The world premiere of the Odia feature film LAHARI, which is written and directed by Amartya Bhattacharyya, a National Award winner, and produced by Jhilik Motion Pictures took place at the 30^th Kolkata International Film Festival.

The cast and crew of the film graced the press conference of the film. The director is out of the country due to some work and could not attend the conference. However, he sent a voice message.

Lahari is a poignant and visually breathtaking tale of friendship, fatherhood, and maturing set against the serene backdrop of Odisha’s ecotourism. The film takes audiences on a fascinating and captivating journey across several picturesque locations throughout the state, celebrating Odisha’s culture, natural beauty, and spirit of entrepreneurship. The story follows the protagonists as they navigate the challenges of interpersonal relationships, personal growth, and a rapidly evolving environment. Thanks to Bhattacharyya’s unique vision, which blends Odisha’s cultural richness with the characters’ emotional depth, the film is not just an engrossing drama but also a cinematic celebration of the region.

The film is screened in the Indian Languages Competition section of the festival, where it is the only Odia film competing. Previously, the 27th Kolkata International Film Festival’s Best Film award went to Amartya Bhattacharyya’s Adieu Godard.

The cast of the film consists of Choudhury Jayaprakash Das, Choudhury Bikash Das, Dipanwit Dashmohapatra, Smruti Mahala (child artist), Susant Misra, Swastik Choudhury, Zeinab Doer, Jhilik Bhattacharjee, Babusaan, Hara Rath, Debasish Patra, and Prasanjeet Mohapatra, among others. 

Speaking at the press conference, Jhilik Bhattacharjee said “I am glad that after becoming a producer, one of my films finally got selected at the 30^th KIFF. As a Bengali, this is a matter of great pride for me. I hope to get more such chances in the future as well”.

The music for Lahari has been composed by talented music director Kisaloy Roy, with playback singing by Gaurav Anand and Navya Jaiti.

If you have not watched the film, you can still watch it on 10th December at the 30^th Kolkata International Film Festival.

Priyanka Dutta