Bhubaneswar, June 3: The 78th Cannes Film Festival became a proud moment for Indian regional cinema as the first-look motion poster of the Odia feature film Baghuni (Dance Like a Tiger) was officially unveiled. The unveiling took place at the prestigious Bharat Pavilion, hosted by India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, marking a significant milestone for Odisha’s film industry on the global stage.
The film’s director and producer Jitendra Mishra, along with co-producer Partha Panda, were present at the launch event on May 15. Adding to the occasion’s grandeur, renowned Indian actors Anupam Kher and filmmaker Shekhar Kapur unveiled the motion poster. “It was a wonderful and memorable experience,” Mishra told. “Meeting Anupam Kher and Shekhar Kapur and presenting our film to an international audience was truly special.”
Baghuni is a landmark co-production involving the National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC), Glocal Films UK Limited—founded by London-based Odia producer Partha Panda—and Mishra’s own Cinema4Good Pvt. Ltd. Notably, this is NFDC's first major cinematic collaboration in Odisha in over 23 years, making Baghuni the first-ever Odia film to emerge from such a significant multi-national production partnership.
Speaking about the film’s narrative, Mishra shared that Baghuni centers around women’s empowerment. “It’s about a girl protesting against a male-dominated society—about a woman stepping out, fighting for her rights. That is the essence of the story,” he said.
The film’s presence at Cannes has drawn attention to the growing footprint of Odia cinema on the global map, setting a precedent for future regional films aiming for international recognition.
