Bhubaneswar: This Raja festival, Odia cinema lovers have been in for a treat as two of the industry’s biggest stars—Sabyasachi Mishra and Babushaan Mohanty—have locked horns at the box office.
With two distinct genres and gripping stories, their upcoming films ‘Ananta’ and ‘Bou, Buttu Bhuta’ promise to spice up the festive mood and draw massive crowds to theatres across Odisha.
Both films have been released today (Thursday), just a day before Raja kicks off in full swing. While ‘Ananta’ has been released in 40 cinema halls across the state, as many as 61 cinema halls in the state are showing ‘Bou, Buttu Bhuta’.
Worth mentioning, the production houses of both films are pulling all stops to promote their respective films. Meanwhile, ‘Bou, Buttu Bhuta’ has added a new page to the history of Ollywood film promotion by holding a mid night show of the film at Shriya hall in Bhubaneswar, with a huge cine lovers thronging the hall to feel the thrill of watching a horror movie in night.
Ananta: A Timeless Tale Reimagined
Helmed by Sabyasachi Mohapatra and Kumar Siddeb Mohapatra, Ananta is a cinematic adaptation of the legendary Fakirmohan Senapati’s iconic short story ‘Randipua Ananta’.
Sabyasachi Mishra steps into the shoes of the titular character ‘Ananta’, bringing the classic Odia literary figure to life on the big screen. Sharing the screen with him for the first time is actress Suryamayee, while Kuna Tripathy, Jyotirmayee Panda, and Tapas Sargharia take on key supporting roles.
A major highlight of the film is its newly released track ‘Malli Dhapa’, which was released on May 30 under the banner of Amara Music. The song, with its earthy Odia flavour and folk charm, has already gone viral.
The music is composed by Abhijit Majumdar, with lyrics by Nirmal Nayak, and vocals by Sridhar Mahanti, Karunakar Sethy, Sanju Mahanti, and Antara Chakraborty.
Bou, Buttu Bhuta: A Spooky Laugh Riot
On the other end of the cinematic spectrum, Babushaan’s ‘Bou, Buttu Bhuta’ is all set to tickle funny bones with a supernatural twist.
Directed by Jagadish Mishra and produced by Babushaan’s wife Tripti Satpathy and made under the banner of Babushaan Films the film blends humour and horror for a family-friendly entertainer.
Adding a personal touch to the project, Babushaan shares screen space with his real-life mother, veteran actress Aparajita Mohanty, and audiences will also catch a glimpse of his father, the late Uttam Mohanty in the film.
The film also marks the fifth on-screen pairing of Babushaan and Archita, a much-loved duo previously seen in hits like ‘Ajab Sanju Ra Gajab Love’, ‘Chocolate’, ‘Loafer’, and ‘Thukul’. Their chemistry, mixed with a generous dose of comedy and ghostly mischief, is expected to keep viewers on the edge of their seats—and in splits.
With both films releasing around the same time, it’s shaping up to be a cinematic face-off that has fans eagerly waiting.
Whether it’s the haunting charm of ‘Ananta’ or the hilarious hauntings of ‘Bou, Buttu Bhuta’, one thing is certain—this Raja, the Odia box office is going to be on fire.
