In a landmark achievement for regional Indian cinema, the first look of the Odia feature film ‘Baghuni’ (Dance Like a Tiger) was unveiled at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, bringing Odisha’s rich storytelling tradition to one of the most prestigious film platforms in the world.

‘Baghuni’ made history as the first international co-production from Odisha to be announced at Cannes. The unveiling took place on May 15 at the Bharat Pavilion, part of the official Indian delegation curated by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting in association with FICCI and NFDC. The motion poster launch drew the attention of global film industry leaders, dignitaries, and cinema aficionados alike, PTI reported from Bhubneshwar.

The event saw the presence of several eminent personalities, including the film’s director and producer Jitendra Mishra, co-producer Partha Panda of Glocal Films UK, celebrated filmmaker and IFFI Festival Director Shekhar Kapur, National Award-winning filmmaker Rima Das, OSD (Films) at the Ministry of I&B Sreerag M, NFDC’s Gautam Bhanot, and Vineeta Mishra, Head of Programming at NFDC Film Bazaar. Their presence underscored the significance of this Odia film reaching such a global cinematic platform.

Written and directed by Jitendra Mishra, ‘Baghuni’ is a pioneering production supported by three major entities: NFDC, Glocal Films UK Limited (founded by London-based Odia producer Partha Panda), and Cinema4Good Pvt. Ltd. The project marks NFDC’s return to Odisha after a 23-year hiatus, making it a historic cinematic collaboration not just for the state but for regional cinema in India.

Speaking at the launch, filmmaker Jitendra Mishra expressed his pride and gratitude: “Baghuni represents the unheard stories of Odisha with universal emotions. Presenting this first glimpse at Cannes, where world cinema converges, is a dream come true not just for me but for many aspiring filmmakers back home.”

The film’s co-production model aligns with India’s growing push to internationalise regional content, and ‘Baghuni’now stands as a benchmark for what cinema from underrepresented regions can achieve when given the right platform and creative resources.