Bhubaneswar: Odia film ‘Khyanikaa – The Lost Idea’ is set for release in Bhubaneswar, June 10. The film is releasing after screenings at more than 12 international film festivals across eight countries and after being nominated to the Indian Panorama section at the 48th IFFI.
‘Khyanikaa’ is an independent feature film written and directed by Amartya Bhattacharyya. The satirical movie illustrates realities that merge into spaces of magic realism and surrealism. The film received much critical acclaim in the international film festivals circuit.
Producer of the film Swastik Choudhary said the movie is getting released in the city finally after much struggle. He said such movies should get a chance to be released as otherwise the future of odias making films will be bleak. “Movies such as ‘Khyanikaa’ and ‘Hello Arsi’, the movie that won three national awards, must be encouraged. Unfortunately, this movie has not been given adequate opportunities to be released. Local distributors still don’t give such movies an opportunity to be screened,” Swastik said.
Such movies are dependent on audiences to show that they are interested in watching more works of this kind.
Amartya, the director, said he expects good response for the movie and added that the team was also planning to release the movie in other states based on the response it receives from Bhubaneswar.
The film was premiered at Hidden Gems Film Festival in Canada, followed by a number of other festivals, including the Dhaka International Film Festival and Ethiopian International Film Festival. The film won Honorable Jury Mention at the 5th Noida International Film Festival 2018.
It was the only Indian movie to be screened at the Zsigmond Vilmos International Film Festival in Szeged, Hungary, May 9.
The film is a fantasy driven tale of two men, a poet and a painter, claiming possession over the same idea, in a rural village portrayed as a wonderland. Idea is depicted as a beautiful young woman, free of all bondage. The two men try to justify their claim over Idea through their respective forms of art.