shankhajeet De, Dr. Sulagna Mohany, with multiple National Award-winning filmmaker Utpal Borpujari as the script consultant, and the dialogue is written by acclaimed filmmaker Susanta Mani.

Shooting Locations and Cultural Representation

The film is set to be shot entirely at various locations across Odisha and London, UK, during September and October this year. It will showcase the talents of local actors, crew, and technicians, working alongside several international professionals. The film will be produced in multiple languages, including Odia, Sambalpuri, Koshli, Hindi, and others.

The Film’s Powerful Message of Resistance

A powerful tale of resistance, resilience, perseverance, and challenging deeply rooted conservative societal beliefs and traditions, the film project was selected for the prestigious Film Bazaar in 2023. This renowned co-production market event, held alongside the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Goa, featured the project among 20 selected feature film proposals from 11 countries during its 17th edition. The filmmakers stated, “This is an inspiring story of Resilience and unstoppable Courage. Through this project, we aim to showcase Odisha’s rich art, culture, and heritage values on a global stage. It is also a sincere effort to create international opportunities for local stories and talent.”

NFDC’s Support and Global Cinematic Presence

Mr. Prakash Magdum, MD, NFDC, quoted: “At NFDC, we are proud to support Baghuni, a path-breaking Indo-UK co-production that powerfully amplifies the voice of regional cinema from Odisha. The film reflects the richness of India’s diverse storytelling and its growing resonance on the global stage. This collaboration highlights our continued commitment to promoting cultural heritage, supporting unique narratives, and creating meaningful international opportunities for Indian talent.”

NFDC’s Legacy in Indian Cinema

National Film Development Corporation of India – NFDC is the central agency established to encourage the good cinema movement in the country. The primary goal of the NFDC is to plan, promote, and organise an integrated and efficient development of the Indian film industry and foster excellence in cinema. Over the years, NFDC has provided a wide range of services essential to the growth of Indian cinema. The NFDC (and its predecessor, the Film Finance Corporation) has so far funded/produced over 300 films. These films, in various Indian languages, have been widely acclaimed and have won many national and international awards.

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Cinema4Good’s Jitendra Mishra and Partha Panda's Contributions

Founder of Cinema4Good, Jitendra Mishra, has already been associated with the production, distribution, and promotion of more than 50 national and international films in different categories and various capacities. The Last Colour, Buried Seeds, Desires of the Heart, Human Oak, I am Kalam, and Barefoot Empress are a few recent films among others. Odisha-born, London-based Partha Sarathi Panda has been promoting art, culture, and cinema from India through various socio-cultural initiatives in the UK.