Bhubaneswar: After carving out a historic presence on the global stage, the Odia feature film ‘Nabakalebara’ is all set to reach even a wider audience with its Hindi version in February, 2026.
The makers of the film informed this at a press conference held in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.
Informing about the future plan to take the film to a wider viewership, film’s director and producer Bini Samal said, “The film is set to be screened in 10 to 12 more countries, further expanding its global footprint. Adding to its momentum, a Hindi version of the film is also scheduled for release in February, making the spiritual and cultural narrative accessible to a wider audience.”
So far, the film has been screened in the USA, Canada, South Africa, Indonesia, Germany and multiple locations in India, reaching viewers in nearly 13 cities and marking a significant milestone for the Odia film industry.
In the United States alone, the film has been showcased in eight cities, including Minneapolis, New Jersey, Houston, Fremont and North Carolina. The global journey of ‘Nabakalebara’ began in Minneapolis, a moment now being hailed as a historic chapter for Odia cinema’s international outreach.
With its international releases, ‘Nabakalebara’ has emerged as the first Odia film to be screened in multiple countries, setting a new benchmark for the regional film industry.
Audiences across continents have responded with deep appreciation, many describing the film as emotionally stirring and spiritually powerful. The depiction of the sacred ‘Nabakalebara’ ritual of Lord Jagannath moved several viewers to tears.
Special praise has been showered on the guidance of Guruji Dr. Chandrabhanu Satapathy, director Bini Samal, and the entire cast and production team for presenting a culturally rich and spiritually resonant cinematic experience.
The global Odia community also expressed heartfelt gratitude to Sanjay Dalai and Akshaya Mahanti for their tireless efforts in promoting Jagannath culture and traditions worldwide, reinforcing cultural roots among the Odia diaspora.The production house extended sincere thanks to the people of Odisha and Odias living abroad for their unwavering love, encouragement and support for Odia cinema, crediting them for the film’s growing international success.With its powerful storytelling and cultural depth, ‘Nabakalebara’ continues to resonate far beyond borders, reaffirming the global appeal of Odia cinema.
Besides Samal, actor Jyoti Nayak, Sanjay Dalai from North America, Sanjit Nayak from South Africa, Chitta Debata from Bhubaneswar, and the film’s PR head Pranaya Jethi were also present at the press conference. They while addressing reiterated their commitment to taking Odia culture and cinema to global audiences.
Made under the banner of Sai Sradhha Production, the fil features Siddhant Mohapatra, Jyoti Ranjan Nayak, Sritam Das, Shibani Sangeeta, Pinky Pradhan and Anshuman.
